What can be done with Crocodiles?

[Fatback]

That's fantastic-looking skin, may I know who tanned it for you? And of course, you can make some bespoke shoes, boots etc...

American Tanning Company in Griffin, GA is who I’ve used for all my alligators from
here in Georgia. They do a fantastic job.

 

[randallhebert]

This was done in FL about 25 years ago, and unfortunately I do not remember who the tanning business was.

More than likely Sebring custom tanning in Sebring florida

 

[Field28]

I gotta have one of these before too long...

Coffee or card table either one!

 

[Philip Glass]

Like a Bear rug?

Yes

 

[spike.t]

Thinking of adding a Croc to my next hunt. What interesting things have you done with skull and hides? I am sure I do not want to fasten it to my living room ceiling for display, but it would start a discussion for sure.

OK here is photo of the croc on the ceiling he sent me...

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I got this treatment done on the skull. I like it.

I have the skin naturally tanned on felt… Not yet displayed.

 

[Mort Hill]

This originally was done as a 13’ 2” flat skin rug. I guess I am spatially challenged as I did not realize how big that really was. After spending years in the garage, I got creative and cut the head off the rug so it could be displayed on my porch. Don’t miss the rest of the rug at all.

 

[flying sailor]

OK here is photo of the croc on the ceiling he sent me...

View attachment 650473

I thought I might be the only one to think of that. looks good. Another ceiling thought- I told Carien at Bullseye taxidermy that I would mount my wart hog shoulder on my bedroom ceiling. Being a widower I can do what I want. She pointed out the next Mrs. would not go for it. Besides, if it fell in the middle of the night, the papers would say" Woman injured in her bedroom by a wart hog." Not possible in the midwest. Had to concede that women are right , most of the time.

 

[CBH Australia]

This originally was done as a 13’ 2” flat skin rug. I guess I am spatially challenged as I did not realize how big that really was. After spending years in the garage, I got creative and cut the head off the rug so it could be displayed on my porch. Don’t miss the rest of the rug at all.

View attachment 650482

I would not have the floor space to display it properly either.
But I did start to think a Croc rug might be cheaper than a bear rug.
I can’t see myself spending the full amount of a proper grizzly bear hunt with n myself.

 

[Sarg]

I gotta have one of these before too long...

View attachment 650417


View attachment 650419


View attachment 650420

Coffee or card table either one!

This is Conrad the 14-15ft Croc that lived in the Billabong next to our camp in the NT, we crossed the Lagoon most days in a small boat to a Cruiser on the other side & came back laden with Buffalo heads & meat.

He was shot in the head years early, loosing his right by a fill in Dickhead Guide, unfortunately I heard he was killed a couple of years back after killing & eating a Native Ranger.

His female always sat just off the back of the moored boat in thick reeds, I slipped & feel in one day when the boat shot out from under me, couldn’t believe I was still alive for a while !!

 

[spike.t]

OK here is photo of the croc on the ceiling he sent me...

View attachment 650473

OK here is photo of the croc on the ceiling he sent me...

View attachment 650473

And here it with cruiser parked behind...

 

[Sabre]

My favorite for alligator/crocodile is a Euro for the skull and something called a "hornback" hide. They have the coolest skulls of almost any animal out there.

I don't have much interest in the full body mounts. Most of them don't turn out looking that good, they cost a fortune, and take up a ton of space. Not that I haven't seen some good ones, but I've seen a lot more bad than good.

 

[Altitude sickness]

As Forest Gumps friend Bubba would say:

You can make Croc Gumbo

Barbecue Croc

Coconut Croc

Croc cocktail

Roast Croc


A bronzed skull would be nice.

 

[Franco]

Thinking of adding a Croc to my next hunt. What interesting things have you done with skull and hides? I am sure I do not want to fasten it to my living room ceiling for display, but it would start a discussion for sure.

Good for you - croc hunts are awesome. I have done both stalk/ambush and bait. I don't know how much research you've done, but the kill zone on a croc is small. Be prepared, a golf ball at 100 yds is a standard I've heard.

I've shot a lot of alligators, pistol at close range, the majority were caught on a bait line, some snagged with a treble hook, the biggest - 13'; crocs are monsters in comparison.

Baiting crocs is an experience like none other; large chunks of rotted meat are chained to a tree or post far enough out of the water to draw the crocs out where you can shoot them without them getting back into the water. You need to kill or spine the croc on the first shot, if he can move you risk losing him. Next comes a delightful selection from the "gut bucket" scattered about on the shore, from the bait to the water's edge. Then, bits of rotted delicacies are tossed into the water along with some of the "gut bucket" gravy. At this point, the trackers haul ass outa there. If the rotten bait didn't spark an interest, taking the lid off the "GB" sounded the dinner bell and the crocs are on the move.

I have seen crocs on the opposite shore of where we are baiting, enter the water and reemerge just a few feet off-shore with all of us standing there in plain sight.

Once the baiting is complete you get behind a blind and wait. Watching a croc feeding frenzy is worth the baiting effort. A prehistoric monster, designed to simply kill, eat, and propagate emerges from the water and it's survival of the fittest. There are no courtesies extended, no "Go ahead - after you - I insist", it's size matters and every man for himself. The crocs grab hold of the bait and shake violently to tear off a portion, if unsuccessful - they roll trying to yank the bait from the chain. It's both frightening and fascinating, the savagery mesmorizes you until a tap from the PH breaks the spell. He points to the water and you watch in awe as Godzilla surfaces and fights his way to the bait, pushing smaller crocs aside and engaging the larger ones with his massive jaws.

"Holy shit, HOO-LYY SHIT" is what entered my mind, your experience may differ as results may vary; but now it's time to make that first shot count.

I chose a Euro mount and flat skin for this croc, you can decide to process for a rug or for leather.

Here's a few pictures: The above mentioned croc, and a couple of the gators - one as a flat skin and the other a full-body mount. Crocs and gators take up a lot of room. The flat skin gator was a bait-line kill, and not an easy one, it required going into brush and thick grass and was a team effort. The full body gator was snaged with a treble hook in the left hind leg and when he realized who had him - turned for attack. He passed within inches of me as he lunged for my buddy in the back of the boat - the guy pulling on the snag line. I hit him in his right eye, the bullet passing into his brain.

I've done euros and head mounts, a gator euro is cool - especially if its' got big teeth.

Yost or American Tanning and Leather can process your skin. I think ATL has more color and finish options. My wife, the undisputed queen of bags, purses, shoes, vests, jackets, and accessories has ATL on speed dial.

Good luck with your hunt and enjoy it. I don't add plains game to my hunts - I add croc and hippo (shoot the hippo first to use as bait).

Here's the pitures:
The croc

And the gators

 

[flying sailor]

Good for you - croc hunts are awesome. I have done both stalk/ambush and bait. I don't know how much research you've done, but the kill zone on a croc is small. Be prepared, a golf ball at 100 yds is a standard I've heard.

I've shot a lot of alligators, pistol at close range, the majority were caught on a bait line, some snagged with a treble hook, the biggest - 13'; crocs are monsters in comparison.

Baiting crocs is an experience like none other; large chunks of rotted meat are chained to a tree or post far enough out of the water to draw the crocs out where you can shoot them without them getting back into the water. You need to kill or spine the croc on the first shot, if he can move you risk losing him. Next comes a delightful selection from the "gut bucket" scattered about on the shore, from the bait to the water's edge. Then, bits of rotted delicacies are tossed into the water along with some of the "gut bucket" gravy. At this point, the trackers haul ass outa there. If the rotten bait didn't spark an interest, taking the lid off the "GB" sounded the dinner bell and the crocs are on the move.

I have seen crocs on the opposite shore of where we are baiting, enter the water and reemerge just a few feet off-shore with all of us standing there in plain sight.

Once the baiting is complete you get behind a blind and wait. Watching a croc feeding frenzy is worth the baiting effort. A prehistoric monster, designed to simply kill, eat, and propagate emerges from the water and it's survival of the fittest. There are no courtesies extended, no "Go ahead - after you - I insist", it's size matters and every man for himself. The crocs grab hold of the bait and shake violently to tear off a portion, if unsuccessful - they roll trying to yank the bait from the chain. It's both frightening and fascinating, the savagery mesmorizes you until a tap from the PH breaks the spell. He points to the water and you watch in awe as Godzilla surfaces and fights his way to the bait, pushing smaller crocs aside and engaging the larger ones with his massive jaws.

"Holy shit, HOO-LYY SHIT" is what entered my mind, your experience may differ as results may vary; but now it's time to make that first shot count.

I chose a Euro mount and flat skin for this croc, you can decide to process for a rug or for leather.

Here's a few pictures: The above mentioned croc, and a couple of the gators - one as a flat skin and the other a full-body mount. Crocs and gators take up a lot of room. The flat skin gator was a bait-line kill, and not an easy one, it required going into brush and thick grass and was a team effort. The full body gator was snaged with a treble hook in the left hind leg and when he realized who had him - turned for attack. He passed within inches of me as he lunged for my buddy in the back of the boat - the guy pulling on the snag line. I hit him in his right eye, the bullet passing into his brain.

I've done euros and head mounts, a gator euro is cool - especially if its' got big teeth.

Yost or American Tanning and Leather can process your skin. I think ATL has more color and finish options. My wife, the undisputed queen of bags, purses, shoes, vests, jackets, and accessories has ATL on speed dial.

Good luck with your hunt and enjoy it. I don't add plains game to my hunts - I add croc and hippo (shoot the hippo first to use as bait).

Here's the pitures:
The croc
View attachment 655727
View attachment 655728
And the gators
View attachment 655729

That is really terrific!!

 

[Tra3]

Don’t forget belts and watch bands!
I had multiple belts made. Now, I’m waiting on a variety of watch bands.

 

[MarkB]

After all the above options provided have you made any decision? I say it depends on first, available space and then funds available.

The camp I shot mine in had a 16.6 croc life-size in bar area, it was awesome to look at and got lots of oos and ahs but needed a massive space to display. Also they are hard on funds to mount life-size. I ended up having mine, skin tanned as flat and skull as euro, completed for 1/4 cost in SA vs here at home. Not many crocs or alligators up here in Canada so my tannery told me "price quote is outrageous because we do not want to do it". Made my choice easy. Glad I did, its still one of the first things people go look at.

Good luck on your choice.

MB