The Accurate Reloading Forums
WORLD'S LARGEST LION!!
29 August 2010, 02:52
John FrederickWORLD'S LARGEST LION!!
I an currently reading Bunny Allen's entertaining book, "The Wheel of Life". For those who don't know, Bunny was an infamous PH who operated in many African countries over several decades. He was as famous for his hunting exploits as he was for success with the fairer sex.
He tells of one huge lion he took in Tanganyika with a client and I quote........"We went up to him. He was no optical illusion. He must have been the biggest lion that ever existed. We measured him to stand 6 feet 6 inches at the top of the shoulders, that is the height of the withers on a horse.

.........His legs were as thick as a buffalo's. He had a four foot chest depth, a huge head and feet the size of dinner plates. My guess he weighed 800 lbs. He must have been one of the heaviest lions to ever roam Africa".
I am no expert on lions, any comments from those who know more than me?
Bunny was full of it ... a lion that tall and big-footed would weigh more than 8 hundred pounds, try one ton!!!
Maybe the occasional freak lion occurred, possibly a case of pituitary gigantism, or mutant!!!
What happened to that skull or cape? Alien abduction?

29 August 2010, 03:00
David Hulme
Guess he didn't get any pictures, else they were burnt in a forest fire or something......
29 August 2010, 03:06
dogcatI read his book a couple of years ago and found absolutely nothing in it I could tell my daughter. This was dime store romance novel trash.
yuck....
29 August 2010, 04:37
Jerry Huffakerquote:
He was as famous for his hunting exploits as he was for success with the fairer sex.
In his own mind maybe
Jerry Huffaker
State, National and World Champion Taxidermist
29 August 2010, 06:18
Fjold6'6" is 19.5 hands. That's draft horse size.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
29 August 2010, 07:41
NakihunterThe largest Siberian tiger would stand less than 4 feet at the shoulder and weigh less than 700 lbs. It might measure tip nose to top tail at 13 feet max.
I doubt if a lion ever measured much more than 10 ft 2 inches tip to tip as a carcass.
"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
29 August 2010, 08:59
GanyanaThere was one in a cage (totally domestically reared) that had a reach of 14'(ie standing on his back legs his front paws could reach the 14' mark (top) of the enclosure fence.
He was the product of several generations of selective breeding - and got killed by a single .270 Winchester silver tip when he decided to eat the lad wo bought his dinner. Sadly nobody ever weighed him.
He would have been the ultimate offering for a canned lion hunt...but ended up logged in an appie guides log book as 'cat experience' for the PH exams

29 August 2010, 09:12
GanyanaThinking about it...the largest wild lion ever recordeed in Zim was a mainless brute that Andre van Eeden shot on his farm in cntenary..I don't have my notes here but it well wellover the 500lb mark...but it looked exactly like a lioness- just (litterally) twice the size.
I wonder if 'he' had any balls?...The buffalo with the widest spread I have ever seen alive were vet department ones that had been castrated...but horns are thin like a cows but all between 55 and 60"
I have seen this with several other wild animals...I must ask Andre when he is next down from Zambia
29 August 2010, 10:03
jdollarquote:
Originally posted by David Hulme:

Guess he didn't get any pictures, else they were burnt in a forest fire or something......
no, like kids homework- the dog ate them
Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend…
To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP
29 August 2010, 10:24
peterdki had a dog like that

peter
29 August 2010, 11:53
SaeedThat book was one of the silliest books I have read on African hunting.
And whatever Bunny might claim, he does not fit in my estimation of what a PH is.
29 August 2010, 18:30
dogcatquote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
That book was one of the silliest books I have read on African hunting.
And whatever Bunny might claim, he does not fit in my estimation of what a PH is.
Amen to that.
29 August 2010, 18:56
Aaron Neilson6'6" and 800lbs, ya that sounds about right!!! Didn't I tell you guys about the 20' tall buffalo I shot last year??
Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com 29 August 2010, 19:08
TemboBunny was a legend in his own mind.
______________________
Age and Treachery Will Always Overcome Youth and Skill
29 August 2010, 19:58
David Hulmequote:
Originally posted by Tembo:
Bunny was a legend in his own mind.
That is funny, one I need to remember...
29 August 2010, 20:41
Cross LGanyana, You definitely see that occur in domestic cattle-steers horns will grow extremely long and body size goes up. However studs are generally larger than geldings so it isnt every species thats affectd. Castrated males do generally put on fat easier whatever species they are.
SSR
29 August 2010, 21:56
Michael RobinsonI'm layin' odds that Bunny was lyin' about that lion.
I read his book and don't remember that passage, but it was a long time ago.
BTW, I found the book quite entertaining, although not very enlightening!

Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
30 August 2010, 13:24
JBrownquote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
That book was one of the silliest books I have read on African hunting.
And whatever Bunny might claim, he does not fit in my estimation of what a PH is.
I have been trying to find a tactful way to express exactly what Saeed posted. Well said.
Jason
"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________
Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.
Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.
-Jason Brown
30 August 2010, 16:50
Milo Shanghaiquote:
Originally posted by Ganyana:
Thinking about it...the largest wild lion ever recordeed in Zim was a mainless brute that Andre van Eeden shot on his farm in cntenary..I don't have my notes here but it well wellover the 500lb mark...but it looked exactly like a lioness- just (litterally) twice the size.
I wonder if 'he' had any balls?...The buffalo with the widest spread I have ever seen alive were vet department ones that had been castrated...but horns are thin like a cows but all between 55 and 60"
I have seen this with several other wild animals...I must ask Andre when he is next down from Zambia
This could make sense. About twenty years ago we had to kill a Friesian bullock that had been poorly castrated in that it had about a quarter of a nut left. Not only did it grow to about 25% bigger than its brethren it displayed uncharacteristic aggression. Having attacked everyone from the farm laborers to the game keeper, it escaped, charged a land rover placed to stop it and hid out in an abandoned iron stone quarry. It soaked up a couple of .308s in the engine room with little visible effect before a high shoulder spine shot finished it.
30 August 2010, 18:17
zimFrostyThis one might not be the Biggest, but he gotta be the best looking. Trying to Get Aaron to come get him next year!!!!!!!
30 August 2010, 19:07
buckeyeshooterthat photo is just wrong!

31 August 2010, 04:21
Aaron Neilsonquote:
Originally posted by zimFrosty:
This one might not be the Biggest, but he gotta be the best looking. Trying to Get Aaron to come get him next year!!!!!!!
Man, as long as the price is right, I'm there!!
Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com 31 August 2010, 23:45
CanadianLeftyThe trick is to use fresh dog bones and a rawhide and pig's ear- There's apparently an abundance of these "Lions" in parts of South Africa- only $2k each and a limit of 5/person/year:
31 August 2010, 23:59
ddrhookI know a taxidermist who will be glad to make your lion look like that.

01 September 2010, 04:26
Aaron Neilsonquote:
Originally posted by CanadianLefty:
The trick is to use fresh dog bones and a rawhide and pig's ear- There's apparently an abundance of these "Lions" in parts of South Africa- only $2k each and a limit of 5/person/year:
Sorry Zim, but I want this one!!
Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com 01 September 2010, 09:29
Saeedquote:
Originally posted by zimFrosty:
This one might not be the Biggest, but he gotta be the best looking. Trying to Get Aaron to come get him next year!!!!!!!
If Bunny Allan was a lion, this how he would have looked

01 September 2010, 15:49
zimFrostyquote:
Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Sorry Zim, but I want this one!![/QUOTE]
Damn, and I spent hours on that fine configuration of hair!!!!!
01 September 2010, 20:28
Aussie steveThis could make sense. About twenty years ago we had to kill a Friesian bullock that had been poorly castrated in that it had about a quarter of a nut left. Not only did it grow to about 25% bigger than its brethren it displayed uncharacteristic aggression. Having attacked everyone from the farm laborers to the game keeper, it escaped, charged a land rover placed to stop it and hid out in an abandoned iron stone quarry. It soaked
I am not suprised about that, horses that have been gelded improperly (called rigs) are notorious for being unpredictable and agressive even more so that stallions.
01 September 2010, 23:13
RREESEMaybe it was a Liger.
NRA Endowment Member
02 September 2010, 00:16
Sevensquote:
Originally posted by zimFrosty:
This one might not be the Biggest, but he gotta be the best looking. Trying to Get Aaron to come get him next year!!!!!!!
Conan O'Brien's Lion?