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

650 Fire
650 Fire

#SundayGunday: Taurus 650

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re taking a deep dive into a compact wheelgun that’s built to balance power, concealability and rugged reliability. This is the stainless‑steel Taurus 650—Taurus’s reintroduced small‑frame, five‑shot revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.

52 Bears Harvested in Florida Season

There were 52 bears harvested during Florida’s first bear season since 2015.

New for 2026: CCI Hunter and Golden Boy

CCI has been busy of late, with several new offerings this year, but several rimfire offerings are exceptionally eye-catching: Hunter and Golden Boy.

New for 2026: Federal USA 250th Anniversary Edition

The United States of America celebrates her 250th birthday in 2026, and Federal has come out with some commemorative ammunition for the party. Included in the mix are the American Eagle, Top Gun, and Champion ammunition lines, with choices which represent some of America’s finest cartridges.

Storm Warden Rain Gear System by Leupold

Out of Leupold’s engineering labs in Beaverton, Ore. comes the new Storm Warden Rain Gear System.

Wild Game Recipe: Thai Style Duck Fried Rice

Looking for a way to use the ducks from this season? Check out this recipe for Thai-style duck fried rice from Game Girl Gourmet's Holly Hearn.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.