Hippo Mount done

[Rob]

After a 2 year wait, I was able to get the skin mount of my hippo back.  I opted for a space saving mount.  I am pretty pleased with it.  It looks a bit more realistic in person than the photos represent.

I added some fake plants - still working on making that look right!

[Alchase]

That skull is awesome!

[Rob]

I posted these elsewhere, but thought I would add them in.

Had the feet made into an Ice bucket, and trashcans.

Also had the tail mounted

Had the skull done too.  (the one outside has a white tail fork in front to show size)

Also, had enough leather made to do a small couch...

[Rob]

Few field shots

We fed the whole village.  They all came out to help with the butchering process.

Somewhere in the middle of the last crowd shot was my hippo being carved up and shared with everyone.  They were really excited!

[Alchase]

Those pics with the locals would be worth the trip. The hippo is like the icing on the cake!

[gaddy]

It is hard to believe that one animal can make so many people happy. 

[Rob]

It actually brings tears to your eyes...

[sagerat]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing, what a hunt.

[Mr Mykiss]

Are there any programs that seek to provide the native folk with guns and ammo so they might be able to bango some of these critters in their backyard themselves?

[Rob]

Nope.  Having access to a gun in most African countries is a very difficult and expensive thing to do. 

The area we hunted in gets 2 to 4 hunters a year.  No roads into the area.  They farm corn and fish the tributaries.   The meat the hunters give them is all the red meat they get all year unless they kill a cow or goat which is not done often.

Their crops are raised by the hippos.  If you think elk are an issue, imagine a pod of hippo in a corn field!

Their kids play in the rivers just a few yards from  crocs and hippos.  They really appreciate the big crocs being removed as well as the bull hippos.  It is not unusual to find shoes in the croc stomachs.  No shoes in mine, just 150 or so rocks and pebbles.