I would like to know who are members of the LCTF, I currently understand;
Aaron Nielson
LEDVM
gerryb
Brett Adam Barringer

If I am wrong on any of the above, please let me know and I will remove.

I would like the members of the LCTF (and anyone else that wants to, to post their experience hunting wild lions.

to his credit, gerryb has already discussed his hunts in another thread, I would encourage him to copy and paste that info on this thread with pics if available.

I would hope we could discuss aging (preferrably with pics), hunting methods and how they would change with the new requirements.

I am not a member but will start with my 1 hunt.

I hunted lion with Glenn Stockil at Shangaan hunters in the Save Conservancy, May 2010.

Shot the lion on 15th night of 16 day hunt.

Spent 6-7 12-14 hr nights in 2 different blinds.
Sat in a tree blind the first night that a big male had visited the night before. Fairly sizeable group of females with cubs showed up, fed all night. Male never showed, we later found out he traveled about 6-8 kms to the bait I shot my lion on later and got in a fight with my male and 2 females.

Hunted the next 5-6 nights at the bait where the fight occured. 2 Females showed up, watered and fed all but one night, male came with them a couple of times but never came into bait, we got a fleeting glimpse at him once, but couldn't tell what he was.

Male and 2 females showed up at the bait on 15th night, well after dark,couldn't use any light as the male would not stand for it. Male and 1 female on bait while other female watered. I could see in the moonlight (50yds) his mane and that he looked to be 40% (est.) larger than the female, no doubt a big male. Honestly, I did not have a clue how old he was, what color his nose was, what color his coat was, if he had spots or black patches on his legs, I shot him anyways. Died 40-50 yds from bait, females would not leave they paced in the brushline until we left.

below is the lion:



Lion was 9'7", 503lbs, skull was 24-5/8 (cured), and the conservancy aged him at 7-9 years. I do not know what method they used or how accurate it was. I cannot tell you that he didn't have a whole herd of cubs somewhere, I can tell you that we never saw any. I feel confident if we would have tried to get 48 hours of viewing before shooting, I would not have gotten him. If the new restrictions are adopted, you will not be able to do what I did without running the risk of losing your lion or possibly even committing a crime. It was a tremendous experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat and not change a thing. So, let's hear it?

Correct me if I misunderstood, but you shot an animal you could not positively identify in the dark without lights?

SSR

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Correct me if I misunderstood, but you shot an animal you could not positively identify in the dark without lights?

SSR

Dark yes, no lights yes, but I did not pick up on the not able to ID part.

Nice lion by the way.

OK Brad, I'll bite.

I am not good data, I spent three days baiting and exactly 2 hours in the machan, first lion hunt. Nyaminga, Alister Norton.

(sorry gerryb)



And I am not a member either (how old is this one?)

Steve

That is good luck. I'll guess that that lion is six plus. The side of his face looks old but from front he might not as old. But i still think he was six and I would have shot him for sure.

Nice lions! Thanks for sharing!

jpj3

Very nice lions! Congrats to both!

Guys, somehow this ended up in the wrong forum, It is posted as well in the Lion Conservation forum. I don't know how, probably user error, either way, carry on.

quote:

Correct me if I misunderstood, but you shot an animal you could not positively identify in the dark without lights?

SSR

I assume this is the question you secretary Lane PM'd me about. I stated it just as it happened, we had seen the lions track several times, had mane hairs off the bait, the male and 2 females were the only ones that had fed on the bait previously, It was obvious by size difference that it was a male lion, I could see the outline of what looked like a full mane. I had no idea how old he was, what color his nose was, etc., I think I said all of this already. Please say what you have to say.

quote:

I assume this is the question you secretary Lane PM'd me about.

For the record...Cross L had nothing to do with the PM I sent you Brad...he knew nothing of it. I just wanted you to answer his question.

quote:

I just wanted you to answer his question.

my apologies, I had to work this morning. Is there something you were trying to figure out that you couldn't from what I originally posted?

Nope...I got it the first time.