I just got back from some great hunting days with Mpumelelo hunting safaris, Frederik Cocquyt, in South Africa. This time we experienced some great watersport!

First day I took a 23 + Impala that we used for bait to try to get a caracal but we never had any hit, just from a Small spotted Genet.



Then I took a warthog, not so big but always nice to hunt.



After that we concentrated fully on the water animals. We baited for Crocodile in the Magalakwena River were we were lucky to get what was told to be a big one for that part of the river. It was a female at about 8 feet or 2,5 meters that I took with a headshot at 40 meters using a 9,3x62 286 grains Rhino Solid.







Everything whent just fine and we moved the croc from the beach to a river bank so the other crocs would not disturb us. When we started to film and take photos it gave away sounds and moved slightly on and of just as we read in The perfect shot that crocs could do long time after it's dead. Then after the photos we decided to cut out the heart to be on the safe side and the stab started the reflexes of rolling and the croc fell into the water!!!

After hard work, lot of struggle and brave wading by Frederik we got it up and put another shot through the spine. and it was over.

What seemed to be an easy thing turned out to be very exciting.

After the croc it was time for the bigger water animal the Hippo were we had got a permit for a problem animal. The biggest animal in a group of 7 was to be taken from a pond were it almost every night went up on land and broke through electrical fences, new holes ever night.

We entered the edge of the pond and had the group within 35 meters distance, the biggest one was found and after waiting to get it in the right angle I took the shot, same 9,3x62 was used this time with a Rhino Bullets 286 grains soft. The Hippo sunk directly after the shot and after 15 minutes it had come to the surface again.

Frederik and another PH Phillip swam out with me standing guard and the put a rope on the hippo and it was pulled to th shore.







We pulled the Hippo up with a tractor and the the work with skinning it started.

The croc and the hippo is nicely on film and will be part of a new production.

With on the hunt was 5 other hunters from Sweden that in total bagged 35 animals on this 7 day Safari with Mpumelelo Hunting Safaris, at Bivack Game Lodge close to Alldays in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Thanks for the story.....and excellent photos.

It seems you had a marvelous trip!

Great pics, man Hippo are big.

Now wait just a darn minute! We know from watching all those Walt Disney cartoons that Hippos have flat molar-like teeth and wear pink tutus.

Thanks. Look like the group shot some very nice warthog.

Your croc story sounds remarkably similar to the experience Use Enough Gun had last year. Maybe he'll recount it for us again.

Thanks all, and yes they got some nice hogs, also two bushboks that will hold for gold.

About the pink hippos this was one of the rare grey hippos that only occur in small areas in Africa.

The pink one is spread all over the world....

Congrats on a cool hunt cc. Frederik put you onto some nice game! Enjoyed the pics, LDK

Great hunt CC. Yes those water animals are quite the ones to hunt. My croc last year, wasn't officially "dead" until we finally had to cut its heart out 16 hours later in the skinning shed as it kept moving its legs and its chest heaving. Mine had one solid spine shot, a fatal side brain shot and a shot through both lungs and was still acting alive by occasionally opening its eyes during pics, during visits from various individuals from the camp; all until we cut the heart out as well. I LOVE to hunt croc and hippo!

Hey all,

Still hunting here till Thursday then I will back just in time for my birthday and also taking my son to watch Shrek 3 cannot wait.

Current hunters tiring us as they all want 100% hunting time which as resulted in some fine animals so far I think the count is on 32 animals so far between 3 of them.

These guys loved the sprial horns and are looking for bushbuck now with one down already


Christer, btw I didnt needto swim in the river again

Very cool! Are you going to go with a life size mount on your hippo so your giraffe doesn't make it look small?

LDK

Thanks and yes Frederik did a great job but don't say it to loud because he get's hard to deal with if he hear such things

UEG

Considering your and our story I can understand why The Perfect Shoot recomends to tie the legs together directly when the croc is shot

Frederik

I'm glad you were able to stay out of the water this time, did you avoid the wet Platjan lodge also????


Lee

I have found out that everything looks small in my trophy room now when i walk in the room so from now everything is ordered in size 2:1 life size

No, to be more serious what I am thinking about is for the croc, life size diving downwards connected to a branch sticking up from the river bottom

and for the hippo a replica since I wanted as much skinn as possible for office chairs, I want a floor mount were it's coming up from the water with open mouth.

This is only plans so far so if anyone have any good suggestions I will be happy to hear them.

Christer,

Platjan lodge was avoided although I wouldnt have minded to make a turn there again. Since my last post 1 bushbuck 2 kudu and a gemsbuck hit the deck and we are now going for the 3rd and final bushbuck hope it works time is running out quick.

No Platjan Lodge was a nice place, good luck with the last trophies and have a safe trip back to Pretoria.

Congrats on a good hunt. I have a picture from Reno (2006 I think) with a croc the way you intend, I'll see if I can find it. REally spectacular, if you have the room. I could probably fit one of those right in my entrance hall, where the ceiling is opened up. That should keep charities and religious peddlers at bay, don't you think?

Frans

Frans

I will take your idea in consideration, that placement might work

Otherwise I also would be interested in seeing your pics if you can find them.