Crocodile Hunting
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is home to a large population of African crocodiles, which are massive reptiles that live in and around water. These crocodiles have been around for almost 150 million years and are among the largest seen anywhere on earth. The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), the West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus), often known as the desert crocodile, the Slender-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus), and the dwarf crocodile (Crocodylus tetraspis) are the four main species of African crocodiles.
There are other species in the world, but unlike the ones we have here, they are not in danger of going extinct anytime soon. Each of these four distinct kinds of African crocodiles continues to get bigger for the entirety of their lives.
Crocodile Subspecies
The Nile crocodile is infamous for its broad muzzle, enormous size, and lethal nature. The color shifts from a darker bronze to a brownish-black hue as it matures. If you are going on a crocodile hunt in Africa, the perfect Nile crocodile trophy is between thirteen and fifteen feet long. Nile Crocodiles can make it through their lives in brackish water, although they are most at home in freshwater environments in sub-Saharan Africa.
The practice of crocodile hunting in Africa often evokes mental pictures of these dangerous carnivores. Recent studies have shown that the crocodiles in West Africa and the Nile are different species. Its territory extends to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, including the Gambia. Because it is recognized as one of the world's species that are most at risk of extinction, it is illegal to hunt this animal.
One can find the Slender-snouted crocodile in Africa’s central and western regions. It is a medium-sized reptile that consumes fish and small animals for the most part as its diet. Adults usually weigh between 275 and 500 lbs. and range in length from 9 to 13 ft. Crocodiles are often not considered trophy animals by hunters in Africa, as they are primarily killed for their flesh and hide rather than for their skin. This is one reason why some hunters do consider shooting them.
The last of the crocodile species is the dwarf crocodile. It is the world's smallest known crocodile species and may be found in a range from Angola to Senegal. It has a color that is consistent across its entirety and is heavily armored. It is a shy nocturnal hunter living in tropical woodlands and only comes out at night. It digs itself a tunnel where it may hide during the day, and the tunnel sometimes includes an entrance that leads underwater.
Crocodile Hunting Information
The Nile crocodile is the target of most hunters' attention in Africa regarding crocodile hunting. Several countries in Africa offer opportunities for Nile crocodile hunts. These highly skilled predators can inhabit a sizeable population in almost all of Africa's main rivers. Many people from Africa took their final bath at the hands of a Nile crocodile. Crocodiles are easily identifiable by their sharp teeth, long tails, and voracious appetites.
A croc will consume virtually anything that he can get his mouth on. Anything that he takes in will be digested by him as well. When crocadile hunting, it is essential to remember that if the animal is given the opportunity, it may choose to make you its next meal.
Nile Crocodiles have been found to have had everything from warthog to pebbles in their guts at various times. If you get too close to a hungry crocodile while it is in its feeding mode, the crocodile's stomach acids are powerful enough to dissolve bone and even your shoes. Also, it would help if you didn’t automatically assume that a reptile the size of a dinosaur with a brain the size of a corn cob is slow. It has been reported that crocodiles have been seen emerging from murky water thirty feet from the bank and successfully capturing an impala before the impala could retreat to a safe distance.
Because their teeth are shaped, they cannot be used for chewing. They are adept at grasping and retaining some portion of the body of the prey they are eating. After that, they rotate until that particular bodily part has been removed. Whenever it opens its mouth, whatever is in it is immediately swallowed. If, for some reason, the animal is too big to eat, the Nile crocodile will drag it to the river's bottom and conceal it behind a tree root so it can tear it into small enough pieces for the crocodile to consume. The Nile crocodile is not particular about the food that it consumes.
Hunting Crocs in Africa
The pursuit of crocodiles in Africa can be an exciting activity. The Nile crocodile is a cold-blooded species that can endure significant pain while maintaining its viability. Professional hunters often use an old African proverb, and despite its age, it remains just as relevant now as it was a century ago. The crocodile is not considered dead until its hide has been salted and appears in the trophy room. Despite this, it might be wise to have some appropriate weapons.
Crocodiles do not have warm blood, so they must bask in the sun to maintain a consistent temperature throughout their body. They spend a lot of time dozing off on the riverside to increase their internal temperature by absorbing the sun's rays. Because it is challenging to keep up with them, the safari truck is typically parked at least one-half mile from the riverbank, and the hunter goes into the area from there.
They have a keen ability to pick up on the vibrations that animals create when they are near them. It should not be necessary to state that the approach should be made in a low-key manner. Because if it hears you coming, the crock will hide in the river until the threat is gone.
Shot Placement for Hunting Crocs
There is a possibility that the shot distance could be anything from 50 yards to more than 200 yards. The hunter's proficiency will determine this with the rifle and their capacity to get close to the crocodile. If a Nile crocodile is shot but does not immediately die, it will most likely flee to deeper water, sink to the river floor, and pass away, after which it will be lost.
It is essential to keep in mind that a hard skull serves to preserve the delicate brain. It is necessary to shoot the very rear of the eyes. It would help if you approached the target from the side because the kill spot will be two to three inches wide and deep.
What is a Good Caliber for Hunting Crocs
An adequate caliber for crocodile hunting would be a 30-caliber rifle that is reliable and stocked with at least a solid 180-grain Trophy Bonded Tip bullet. This bullet should have ballistics of 2900 feet per second and 3500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Rifles with a caliber of 33 to 35 caliber and a bullet of 250 grains are superior alternatives to consider. On the other hand, because you will most likely be shooting while lying on your stomach, anything with a caliber of.375 or higher may bruise your shoulder
Crocodile Hunting Booking Agents
Charity Safaris provides some of the best crocodile hunting in South Africa and Zimbabwe. With the assistance of our experienced guides, you can go on crocodile hunts that will result in a prized trophy. In addition, they provide reasonably priced packages for a Cape Buffalo, Sable, and Crocodile combination hunt. Get in touch with them to organize the hunt of a lifetime.
