Now, that's a croc! This was an exceptionally large crocodile, more than 15 feet from nose to tail. A river monster like this might be 70 years old and has seen it all. The author, Andrew Dawson and crew pose with the largest croc they've ever seen. To enlarge this image, please click HERE

Art Wheaton used the spine shot on that big croc in Tanzania and executed it perfectly. Just possibly this shot offers a bit more margin for error since you have some latitude left and right (not much up and down). The walnut-size brain is definitely the smaller target, but I think it might be an easier shot because those weird little horns offer a more precise aiming point. Also, if the crocodile is angled one way or another, you can still visualize where the brain lies: underneath, between and slightly in front of the projections.

The skull is relatively fragile; you don't need a big gun or a particularly hard bullet to reach that brain, but you'd better get it right. I used my .375 not for its power, but because the only other rifle I had available was a single-shot .30-06. Yes, it's a one-shot game, and that first shot better be right, but even with perfect shot placement there will be a lot of movement from the big reptiles. It's important to back up that first shot, so I chose the repeating rifle. Of what I had available, that was the correct choice, but if I had it to do over again I would want a very accurate rifle between 7mm and .30 caliber, and I'd want a minimum of a 3-9X scope.

Our hearts sank when the croc went into the water, but none of the several other crocodiles went with him. He swam around the point and lay there in the water, just his horns showing. After a time, we concluded it was natural movement for some crocodilian reason and just maybe he would come back. We studied it for a bit, and Andrew thought he might beach on the far side of the peninsula, where we couldn't see him. We crawled back, cut our way through a thicket and inched a few dozen yards up the island. It took another hot, miserable hour, and at no time was the croc we wanted in a shootable position.

Our target was the base of another tree, maybe 70 yards from the point. Just as we neared our goal the big fellow came out of the water on the far side, exactly as Andrew had predicted. Low crawling and butt crawling, we made it to the base of the tree. The crocodile was lying broadside, most of his body hidden by long grass. The head was clear, with other crocodiles on either side.

No rest was available, so I inched my way up the side of the tree, leaning into it with a tight sling. The head was almost broadside, quartering just slightly away, the horns plain, but again the crosshairs covered up everything I needed to hit. Seventy yards, the rifle maybe an inch high at that distance, its normal group size spreading across everything I needed to hit. I wasn't shaking, but I was sweating heavily. I had no margin for error whatsoever. At the angle, I had to center the crosshairs on and just under the horns, and I'd better not fluff this one.

I did the same up, down, left, right movement that I'd done before, finally centering the crosshairs on a spot I couldn't see. The rifle was steady; the angle looked right. I took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. At the shot the crocodile lifted into the air, half-rolling. At the same time there was a covey rise of crocodiles, seen and unseen, leaping over him, going past him, a mad panic of big green lizards.

Backup shots were fired when the right target was clear, but there was no need. The 270-grain Hornady, loaded very fast, had completely destroyed his brainpan. I'm really glad there are so few shots in hunting that require placement that precise; I don't think I could take the pressure.