Gustave is still alive. I've written authorities asking them to allow me to come hunt it. I will bring my .338 Jarrett with a 250 grain A-Frame.

AARON NEILSON
FAIRGAME
Sorry have been away from the computer for the weekend. Answers to your questions.
The croc was shot with an outfitter from South Africa called Askari Adventures out of their Namwala camp on the Kafue. I'm afraid that I can't tell you exactly where it was as we had transfered from another camp. We had baited for two days without success and were packing up to go when the scout who came to collect us said he had seen this croc basking on the other side of the river upstream. We did a quick dash through the bush and then a stalk and belly crawl to within about 60yds. I would always take the neck shot as the best percentage shot. I was using a 375 and the only movement he made after the shot was a slow waveing of the tip of his tail. My only regret was that as we were already late for our transfer we had to leave before I saw the contents of the stomach when it was gutted.

Mate, you were better off not being there when they opened the stomach...... the stink is simply unbelievable!

Here's an example of how to get the most fun out of a flatdgog!

Steve
I like your idea of croc fishing it looks fun !!
By the way; why did you take your picture off your posts and replace it with a picture of a labrador ?

quote:

Originally posted by R.Jolly:
Steve
I like your idea of croc fishing it looks fun !!
By the way; why did you take your picture off your posts and replace it with a picture of a labrador ?

The humor is flowing today eh?

quote:

Originally posted by R.Jolly:
Steve
I like your idea of croc fishing it looks fun !!
By the way; why did you take your picture off your posts and replace it with a picture of a labrador ?

Mate, it's one of the funniest and most fun things you'll ever do..... sometimes you'll have 'em on the line for many hours!

It really is one of those things that should go onto everyones bucket list!

Yeah, sorry about the labrador....... As much as I tried, I couldn't crop and resize the pic this lab properly!

I still have a picture that I took with a Leica Mini (carried in my shirt pocket) of a croc that my PH had estimated to be some 15 feet. I took it in Chirisa in very early May and it was in a quite small (pond/swamp?) area (with hummocks)and heavy reeded area around) I remember the PH telling me that if I didn't see birds on the hummocks -that meant that the croc was in the water. I often show the pic and ask people to guess what they are looking at. (Much of him is hidden) (It's like one of those picture puzzles where you can't see what's there -until it's pointed out -often too late,sadly, I guess for anybody who has to face a croc) Did I mention that in only one month in the African bush that I came to hate two critters - hyenas and crocs? Fact.

Crocs, very sly, slippery, stealthy, and scary creatures. They are supposed to have very small brains, and rely on instinct yet they still manage to kill a fair number of people each year. It is not nice to be stalked by a croc while fishing though, especially when the croc is a big dominant male, longer than your makoro!

Reptilian brains must be much better than we realize.
Nile crocs will usully disappear/submerge the instant they are aware of humans--both for reasons safety and as a hunting method.
Australian crocs, having been protected for over 30 years, realize they do not have to submerge if man is near (bet that all changes in 24 hrs if hunting season ever resumes). They'll still gladly eat you.
The big crocs of Central America seem as if they are docile fish-eaters most of the time.
A study of the differences in the Central
American and the other croc's brain chemistry might be an interesting one.

I certainly think they have it in spades when it comes to cunning and comouflage but I'm not sure they're that intelligent.... you can catch one on a rod and line, fight 'em for several hours before letting them go and by the time you've rebaited and got the bait out there again, the same flatdog will often come back and take the bait again.

Shakari,

Probably liked pulling your string.

Here is a Big one!!!

Originally posted by retreever:



Odd to see an ugly old dinosaur stretched out like that.

But, that sure is a nice croc underneath it!

I kid. I kid.

What caliber rifles are you guys using on these crocs?

quote:

Originally posted by ChetNC:
Originally posted by retreever:



Odd to see an ugly old dinosaur stretched out like that.

But, that sure is a nice croc underneath it!

I kid. I kid.