Another quick report on my recent hunts with Tally Ho (TH).
Stuart, PH and owner of TH, was able to secure a crocodile permit and we went hunting for croc on my last day of hunting. Location was on Limpopo River straddling RSA and Botswana.
The evening before the hunt, I decided I wanted to use my 26 Nosler as it was much more precise than the other barrel I brought for the Blaser R8 which was in 375 H&H. Given that the shot would likely be to the head or neck, there seemed to be no need to use the larger round. Stuart’s young PH, Rudi, talked sense into me the evening before.
The 375 was sighted for 200 yards, far beyond anything I would attempt on a crocodile. Rudi set up the shooting range very early the morning of the hunt so we could resight for 100 yards. After a few shots, the 375 was zeroed for 100 and we headed for the river.
We finally found a large croc above a pond near the river after tromping around all morning. We could not see the crocodile’s head or neck. Stuart’s longtime friend and PH Steyn recommended a shot to the spine. Steyn picked out a quarter-sized spot on the animal and instructed me to shot there and reload to shoot quickly again.
Rudi did not try to convince me to use his bushveld shooting sticks over my tripod (see my other recent posts for a comparison). Good thing as the shot had to be very precise. The first shot hit exactly where intended and anchored the animal immediately – no movement from the neck back. The R8 cycles fast and I put another 375 GMX into the same area.
We watched for 10+ minutes and there was no movement. Upon checking the animal for vital signs, the crocodile’s eyes were still reacting. I then put 4 rounds of 9 mm solids into his neck, checking the eyes after each shot. He seemed completely unfazed by the pistol rounds. We then put a third 375 round into the back of his neck, point-blank and angling down. That last shot did the trick. None of the 7 rounds exited the reptile.
The picture here is with PH Rudy, who is about 2 meters to the top of the hat he’s wearing. Croc was a little under 13 feet.
Stuart, PH and owner of TH, was able to secure a crocodile permit and we went hunting for croc on my last day of hunting. Location was on Limpopo River straddling RSA and Botswana.
The evening before the hunt, I decided I wanted to use my 26 Nosler as it was much more precise than the other barrel I brought for the Blaser R8 which was in 375 H&H. Given that the shot would likely be to the head or neck, there seemed to be no need to use the larger round. Stuart’s young PH, Rudi, talked sense into me the evening before.
The 375 was sighted for 200 yards, far beyond anything I would attempt on a crocodile. Rudi set up the shooting range very early the morning of the hunt so we could resight for 100 yards. After a few shots, the 375 was zeroed for 100 and we headed for the river.
We finally found a large croc above a pond near the river after tromping around all morning. We could not see the crocodile’s head or neck. Stuart’s longtime friend and PH Steyn recommended a shot to the spine. Steyn picked out a quarter-sized spot on the animal and instructed me to shot there and reload to shoot quickly again.
Rudi did not try to convince me to use his bushveld shooting sticks over my tripod (see my other recent posts for a comparison). Good thing as the shot had to be very precise. The first shot hit exactly where intended and anchored the animal immediately – no movement from the neck back. The R8 cycles fast and I put another 375 GMX into the same area.
We watched for 10+ minutes and there was no movement. Upon checking the animal for vital signs, the crocodile’s eyes were still reacting. I then put 4 rounds of 9 mm solids into his neck, checking the eyes after each shot. He seemed completely unfazed by the pistol rounds. We then put a third 375 round into the back of his neck, point-blank and angling down. That last shot did the trick. None of the 7 rounds exited the reptile.
The picture here is with PH Rudy, who is about 2 meters to the top of the hat he’s wearing. Croc was a little under 13 feet.
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