Weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds, this massive beast from the bayou is believed to be one of the largest ever taken in the entire state of South Carolina.
Chapin native, Hunter Neeley, and his friend Crick Hooker went out on Saturday, September 28th, 2019 to hunt gators out on Lake Moultrie. They started around 6 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220598393894905&set=p.10220598393894905&type=3&permPage=1
Just a few hours later, the pair went to the dock to pick up Neeley’s girlfriend. Not long after picking her up, they spotted a massive gator in six feet of water.
The two began to use treble hooks on the bottom of the lake and ended up snagging the alligator just after 11 p.m. The ensuing struggle took around 20 to 30 minutes until they got it close enough to the boat that they could use a harpoon.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1492674854165364&set=a.1492672474165602&type=3&permPage=1
The gator was so large, it was hard to take down and after two harpoons, two hooks, and an arrow – they ended up shooting it in the head with a gun, which killed it.
Now, they had to figure out how to get the beast into the boat. Neeley told Fox Carolina the pair decided to put a wench up in a tree and had to then lower their kill into the boat below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206481612794643&set=a.2185437011006&type=3&permPage=1
This is Neeley’s 2nd big kill this year, and he took home a 12′ 7″ gator just a week prior. He says he donated the meat from both gators to help feed those in need and will have both gators mounted.