Gator roundup

Hunters tagging giants, making memories

South Carolina’s alligator hunting season continues through Oct. 12, and plenty of big gators have been taken so far.

Cole Poplin with Renegade Bowfishing started his season by helping some clients bag a 12-foot, 9-inch at Santee.

A few days later, Austin Farrell bagged a 12-foot, 6-inch Santee Swamp gator while hunting with Hunter Neeley and Crick Hooker.

“That was an absolute giant, with a lot of weight to it,” said Neeley. “He gave us a good run for our money, but in the end, he didn’t stand a chance with the killing crew we had on board. Congratulations to Austin Farrell, and welcome to the 12-footer club. It’s going to be hard to top this big bull.”

Family time

Stacey Sanders killed her first gator in Georgetown while hunting with her husband Thomas, their son Brantley, and friend Cam Allison.

Her gator measured 9 feet, 1 inch and weighed 160 pounds.

Down in Beaufort, Joseph Long put together a crew and hit the water on opening day. They bagged a 10-foot, 8-inch gator that tipped the scales at 250 pounds.

Sean Obrien was hunting with some friends around Low Falls Landing when they got into it with a gator, killing the 13+ footer on Sept. 18.

Brittney Duncan had a long night filled with bad luck while hunting with Rusty Elrod, Seth Elrod, Taylor Duncan, and guided by Neeley and Hooker.

“What a hunt!” said Rusty Elrod “All we had all night was bad luck. We lost two other gators that got off their buoys.”

They temporarily lost a third one after Brittney put an arrow in a gator. They battled for a while until the beast made a run for it into some trees.

“We hit a wasp nest and had to retreat,” Elrod said.

Luckily, Seth Elrod spotted the buoy a bit later.

Making memories

“Seth came in clutch and saw the buoys,” he said. “All those years of jug fishing came into play tonight.”

After hunting from 9 p.m. that Thursday to 11 a.m. Friday, they were happy to finally get the kill shot on the gator.

Elrod gave plenty of credit to their guides.

“Hunter Neeley and Crick Hooker never gave up digging this gator out of a hole it went down into,” he said. “And Taylor just held onto the line for dear life.”

Even through the rough parts of the night, Elrod said it was all worth it.

“It was definitely a night to remember, and Brittney got her a gator that’s off to Cordray’s Taxidermy for a rug,” he said. “I love gator hunting. Always so many memories. Good ones and bad ones.”

Kayak gator

One of the more unique and impressive hunts was a solo hunt by John Ellisor. He bagged a 7-foot, 6-inch gator while hunting out of Poplar Creek at Santee, and he did it from a kayak at night.

“It’s a new core memory. I will attempt again,” said Ellisor, who said the hunt was a 10 out of 10. “It was truly an experience for a first timer!”

The 2025 gator season closes at noon on Oct. 12. If you’re still trying to fill your tag at this stage, consider hiring a guide to get you over the hump. For a list of alligator hunting guides, processors and equipment vendors, click here.