When reading all these books of african hunters
who were real "men", most of them advise that if charged by a lion "STAND STILL...DON`T RUN"!
I can somehow see the point in NOT running because it will trigger something in the lion
but is there not accasions where the lion is gonna attack anyway??
John Hunter mentions something that the graveyard in Nairobi "were full of tombstones" with the inscribtion "mauled by lion".
I wonder if any of the dead actually could say
" I did stand still"

Do we have any "survives" here, who can set the record straight of what is "real to all this"

I think the advice was more along the lines of, "...stand your ground while shooting the lion, and hopefully stopping it."

This because if you run you have NO chance, but it you stand your ground "there is hope while there is lead in the air."

On the other hand I read the same thing about elephants but I've managed to run a few times without getting turned to jam. Prior to the first run the PH told me we would likely be doing some "rather hasty retreats."

JPK

Isn't it ok to run as long as you are not the slowest guy?

But typically the pot-bellied foreign client is the slowest guy. So he better stand his ground and place aimed shots.

Comment from one tracker to the other after running from elephants, as translated by the PH, who was laughing so hard he could hardly speak, "...the fat white guy sure can RUN..."

I scared the bejesus out of the faster of the trackers when, after a forty yard dash from the elephants, he pulled up and I was so close behind I about ran him over. The quote came after the third dash with me right on his heels.

Make it an eighty yard dash and he would have had to wait for me. On the other hand, put a lion behind us and I'm pretty sure I could have passed him like he was standing still!

Motivation is everything.

JPK

The reason not to run is...most lion charges halt in a cloud of dust and noise at 8-10 yards- if you run they keep comming. If the animal charging is one you intend to shoot- the question is accademic. When you are after a male and the bitches charge- don't run or I will end up shooting one and you will pay for it!

For the guides taking eco walks it is even more important- You get charged by a lion and the guide stands his ground with most of the clients and suddenly the lion swerves off and the guide sees a fat whatie man running off with a lion behind him.

Steve pope at mana pools has a party trick of taking clients to see the chitake pride, and he can just about guarantee a lion charge. Does it 20-30 times a year and has done so for the last six years. We have got some impressive footage and been able to time the charges and check speeds etc - but oneday steve's luck will run out and a bitch will decide that she's enough of entertaining clients and going to eat one- or a client will break and run

You can see some great Lion charge footage at the beginning of National Geographic's "WALKING WITH LIONS" that was filmed at Manna Pools National Park in Zimbabwes Zambezi Valley.
A top DVD of a great part of Africa.
ozhunter

Hello Ganyana,
Four friends of mine are leaving this very morning for Zimbabwe to hunt the Cape Buffalo. Will be gone I believe some 10-12 days on hunt. Don't know the firm they are hunting with or details, but interested to know if the buffalo hunting is as keen as they have been told?? Supposedly an elephant is on the list of game as well. All four are using doubles of and have practiced a fair amount with them, so if the occasion occurs, they should do well.
These folks have been on three previous hunts in other locations in Africa and have not been that pleased, but keep going back hoping for a better time?? Just curious to hear your thoughts since you are on the scene. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
The reason not to run is...most lion charges halt in a cloud of dust and noise at 8-10 yards- if you run they keep comming. If the animal charging is one you intend to shoot- the question is accademic. When you are after a male and the bitches charge- don't run or I will end up shooting one and you will pay for it!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I think I have the picture here...
..don`t run....SHOOT (and hit the thing)
John Taylor, I believe, states in his book "Pondoro" that on e should not attempt to climbe a tree...unless one were a squirrel...
the lions are just to fast, and can pluck you down like an aple

Driver, Send me a PM with details

Jens- If I have to shoot a female because you ran it will cost you two ways- 1) the game scout may deem the shooting to be your fault and not self defense, so it counts against your license - you get to gome home with a lioness that I shot (not you), that you have paid the trophy fee for a male for and a $250 fine for the wrong sex
2) I will have a very large hand out when it comes to tipping time to ensure my silence- and that you do not feature in one of my articles

When Geo. Hoffman was alive and my PH on my first safari he warned me of several things. First...there is nothing in Africa that you can outrun so stand your ground and kill it.
Two...if you are bit by a snake, remain calm, find a shade to sit in...kiss your ass goodbye cause you are most likely dead.
I lived by rule 1 and so far I have not had to worry about rule 2.
If rule 1 was to be needed I had considered shooting Geo. in the knee before I took off!
Needless to say...I miss George. I know some of the rest of you do too.

Posted 22 June 2006 10:55 by Ganyana
"The reason not to run is...most lion charges halt in a cloud of dust and noise at 8-10 yards-"

So how do you know they are going to stop?

I have shot one lion at 25 yards and he wasn't running at me, but that was close enough for me. Personally, if I find myself in a situation where a lion is charging me, I'm going to start shooting before it is inside 10 yards. I will worry about the trophy fee's later.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:

Jens- If I have to shoot a female because you ran it will cost you two ways- 1) the game scout may deem the shooting to be your fault and not self defense, so it counts against your license - you get to gome home with a lioness that I shot (not you), that you have paid the trophy fee for a male for and a $250 fine for the wrong sex

What, no increase in the daily rate??