Just back from a 13 day (extended twice from the original 10) plains game and problem lion hunt with Vaughan Fulton in Namibia.



I'm far too beat to tell the whole story now, but in the first seven days of hunting, I killed great specimens of red hartebeest, Hartmann's zebra, gemsbok, southern greater kudu and steenbok.



After much consultation with Vaughan and discussions we had with Shayne K�tting, the chief game warden of Okaukeujo, Etosha National Park, I decided to spend the remainder of my time hunting a problem lion north of the park.



This lion had been responsible for killing over sixty head of livestock in the past several months. During that time, Shayne had darted and collared him with a radio transmitter and had then relocated him fifty kilometers to the south. But the lion had returned to his former haunts almost immediately and continued to prey upon the local cattle herds.



As a result of his depredations, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) had declared him a problem lion and had issued a permit to Vaughan that allowed us to hunt him.



This hunt was a difficult and very physical, not to say exhausting, effort. We spent six days and covered many tense miles stalking one specific lion through thick mopane scrub where visibility extended an average of barely twenty five yards or so. Often, he was accompanied by up to three females and two sub-adults, and in the end, he partnered up with another old male, who could have been his twin.



We could rarely see these lions through the brush and high grass, but we frequently heard them growling and grunting just yards ahead of us. On several occasions, although we couldn't see them, we were so close that we expected a charge at any second.



Suffice it to say that, with Vaughan's and the MET's help, I was able to kill the best lion I will likely ever see, much less stalk and shoot.



Here's a photograph I've just uploaded from our digital camera:







Here's another:







And here's one more:







I can't begin to express my thanks to Vaughan Fulton for a hunt that will be vivid in my memory for as long as I live. He is a brilliant hunter and one of the best hunting companions I have ever been privileged to accompany into the field.



The Namibia MET were also amazingly helpful, and Shayne K�tting in particular is a terrific person and a very thoughtful and dedicated game warden besides.



I would be remiss if I didn't also publicly thank Kathi Klimes of World Travel for her help in twice postponing our flights home.



I'll try to post more details and a hunt report as time permits.

Hello,

I received an email from Vaughan this morning and he said you took an exceptional lion and boy was that an understatement! Fantastic! You have to be very happy and proud. Congratulations on a lion of a lifetime.

Mike

MRL,

Great lion and one so deserving after hunting hard...Welcome home and loooking forward to more of the trip..


Mike

Thanks for sharing your experience,
I can imagine the exitement and possible terror hunting lion in thick brush at close range - for days.My hat is off,hope you took along enough clean underwear
Congrats for the feat and well deserved trophy

Absolutely Fantastic!!! A Lion that dreams are made of....!

You must be walking on air...Congratulations!

This is the second Problem Lion taken by Vaughan this year I believe?

Regards,
Dave

Great lion! I'm green with envy!

He has taken at least one other problem lion this year and at least two last year. Last year was dry and lions kept wondering out of Etosha looking for supper!

Can't wait to get back!

Damn! What a lion! Congrats.

Well done, Lex, very nice lion.

Great Lion, just got email from Vaughan this morning and apparetntly there are more of these guys around as I had expressed interest in one if the Leopard hunt went well and I had some time to spend on Lion. Man anyone who said Namabian Lions weren't trophies is NUTS! That is a beast! Again congrats!

Now that is awesome! He never made his presence known while I was there. That's okay, it left him for you. What a beauty.

Those of you who contacted me regarding Lion with Vaughan ... this is what I was talking about!

I had a client earlier this year miss a good Lion on day two of his hunt and shoot a different Lion on day three. He was quite pleased, to say the least.

Wow!

Wow great lion!!! Can't wait to hear all the step by step details of the stalk and the rest of the hunt stories. How are you going to have him mounted. How does Vaughan price his problem animal hunts?

Very,very nice! Once your are "situated", give the full story please. Rifle used, number of shots taken, bullets used, bullet placement and so on. A very nice beast. CONGRATULATIONS!!

mrlexma,

I don't believe there will be any discussion as to the maturity of this lion. Well done sir!

Congratulations on a truly fantastic lion. I'm very much anticipating a great read on the hunt story.

Regards,

Mark

An absolutely superb trophy lion, taken honorably on a real hunt. Congratulations! Job well done.......

AD

Mike,
Great lion and a great hunt. Congratulations. I'm really happy for you.
Forrest

Congratulations on a tremendous lion, well deserved. More photos please.

WOW, great hunt - great lion.

BigB

An awesome trophy overshadowed only by the manner in which it was taken. Congratulations to you and Vaughan.

Beautiful. Well done.

Hi Lex:

Wow...Really great looking Lion... well done buddy.

Now are you going to full mount this beast? How did you mount your last one?

Give us more news when you rest up...

Welcome home, glad your back safe and sound. If you read the forum it seems Cape Buffalo tragic encounters are on their 4th victim.

Regards... Jim P.

looks like almost a repeat hunt of mine with Vaughan...Beautiful lion

Nice Lion! What happened to the collar? Is it lost in that great mane?
Any thoughts on mounting?

mrlexma,
Wow! Keep it coming, as that is what we tune in here to see! Congratulations! Well done!

mrlexma,

An absolutely awesome lion! COngratulations! Who is Vaughn's booking agent? How do I contact? Hugh

Thanks to everyone for the kind words.

I've posted a report on the plains game portion of my hunt with Vaughan on the African Hunting Reports forum.

I promise to follow up with a report on the problem lion hunt as well, as soon as I can.

I'll do my best to answer all questions in that report.

NICE GOING, MR! It must have been quite a rush to come up on him at last.

George

What an absolutely outstanding beast!! On top of some beautiful plains game trophies as well.

That is a "problem" lion. That you were the lucky one there and not me! Congratulations on a fine trophy and better hunt which will be worth retelling one day to your great-grand-kids.