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Thump · July 30, 2011, 12:32 PM

Hippos are ruminants, and they bloat once dead - enough so that they become slightly buoyant. I shot mine in a tidal river in Mozambique. Approximately 40 yards out, he bobbed the top of his head for a breath about every 30-45 seconds. Shot between the ear and his eye, he went straight down. Approx. an hour later the body gasses began to take over and the locals in dugout canoes were able to locate him. With the incoming tide up the river, three canoes with nine paddlers in each, towed him to our hunt camp. There my guide hooked a "Range Rover" cable around his neck and slid him up a muddy ramp the native locals had dug in the bank of the river.
He was 12'+ in length and estimated at ~7,500-8,00#. After my photo session the locals carved him up and consumed everything but the teeth and toenails... Nothing is wasted in Africa.

July 30, 2011, 12:32 PM	#17
Thump Member Join Date: July 16, 2011 Location: Dunwoody, GA Posts: 34	Hippos are ruminants, and they bloat once dead - enough so that they become slightly buoyant. I shot mine in a tidal river in Mozambique. Approximately 40 yards out, he bobbed the top of his head for a breath about every 30-45 seconds. Shot between the ear and his eye, he went straight down. Approx. an hour later the body gasses began to take over and the locals in dugout canoes were able to locate him. With the incoming tide up the river, three canoes with nine paddlers in each, towed him to our hunt camp. There my guide hooked a "Range Rover" cable around his neck and slid him up a muddy ramp the native locals had dug in the bank of the river. He was 12'+ in length and estimated at ~7,500-8,00#. After my photo session the locals carved him up and consumed everything but the teeth and toenails... Nothing is wasted in Africa. __________________ "A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition."