To hunt Hippo or not?

[BRICKBURN]

Hey Wayne, my hippo hunt is to be a night on land. I love you stalking mountain pictures. I'm screwed. Lol. Decisions!

Chasing crop raiders on land is another type of hunt. You have to decide on the type of experience you want.

You can always go back?

 

[johnnyblues]

Chasing crop raiders on land is another type of hunt. You have to decide on the type of experience you want.

You can always go back?

Well the only problem speaking with Marius is the permit. Do we get it or not? Marius also said Val could take several days and it's a 3 hour drive. I only have 3 days after my DG hunt. I'm thinking to keep the hippo hunt, as it's on land at night ( should be exciteing) and do black WB bushbuck klippy and waterbuck. With only 3 days who knows what our luck will be. Hopefully with can get the DG down sooner that will give us additional days.

 

[BRICKBURN]

If you don't have the proper time do not do the Vaalies. It takes time to hunt them properly.

I want to read the Hippo story. Take a night vision GOPRO. I want to watch all the shaky video of you running your ass off to take cover from a pissed off Hippo.

 

[johnnyblues]

If you don't have the proper time do not do the Vaalies. It takes time to hunt them properly.

I want to read the Hippo story. Take a night vision GOPRO. I want to watch all the shaky video of you running your ass off to take cover from a pissed off Hippo.

Thanks!

 

[cls]

 

[johnnyblues]

Don't confuse me any more than needed please. Lol. Looks like we just won't have time enough to dedicate to them. Another hunt I guess

 

[rookhawk]

Well I'll be 60 this year so I assume the ivory will outlast me. Really tuff decision.

Thats a false assumption. I'm telling you that hippo is the lowest quality ivory in the world. People use mineral oil baths and every possible concoction trying to prevent loss/splitting as it dries. Not over decades, over days.

Look at any and all of the africa shaped wood plaques that have hippo teeth affixed. You'll note that many of them are split into two pieces and glued or bound back together. Drilling them to a board only makes things worse. Best way to present is pay the extra $$$ to have a brass cap affixed to the tooth base and then affix that brass/nickel cap to a box for presentation so there is less stress on the ivory.

It's all about the hunt anyway, so go for it if you think you'll enjoy the hippo hunt. I'm glad I did it once myself. I'm just making you aware that hunting hippo is A.) a total sh$t show with lots of before and after labor and screwing around whereas you could otherwise be hunting or doing something better with your precios time, B.) The trophy quality of the tusks are very low and you may be devastated to find they are not in good condition when they arrive back home, C.) you could be using the hippo trophy fee to hunt many other species of plains game, and D.) Hippo is one of the most delicious animals in all of Africa to eat.

Lastly, if you told me you were after leopard, hyena, croc or lion I'd tell you to definitely kill the hippo because pound for pound it is the cheapest bait you can buy.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[Buckdog]

I agree with what someone else said shoot the hippo! currently the political climate for hunting is in our favor. it will switch back again and they will go after banning whatever they call the maque cutesy stuff, aka, lions, leopards, hippos, elephants and giraffes. when you get opinions of these types or say hunting Africa they don't care much if you say oh just shooting those deer like things and you get the oh that's ok just don't kill any of this or that precious cute critters. I smile and nod and they can F off I shoot what I want none of their business.

 

[billc]

Sometimes trying to do to much is just not a good thing. I have made that mistake my self

You want to rush on the buff and hippo so you can do more. What not enjoy that hunt as more then just rushing to take them. Seems like you are taking away from the hunt by tryin to do to much all over the place.

 

[johnnyblues]

Sometimes trying to do to much is just not a good thing. I have made that mistake my self

You want to rush on the buff and hippo so you can do more. What not enjoy that hunt as more then just rushing to take them. Seems like you are taking away from the hunt by tryin to do to much all over the place.

Not really Bill. If the DG hunt goes the 6 days great. The PG hunt for me is just an excuse to hunt some more and stay in Africa as long as I can. My inner mind is saying hippo....AGH cool I guess. Can't afford the real skin hippo mount but the pedestal idea I have is also cool. I was not aware the teeth would split so quickly.

 

[johnnyblues]

Thats a false assumption. I'm telling you that hippo is the lowest quality ivory in the world. People use mineral oil baths and every possible concoction trying to prevent loss/splitting as it dries. Not over decades, over days.

Look at any and all of the africa shaped wood plaques that have hippo teeth affixed. You'll note that many of them are split into two pieces and glued or bound back together. Drilling them to a board only makes things worse. Best way to present is pay the extra $$$ to have a brass cap affixed to the tooth base and then affix that brass/nickel cap to a box for presentation so there is less stress on the ivory.

It's all about the hunt anyway, so go for it if you think you'll enjoy the hippo hunt. I'm glad I did it once myself. I'm just making you aware that hunting hippo is A.) a total sh$t show with lots of before and after labor and screwing around whereas you could otherwise be hunting or doing something better with your precios time, B.) The trophy quality of the tusks are very low and you may be devastated to find they are not in good condition when they arrive back home, C.) you could be using the hippo trophy fee to hunt many other species of plains game, and D.) Hippo is one of the most delicious animals in all of Africa to eat.

Lastly, if you told me you were after leopard, hyena, croc or lion I'd tell you to definitely kill the hippo because pound for pound it is the cheapest bait you can buy.

Let us know what you decide!

Thanks' for that information. I was completely unaware of the ivory being of such poor quality. Although I am thinking of doing the skull on a pedestal I d hate to see the teeth split so quickly. Even the pedestal mount I m considering is expensive. Going to think about it for a few days. I ll let everyone know. Thanks all.

 

[MT Griz]

Hi Johnny! For some reason I always wanted to hunt a Hippo. Not sure why really, maybe just the massive size and the work to get into position to take the shot. Then the massive effort for recovery. The trophy for me besides the hunt itself would be the skull (the teeth are nice but just part of the skull for me) also maybe a chunk/panel of hide tanned and made into something. The way things are going, not sure how much longer we will be able to hunt them, so if you want one now is probably a good time to do it. I don't think you could go wrong with Marius he will make it fun, exciting and meaningful. But there is no right or wrong answer. The plains game you are considering would also be great fun. So good luck my friend and no matter the choice enjoy your trip!

 

[johnnyblues]

Hi Johnny! For some reason I always wanted to hunt a Hippo. Not sure why really, maybe just the massive size and the work to get into position to take the shot. Then the massive effort for recovery. The trophy for me besides the hunt itself would be the skull (the teeth are nice but just part of the skull for me) also maybe a chunk/panel of hide tanned and made into something. The way things are going, not sure how much longer we will be able to hunt them, so if you want one now is probably a good time to do it. I don't think you could go wrong with Marius he will make it fun, exciting and meaningful. But there is no right or wrong answer. The plains game you are considering would also be great fun. So good luck my friend and no matter the choice enjoy your trip!

Thank you sir. Agreed it should be a blast on land at night. My head is spinning on this one.

 

[Bsto270]

I agree with what someone else said shoot the hippo! currently the political climate for hunting is in our favor. it will switch back again and they will go after banning whatever they call the maque cutesy stuff, aka, lions, leopards, hippos, elephants and giraffes. when you get opinions of these types or say hunting Africa they don't care much if you say oh just shooting those deer like things and you get the oh that's ok just don't kill any of this or that precious cute critters. I smile and nod and they can F off I shoot what I want none of their business.

@Buckdog I have told a few people in this situation "The only reason I'm not hunting (lion, elephant, etc) is because I don't have the money or the space to put the trophy." I think Giraffe mounts are awesome, but I flat out don't have the space at this point. Maybe someday.

 

[ActionBob]

@Buckdog I have told a few people in this situation "The only reason I'm not hunting (lion, elephant, etc) is because I don't have the money or the space to put the trophy." I think Giraffe mounts are awesome, but I flat out don't have the space at this point. Maybe someday.

Giraffe, flat skin rug for your floor... Oh, and walls, par t of the ceiling...

 

[ActionBob]

Sometimes trying to do to much is just not a good thing. I have made that mistake my self

You want to rush on the buff and hippo so you can do more. What not enjoy that hunt as more then just rushing to take them. Seems like you are taking away from the hunt by tryin to do to much all over the place.

+1 on this! Great bit of wisdom Bill.

 

[adgunner]

Johnny, last year I hunted buff, this year lioness, next year probably spotted Hyena. Shoot the hippo while you can, the plains game will always be there and besides Hippo on land looks like it would be a great hunt! One thing I love about hunting with Marius is you can just go with the flow, if the hippo hunt comes off quick you have more time for PG, if not you use what you have left on the PG. Either way you choose, best of luck!

 

[ActionBob]

Thanks' for that information. I was completely unaware of the ivory being of such poor quality. Although I am thinking of doing the skull on a pedestal I d hate to see the teeth split so quickly. Even the pedestal mount I m considering is expensive. Going to think about it for a few days. I ll let everyone know. Thanks all.

Johnny I think they put in replica teeth, as in most mounts. So your pedistal mount should be fine as long as you let the taxidermist do that. I suggest you visit with your taxidermist and even others to get their opinions.

My thoughts on hippo taxidermy is you can get a nice pedestal mount, plus keep the skull, get extra replica teeth for the skull and then a plaque with the real capped teet, then the feet for something, and tan some leather. I realize you may not wish to spend this much but at least check into the replica teeth.

 

[johnnyblues]

Ok call me crazy. My wife does all the time....My initial hunt was buffalo and plains game. For some reason hippo jumped into mind. If I can't have the mount I really want due to the damn budget.. I am going to concentrate on the 6 day's to find a good buff. If lady luck smiles on us and it happens in 2/3 days great I ll use that time to hunt Val, klippy and the other PG I desire. Final decision......I know you watching Marius. There we go. I m comfortable with this.

 

[enysse]

If you can take the hippo. The plains game hunting in the mountains can be extremely fun and that is a true passion for me. But if you are hunting a cape buffalo, maybe try to get the hippo too! You can use one gun for the hunt.