Author Topic: hyena and crocodile hunting  (Read 1522 times)

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Offline jamaldog87

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hyena and crocodile hunting
« on: July 28, 2012, 08:21:17 AM »
well i was watching something on the history channel about  the Beast of Gévaudan and i got me thinking , do people hunt hyenas and if they do what is the gear that should be used? I did a little research  on-line about hunting them in ZIMBABWE and the laws there are as follows
 
Minimum requirements for rifles and bows
Class C game
 
  • Leopard, crocodile, hyena, kudu, sable antelope, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra, nyala, tsessebe, hartebeest, gemsbok, blesbok
  • A bullet diameter of at least 7mm (.284) and an energy level of 3,000 joules (2,115 ft-lbs) is necessary.
  • In practice this means a 7x57mm Mauser with a 140 grain bullet.
  • A compound bow with a draw weight of at least 32 kg (71 pounds) and an arrow of minimum 40 gram (624 grains) is required.

Class D game
 
  • Warthog, impala, reedbuck, bushbusk, sitatunga, jackal and animals smaller than 25 kg (56 lbs).
  • A bullet diameter of at least 5.56mm (.22) and an energy level of 850 joules (630 ft-lbs) is necessary.
  • In practice this means a .22 Hornet with a 45 grain bullet. However, most professional hunters will require a larger caliber like a .243.
  • A compound bow with a draw weight of at least 25 kg (56 pounds) and an arrow of minimum 30 gram (468 grains) is required.
  • A shotgun or a .22 rifle may be used for birds.

I found out with hyenas there hunted over bait most times but can be called in like in predator hunting. so would a 270win with a 150gr bullet be both lawful for hyena and a good pick and what about crocodile? with the crocodiles i was watching a show called Dangerous Game" on the outdoor life channel and they hunted one with a 375 H&H and it did not stop the beast(ended up going in the water looking for it and found it on a sand bar and killed it with 2-3 458 win rounds).
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Offline us920669

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Re: hyena and crocodile hunting
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2012, 03:36:51 AM »
Thanks for doing that research.  I never shot either of those animals, but during my African phase I did a whole lot of reading and listening.  The hyena is not tough like a buffalo but is still pretty big and ornery.  A 7 x 57 would would smoke one for sure, but I would still feel better with a bit more power - 30-06 or better.  The one I saw shot was with 375, so enough said.  The thing about a croc is, it has to be hit just right or you will lose the animal, and the critter's brain is not very big.  If you can drive tacks with a 243, great, but just remember that if you are sighted for 150 yards and the range is 40, you will hit low.  Most people usually only take 2 rifles to Africa, so whatever you use for plains game - 308, 30-06, 7 Mag, what ever, that's it.  Just get real good with it.
By the way, I have shot warthog, and I would never consider a varmint-type load.  The vitals are protected by so much gristle that a true high-power rifle is essential.  270 is great, my 300 Mag seemed about right.  Mine pegged the scale at 300 lbs, and after cutting it up and looking at it, I wished I had my 338.

Online Graybeard

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Re: hyena and crocodile hunting
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2012, 08:24:00 AM »
Bullets for the .270 Winchester are .277" in diameter as compared to 7mm at .284" so I'd assume that would not be allowed in the case of 7mm minimum. Plenty of power but doesn't meet the caliber requirement.


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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline us920669

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Re: hyena and crocodile hunting
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2012, 10:41:21 AM »
Well I'll be, you're absolutely right.  I didn't catch that.  I don't think they had the class system when I was in Zim in 2000.  Jamaldog, do you recall if Buffalo was Class A or B? How about Eland?  And is 375 still minimum for Buff?

Offline Grumulkin

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Re: hyena and crocodile hunting
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2012, 06:05:44 AM »
A 375 H&H Magnum and cartridges with similar power/diameter are legal for dangerous game everywhere it's hunted in Africa.


Just simplify things and take a 375 H&H Magnum; it will work fine on anything from small to big and the recoil is pretty reasonable.

Offline jamaldog87

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Re: hyena and crocodile hunting
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2012, 07:25:45 AM »
us920669 here the site i got my info from  http://www.intusafaris.com/intu-safari-rifles.cfm  they have a lot of good info there.
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Offline us920669

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Re: hyena and crocodile hunting
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2012, 03:45:19 PM »
Many thanks, Makuru.