Jack Brittingham's 2003 African Hunt
Field Report #8 - July 23, 2003
Ugalla River Update
Hello Everybody,
This is the final installment in a hunt that could not have been any more action packed. For the last several days we have been intensifying our efforts at finding a crocodile that will exceed fifteen feet in length. The process has involved a search, both on foot and by cruiser, that covered more than forty miles of the Ugalla River. 
From the vehicle, we could access half of this distance, as the road (really more of a trace) meandered back and forth through areas where the river was visible. The other areas which were covered on foot, were covered several times resulting in about thirty miles on foot, which has been some of the most fun I have had. While looking for crocodiles we jumped a leopard out of a thicket at less that twenty-five yards. We also walked up on a monitor lizard that never knew of our approach, as his head was in a hole previously used as a nest by a crocodile. When he saw us he kicked it into high gear in a hurry. We were less than five feet from him at the time!
During our search we saw more than 100 crocodiles that would have exceeded ten feet. Approximately half of these would have exceeded twelve feet. I can assure you that, at no point in this forty mile stretch of river, would you be safe in swimming to the other side. It is even uncomfortable to stand near the waters edge, as it is muddy, and not unusual for a set of eyes to mysteriously appear briefly, sometimes within twenty-five feet of the shore.
After locating the most promising section of the river that seemed to contain several oversized suarians, we set up a bait by tying some of the remnants of my hippo to a tree close to the rivers edge. Some of the entrails were then placed in the water to get the scent flowing downstream. I also cut two pegs that I hammered into the ground fifteen feet apart, parallel to the river. A grass blind was erected across the river on the opposite shore at exactly 115 yards from the bait. Once we were settled in the blind, I set my rifle up and viewed the pegs through my Leopold 3x9 scope. By turning the magnification up to 9 power, the two pegs almost fit perfectly inside the perimeter of my scope, giving me an accurate way of measuring any croc that swam close to our bait.
Over the next two days, in the afternoons when the heat was high, we viewed as many as twenty-one crocs feeding on the bait at one time. I learned much about the alertness and incredible sense of smell these reptiles have. At one point there were seventeen crocs piled on top of one another, all within feet of a very odoriferous piece of hippo. The wind shifted to our backs and it was just a matter of seconds before this entire mass of reptilian flesh erupted into a mad dash for the safety of the Ugalla River. Once in the water only there eyes were visible, and they slowly moved away with only some of the smaller ones returning.
We finally settled on two crocs we thought were the biggest of the lot and tried to determine which way they headed after feeding. One of these two seemed to be the dominant crocodile in the area, often chasing the others away from the bait. This croc also appeared to be much darker in skin color than the others, which is a sign of advanced age. The other one we were interested in seemed to be slightly longer, but not as girthy, indicating a younger animal. So the decision was made to return the next morning, after the crocs had fed all night, and late enough that they would be out on the banks digesting their food. Thinking this particular croc always headed up river (which was also upwind from the bait) we began a walk along the bank using the trees and ant mounds as cover as we searched for this huge reptile. Almost a mile up from the bait we found what we were looking for. Several crocs, maybe seven or eight, were laying on the bank on the opposite side of the river. In their midst was the dark skinned croc that had displayed such dominant behavior at the bait site. He was laying parallel to the river which, if I could sneak into a shooting position, would offer an excellent opportunity for a brain shot (really the only shot you can take on a croc as just about anything else results in him getting into the river with a very slim chance of recovery).
My stalk began on hands and knees about eighty yards from the point at which I felt I could get a shot. I quickly went to my belly as the sparse cover played out. My best chance was to slow down my approach to a snails pace so as not to create any more noise in the dry grass that was necessary, and to decrease visible movement as much as possible to keep from being spotted. this resulted in a stalk of about sixty yards on my belly that took just over 35 minutes. Once I reached the point where I anticipated a clear shot at the croc, I found I had another problem to deal with; the bank sloped sharply away in the tall grass leaving me no opportunity to shoot from a prone position with my gun rested in any fashion. 
I could not sit up as they would surely see me and head for the water. Six feet in front of me I spotted a stick about as thick as my wrist and about twelve inches long. Protruding from one side of the stick was a branch of about five inches which would solve my dilemma if I could reach it. It was the longest six foot crawl of my life as the cover was minimal at best. Another ten minutes put me within reach of this very important piece of equipment. With it now secured I began to ease my 375 into position for the sixty-five yard shot. It was incredible how solid my rest was with the use of this otherwise insignificant stick as a brace.
I lined up my crosshairs half way between the back of the smile and the plate in back of his eyes, and on the top of his head. I tightened up on the trigger, concentrating on increasing the tension until the rifle jumped in my hands. The shot appeared to be on the money and I could hear Doug yelling, "Hit him again, Jack." There was no need for his concern, as I had another shot on the way almost before he could finish his sentence. The second shot hit right where the first one did, and the big croc never flinched, while all the others were in the water before my second shot was on its way. For an animal that spends the majority of its life either not moving, or moving very slowly, they are incredibly fast when they want to be.
After driving upriver to a crossing point and reversing course to the location of the croc, we finally had a chance to examine him up close. It is eerie to walk up on a reptile that big, wondering if he is truly out of the game. We picked up a couple of sticks and tossed them at him, confirming he was dead. He was immense, and two separate measurements confirmed his length at thirteen feet ten inches. I am sure the other croc was slightly longer, but would not have weighed as much as the one we got. It took six of us to load him in the cruiser after taking many photos. Now, I have to decide how I will mount him and where I will put him. These two decisions may have the same degree of difficulty and require a similar degree of finesse, as some aspects of the hunt itself!
I had a great time on this trip to Africa, from the first day I arrived until the day my hunt ended. I saw three outstanding animals in the last few days of the hunt; a Greater Kudu, a Roan Antelope, and a Sable, all of which I tried for unsuccessfully. 
Seeing such quality trophies confirms you are hunting in good country that is well managed. I wish I could have gotten them and, with more time, think we could have done so. But our priorities were big cats, buffalo, and a crocodile. On those we had great success during a hunt which was full of high quality stalks and hunting experiences which I will never forget. I can't wait until I return to Africa. April really isn't that far away!
Good hunting,
Jack Brittingham