Good luck but I'll never be able to help......lol......wish I could! To the top for ya'.

 

Cam Hanes shot a dead hippo for testing, and Josh Bowmar took one on video. They were both pulling 90+ pounds. Those are the only two examples I can think of. They were both shooting heavy arrows and penetration friendly broadheads from what I remember. You can probably still find the videos on YouTube. Hope this helps, good luck!

 

Good luck. The late Peter Hathaway Capstick said the meat makes filet mignon.
Trivia: Capstick says they are one of the biggest killers of humans in Africa. The other is the crocodile. Capstick says the hippo won't eat you, just chew you up and spit you out. Recommended reading: Death in the Long Grass.

 

African outfitters will not allow bow hunters to hunt without a PH (Professional Hunter) that'll have a large bore rifle to stop any charges and finish off wounded animals.
Hippos kill more humans than crocodiles, cape buffalo and lions combined.

Your outfitter should have some criteria for your bow setup. Their assistance with what you'll need will be a great help. 💯 Good luck to you, sir!

 

Hippo is on board for my next Safari as well. I will use a similar setup to what I used for buffalo. A levitate (or similar spec bow) at around 90-91lb and a 750-800grain arrow.

 

Thanks I’m thinking of using my 80 to 85lb bow with a 700 to 750grain arrow.

 

I helped a guy out years ago with an Elephant rig, 100lb PSE Gorilla, new bows around 85/90 would outperform it easy.

Two Blade head from steelforce, was 210 grains if I remember correctly. I built him arrows, a 2315 with a carbon express 300 epoxied inside, finished arrow was 1085 grains!

Those arrows burried to half the shaft in a good target and the bow was really quiet!

He killed a bull and the arrow disaopeared into the Elephant but I do not think it was a complete pass through.

Despite the hate for Bowmar I think he may be the only recent hippo videos, his wife even killed one I think.

Tom Miranda has a video as well.

Good luck!

 

Yep, I know one guy that has done it., he says 1,000gr arrow minimum

 

Sarah Bowmar shot one...

 

Well dang it. One of my bucket list items was being the first woman to kill a hippo. Now what?

has she harpooned a humpback? That’s my backup plan

 

I’ll get hate mail for saying this but I will never buy into huge heavy arrows pushing 900 to 1000 grains arrows. Most of it is based on a study by a stick bow hunter 20 years ago and It’s out dated. There’s been a lot more testing in the last few years by hunters and engineers showing there’s a happy medium between light and heavy arrow weight that show better in penetration. A perfectly tuned arrow and great broadhead is a must. Just my opinion.

I leaning towards the Ironwill Buf series for my broadhead, Easton axis arrows, Ethics insert and collar to add weight and support.

Anyone have thoughts on another broadhead? I heard German Kinetics has started making the original broadhead again.

 

I'd be looking into monolithic tool steel options, but the Iron Will would be a good choice as well.

 

If my ex mother-in law is in with those other hippos, and you bag her, I'll add you to my permanent Christmas list!

 

Have you ever wondered why there are only mother-in-law jokes and no father-in-law jokes?

 

Ahh yes the poachers.

As if….

 

Not at all a Bomar fan but got to give credit where credit is due. Killing a hippo with a 65 lb bow. Pretty darn impressive.😉👍

 

That’s a very strong statement based off the fact you have no idea what I have or have not killed. Just shows me you’re willing to say something as fact based off emotion as you clearly did about me.

Secondly, I stated there’s no need for 900 to 1000grain arrows and you made my point for me. 4 water buffalo killed with 800grain arrows with pass throughs. 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

Secondly, I stated there’s no need for 900 to 1000grain arrows and you made my point for me. 4 water buffalo killed with 800grain arrows with pass throughs. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I have never hunted anything larger than elk, but a water buffalo is not near as substantial as a hippo, it’s a completely different class of animal…

I would assume that a hippo is closer to the elephant class.

 

never understood the desire to travel halfway across the globe to go on a 'trophy' hunt

I am sure it boosts the local economy to have a rich westerner come in for a week to shoot something, get some, pics and jet

 

And I have never understood the desire to stay in one place, not see what is over the next horizon, explore and experience new cultures and game and immerse yourself with new challenges. It is different for everyone. What you might like I would call boring and what I like you might call wasteful.

 

Man I love this forum 😁

 

I think you need a couple dozen of these arrows: 12 VIRGIN GOAT STEEL FOOTED 0 SPINE ARROW SHAFTS & 12 PINK TUSK FUSION RODS & FUSION ROD WRENCH & REMOVAL TOOL & COLD CARBON 72 EPOXY Be sure to check that price tag before you hit the order button! And have a guy behind the hippo, so when the arrow goes "all the way through" your dangerous game, he can catch it. 😂

 

I think you need a couple dozen of these arrows: 12 VIRGIN GOAT STEEL FOOTED 0 SPINE ARROW SHAFTS & 12 PINK TUSK FUSION RODS & FUSION ROD WRENCH & REMOVAL TOOL & COLD CARBON 72 EPOXY Be sure to check that price tag before you hit the order button! And have a guy behind the hippo, so when the arrow goes "all the way through" your dangerous game, he can catch it. 😂

Holy Cow!! Those arrows are so expensive they dont list the price until it’s in your cart!!! The arrows cost more then my new R7 I bought last year.

 

More than a week. Many countries require two weeks or more depending on what you are hunting. If you are fortunate to pursue The Big Five, it can be a minimum of 45 days. I deleted a site that gave a rundown of the cost of a safari but I deleted it. And they are not all Westerners. I have books where people from Europe were some of the more repeat hunters. Me? I felt lucky to take a day to go squirrel hunting.

 

Found what I referred to earlier- Capstick said the hippo tenderloins make great filets.

 

While I have no reason to dispute this Capstick said a whole lot of stuff that was less than accurate. He spun a great tale and really brought the reader in. I have many posts on here about him and how he ignited my passion for Africa like no other, as an author he is one of my favorites, but not sure he would be my go to on actual good food.

 

Found what I referred to earlier- Capstick said the hippo tenderloins make great filets.

I've heard that deep fried hippo anuses make great calamari rings.

 

The old leather Cheerio

 

How did we go from hippo setup to fried ass rings?

 

I have spoken to a few people and they seem to people an elephant is in its own class and lot tougher then a hippo as far as penetration.

 

Tough lesson to learn if you spend tens of thousands of dollars to go hunt one, choose poorly on equipment, and get stomped into mud and blood pie for your lack of wisdom.
Plus, it's not like you just show up with your whitetail set up and convince an outfitter it's good enough. He'll let you know quick it won't work, he won't allow you to use it, and you'll be borrowing his big rifle for your hunt.

 

Elusive little buggers!

 

Cook-Have you hunted a hippo or Cape Buffalo before?

 

Cook-Have hunted a hippo or Cape Buffalo before?

I have hunted with an outfitter who does and he has bow weight and arrow weight minimum standards.
I wouldn't hunt either. Cost and limited space for trophies is my issue. My wife is already wondering where I'm putting the plains game I've taken so far.

 

To be clear I’ve already spoken to some well know people that have done extensive testing but I was hoping to find someone else thot had already taken a hippo.