Massive Alligator Caught Not Once, But Twice, near Hilton Head, S.C.

by
posted on June 6, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wilder_ah2015_fs.jpg (18)

Finding an alligator prowling around the area is something that residents in the southeastern part of the country are relatively accustomed to dealing with—but finding a 12-foot monster that looks like it walked right out of a Discovery Channel special? That's a little less common. Even more so when it turns up a second time.

That's essentially what happened in Hilton Head, S.C., according to a report from The Island Packet. Last week, Critter Management owner Joe Maffo was called to help take care of one massive gator—which he estimated was 12-feet, 8-inches long and weighed nearly a half-ton—that had appeared on a local roadway. Maffo and his team showed up, wrangled the big ol' reptile and ultimately released it at the point of a local creek, expecting that it would decide Hilton Head was too much trouble and head for greener pastures.

They were wrong. The next day, Maffo responded to another call on the island—and came face-to-face with the same gator. He and his team corralled it, again, and released it—again. This time he chose a spot near a wildlife refuge. Someone managed to get some video of the monster during the release, which you'll find at the bottom of this post.

The Associated Press is reporting that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is actually planning on investigating the case, since "nuisance" alligators are typically eliminated, rather than re-released, for the safety of the public.

Get a look at the gargantuan gator yourself in the video embedded below.

Latest

LEDE 250Th Anniversary Rifles
LEDE 250Th Anniversary Rifles

Ruger Celebrates 250 Years of American Liberty with Limited-Production Firearms

Ruger has expanded its 250th Anniversary Series of firearms, further commemorating the United States Semiquincentennial while celebrating the Company's longstanding tradition of American manufacturing. Each limited production model in this special collection is distinctly marked with the inscription, "Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty."

Hunting with Air: Getting Started

Looking into ways to expand your hunting opportunities? Ever think about aur gun hunting? Follow along as Tim Hovey gives a great primer for beginners just getting into the discipline.

New for 2026: Hush-Point Cigar .22 Suppressor

Orion Wholesale has announced a collaboration with Hi-Point Firearms and Taylor Customs—the Hush Point Cigar 22 Suppressor. This unique monocore suppressor is designed to resemble, well, you guessed it, a cigar. 

#SundayGunday: Dead Air RXD30Ti

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the RXD30Ti, a collaboration between Dead Air Silencers and Ruger Firearms, resulting in one quiet, lightweight, backcountry suppressor. Designed specifically to complement Ruger firearms, the RXD line is a workhorse in it’s own right, providing excellent sound mitigation and recoil reduction. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.

How to Get in on the Big Buck Bonanza

If we define mature whitetail bucks as those that are 3½-years old or older, then there are a significantly higher percentage of mature bucks being harvested today than at any time in modern hunting history.

Federal and Remington Awarded FBI Rifle Ammunition Contracts

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently awarded Federal and Remington Ammunition—both part of The Kinetic Group (TKG)—one of the largest law enforcement contracts in TKG's history.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.