Lion on Bait! Here's a couple of cool pictures a good friend of mine just sent me, note the date on the pics. Just thought you guys might like to see them.

I have a good guess on where that picture was taken, but maybe you'll just let us know.

Beautiful cat, by the way.

Is he a rug yet?

Very Cool Aaron!

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Originally posted by sandyhunter:
I have a good guess on where that picture was taken, but maybe you'll just let us know.

Somewhere in Africa my friend, but just for fun, let's hear your guess???

Fact is, I have called my buddy twice today. I have not been able to reach him yet.

Knowing it's coming from you, and knowing the quality of the lions in the area, I'm guessing it's the Lunga Luswishi of Zambia's Kafue. But maybe it's in the Save or Tanzania's Rungwa. Heck of a mane, that's for sure.

Sandyhunter - Well it definitely wouldn't be from Tanzania, as they would have no reason to be baiting since hunting there does not open until July 1st. Fairgame started a Lion hunt in Lunga Luswishi a few days ago, but nothing like this on bait yet. And, I have not received any photos from the Save recently. But your right, a fabulous cat for sure.

The guessing game continues?????????

San Diego ZOO?????

South Africa

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Originally posted by samir:
San Diego ZOO?????

Dammit Samir, how did you know?????

Kasono Busanga or Mumbwa? Or maybe it's somewhere less expected, like Mozambique or even CAR, since we're playing a game with it.

South Africa with Rigby Safaris? or another Zambian block?

Brett

Luangwa Valley, Zambia? Great mane, perhaps too full for Luangwa Lion.

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Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
South Africa with Rigby Safaris? or another Zambian block?

Brett

Sandyhunter - You & Brett seem to know a bit more about me than I am really comfortable with! I tried calling my friend 3 times now, and still no answer.

Lionhunter - I too would not have assumed the Luangwa right off, but Mr. Fouche has pictures of a lion in his area that is one of the best, wild, black-maned lions I have seen in a long time. He was trying to sell it for HUGE money a couple months ago, REALLY HUGE MONEY, but planned to donate a large portion of it for conservation. Not sure if he got it sold or not.

Ha! Such are the perils of celebrity, Mr. Neilson. Anyone with an interest in lion hunting has probably read your articles in DSC and ASG.

Are you ever going to tell us where this kitty had his picture taken?

Is it a lion from Richard Bell-Cross??? It looks like the brother of the one Mr. Knowlton took with Richard.

Kathi - No it's definitely not from Richard Bell-Cross.

Sandyhunter - Like I say, I am still not totally sure myself, but I am sure its none of the areas mentioned yet. When I find out, I'll let ya know.

Care to tell us your best guess? Must be somewhere in Zim (but not the Save), if it's not one of the countries/areas already mentioned.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Busch Gardens?

San Diego Zoo?

I'm out for sure, I was going to guess Save.

I would have said the Save or Luangwa. Thats a great cat!!!!!!

Playing my usual role of the skunk at the lawn party - Who the heck wants to come thousands of miles to hunt a magnificent specimen of DG (with all that means) - and do it over bait? I am enough of a romantic to think that Leo should be faced in open daylight -and right after he has decided that he doesn't want you around his neighborhood -and is coming to evict you. (I watched a lion charge on film once and thought it was more heartstopping than an elephant. I also have read that an angry lion can take lead like no elephant I ever read about)Like I said,I'm just being difficult -and just asking. Difficulties of getting a shot? I would rather have gone home with no lion in daylight hunting in honest chase - rather than shooting at him under circumstances that just seem to me to look like shooting at a dangerous animal (otherwise) -who doesn't even know I am there until the first shot.

Gerrypeters375 - One can only assume from your post that you have never hunted lion before???

by the light in the picture i'd say he comes from darkest africa

Gerry, if you get a chance to view a copy of Death in the Mumbwa, there's a scene where a shot lion charges right through the blind it thinks the hunters are in. Had they not moved from that blind to a machan overlooking the same bait, they would have been f---ed. It sure looks like the lion went to the bait thinking the people were in the blind the whole time, but didn't give a rip about it -- because he's a friggin' lion, I guess.

I've never hunted lions (or, for that matter, been to Africa), but I would love the chance to hunt baited lion. It seems far from a sure thing, and the process of getting a cat on bait and then trying to catch it at the right time would be exciting for me, based on my experience with jaguars in South America. And, as noted above, a baited lion hunt is not without danger -- and that's before you even consider the issue of following up a wounded cat.

Obviously, my opinion is nothing more than an opinion, and it's always good to hear other thoughts on an issue, even if (or especially if) we don't agree.

I think Aaron has hunted lions every way but canned, so maybe he can shed some light on the real world differences between baiting and tracking.

Gerry getting a mature Lion on bait is a challenge right up there with the best of them in African hunting.

Be it Blind or Machan i can guarantee that the first time you see a big Lion walking up to a bait and begin feeding your heart will be beating so loud you will worry that the Lion may hear it!

For me i was so glad that i was the appy sitting in the corner and not the guy behind the gun - it was both of our first time hunting Lions and if it was me, with the sympathetic buck fever that i had, i seriously would have battled to pull of a 50 yard shot in the 1st minute or so. Would have needed lots of deep breathing and self control. You can watch every video there is but it will still no prepare you fully for being there in the flesh.

There are thousands of Hunters who have sat 16 ,18 or even 21 days with baits hung and never shot their quarry. Even when Lions are feeding there are a myriad of things to be taken into account. Is it a mature male,is the male in a pride with females and cubs, is he the only male in that pride. Lions have a habit of going walkabout and sometimes their ranges are huge and they just wont come in to hung baits. Once the cat is eating will he eat every night?. Even if he is eating , you still have to be able to make the shot etc etc...........No hunting Lion is hard, very hard........ask anyone who has done it...sitting still for 8 or 9 hours straight , for several nights in a row...isnt exactly fun......but when that Big boys shows up....your heart will jump out of your chest

Nobody who has seriously hunted Lion wants a charge. Only those who know not of which they speak would be so foolish. Baiting Lion is an ethical method of hunting.

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Originally posted by LionHunter:
Nobody who has seriously hunted Lion wants a charge. Only those who know not of which they speak would be so foolish. Baiting Lion is an ethical method of hunting.

hear bloody hear hear

Both methods are perfectly legitimate and anyone who criticises one over the other (or the people who do it) is (IMO) making a mistake.

Hunting over bait is a chess game of the highest order and tracking calls for other skills and both call for different abilities.

From a professional point of view, the PH needs to be very confident of his client before taking him on a tracking hunt for lion.

I'll also add that on a tracking hunt, unless your confident you're tracking a single lion, the lion your hunting is the least of your worries...... it's the other buggers that are the biggest threat.

i have removed what i wrote as it will obviously offend some people and i am not trying to do that.I do however feel very strongly about hunting cats over a bait, it is up there with shooting from the back of a vehicle...its not hunting!

quote:

Originally posted by zimguide:
i have removed what i wrote as it will obviously offend some people and i am not trying to do that.I do however feel very strongly about hunting cats over a bait, it is up there with shooting from the back of a vehicle...its not hunting!

This is based on..........

Brett

quote:

Originally posted by zimguide:
i have removed what i wrote as it will obviously offend some people and i am not trying to do that.I do however feel very strongly about hunting cats over a bait, it is up there with shooting from the back of a vehicle...its not hunting!

You haven't offended me my friend.... one of the most enjoyable parts of the AR forums (for me) is for friendly debate.

I'll add that for me, one of the most enjoyable, challenging and purest forms of hunting is the chess game of getting a good, shootable leopard to bait and in a position where he can be taken.

quote:

Originally posted by zimguide:
i have removed what i wrote as it will obviously offend some people and i am not trying to do that.I do however feel very strongly about hunting cats over a bait, it is up there with shooting from the back of a vehicle...its not hunting!

Zimguide - How then do you hunt cats?? One can only assume from your post, that you don't? Are you a PH in Zim??

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:

quote:

Originally posted by zimguide:
i have removed what i wrote as it will obviously offend some people and i am not trying to do that.I do however feel very strongly about hunting cats over a bait, it is up there with shooting from the back of a vehicle...its not hunting!

Zimguide - How then do you hunt cats?? One can only assume from your post, that you don't? Are you a PH in Zim??

Zimguide:

You really do owe Aaron and all of us a response to that one.

quote:

my usual role of the skunk

Gerrypeters375

I may not be a good one to comment, since I've only shot 1 lion; however, I have hunted them both by baiting (Zim) and tracking on foot (Botswana). I found both methods to be very interesting and exciting. After spending 2 weeks trying to bait a big male in Zim, we ran out of time and went home without a lion. In Botswana, we tracked several cats on foot and finally scored on the 22nd day of a 24 day hunt. The lion I shot was only about a 4 year old male, but it was one hell of an exciting hunt, and after 39 total days hunting lions, I wasn't goint to be that picky about his age. Big cat, just fairly young and not a large amount of mane either. Still, it was a very exciting hunt, partly due to his pride which Shakari alluded to earlier.

I have absolutely no problem with either method, and would love to hunt them again both ways.

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4 year old male,

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his pride

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wasn't goint to be that picky about his age.

Part of the reason why we are facing lion closure!

Sorry Aaron,

had to say it.