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

250 Beauty Lede
250 Beauty Lede

#SundayGunday: Winchester 250th Anniversary Ammunition

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re taking a walk down memory lane, celebrating Winchester Ammunition and its salute to the greatest 250 years a country has ever lived. This limited-edition run of USA 250th Anniversary Edition ammunition pays homage to the red-blooded Americans who sacrificed themselves for the betterment of a nation.

What Summer Buck Sightings Tell Us

Dreaming of fall? Here are some things to look for during your summertime scouting.

One Out of Every Four Hunters Won’t Hunt in 2026

One out of every four hunters who hunted the 2025 season will not hunt in 2026. That startling statistic was arrived at by Southwick Associates after conducting a survey of 28,447 hunters in 20 states.

Says You: Sightseeing on a Hunt?

Editor-in-Chief Scott Olmsted's monthly response column to questions posed by our members. This time, we're discussing hunting practices and traditions, and making some long-distance connections.

First Look: CVA Cascade SR

CVA has announced the Cascade SR. This suppressor-ready version of the company's standard Cascade, is built for hunters who need a compact, maneuverable rifle.

Fueled by AI: Boone and Crockett Club Launches Big Game Records Live 2.0

The Boone and Crockett Club recently launched Big Game Records Live 2.0, a major evolution of its digital platform that transforms the world’s oldest big game records database into an interactive analytics tool for hunters.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.