I was told by my PH this morning that as of July 1, 2005 all Lion hunting in South Africa will be stopped. Does anyone else have information on this, and if so, what is this going to do to the prices of hunting Lions elsewhere as well as in South Africa for the next 60 days?

Since there was little real hunting for lions in SA, it would mostly affect those operations that offer lions under high fence and the 'heroes' who 'hunted' with them.

Lion prices will continue to rise regardless of what happens in RSA.

George

only places you might find a lion hunt open would be a cancelation in tanz or mozm. figure 40-60,000 I believe jumbo moore had one open yet in mozm in his new area, but thats still in the opening stages. don't be disappointed lion in S.A. isn't real anyway, you might as well buy one from a zoo here and go shoot it

Use Enough Gun

I don't know if your PH is right or not. Garry Kelly has been working on this isssue as far as the unfenced areas adjoining Kruger are concerned. Hunting is again open in these areas but we don't know if lion will be on quota yet.

I don't think RSA plays a big enough role in lion hunting in Africa to cause much change in the market. As George said the price will continue to go up.

Now if you are looking for a lion for this year I think we can organize an excellent hunt for you in either Zambia or Tanzania.

Regards,

Mark

Dear Sir,

If they cannot offer you a good Lion safari
for 2005, I can. I have one slot open.

Would be happy to send you a quote.

George is correct, Lion safaris will continue to rise in cost. S.A. will have little influence on the price.

Best,
Phil
www.go-on-safari.com

Folks,

If a gamefarmer bought a couple of male lions from one of these "lion farms" and turned them loose on his 20,000 acres fenced hunting ranch, could hunting these be consider reasonably fair chase?

Lets assume the lions would be free in there at least 12 months before the hunt and during that period they had no further human intervention ie they had to hunt and feed for themselves...

So fair chase or not? Would you hunt it if the price was reasonable?

Just curious,

Pete

quote:

could hunting these be consider reasonably fair chase?

If they come running at the sound of a can opening and someone saying "Here kitty, kitty", then definitely NO.

Personally, I wouldn't ever knowingly hunt an animal that wasn't "born and raised" in a specific area.

Even wild animals transplanted into new habitat aren't fair chase to my way of thinking.

Cheers,
Canuck

Chris,

quote:

If they come running at the sound of a can opening and someone saying "Here kitty, kitty", then definitely NO.

I agree with you 100% ...

quote:

Even wild animals transplanted into new habitat aren't fair chase to my way of thinking.

What about animals that naturally migrate? I believe in certain parts of africa lions will shift as they fallow their prey population...Are they not in effect transplants?

As a general comment, I am not suggesting such an operation could truely match totally free range lion hunting in places such as Zimbabwe or Tanzinia, but rather given the circumstances in RSA, its a case of some form of lion hunting or none at all...

Regards,

Pete

quote:

What about animals that naturally migrate? I believe in certain parts of africa lions will shift as they fallow their prey population...Are they not in effect transplants?

Nah...migration is different. These are not necessarily animals in unfamiliar habitat. In a herd situation, the matriarchs are leading the way and teaching the younger herd members the route and the dangers, etc, etc.

I am thinking more about animals trapped in one area and dumped in another where they were previously extirpated, etc. I would only be interested in hunting the next generation.

JMHO,
Canuck

Pete

It would be hard for me to believe that a lion raised on a lion breeding program and then sold to a landowner for the express purpose of being shot was the same animal as one might encounter in a true wilderness area. Shooting such a trophy would not mean as much to me. On the other hand I don't know that this argument holds water since I have shot all manner of plains game behind a fence and enjoyed it very much.

I guess we all have to do what seems right and ethical to us as individuals as long as it is within the law.

Regards,

Mark

It would be trajic if they stopped fenced Lion hunting in RSA, then all the RSA lion hunters would come to Tanzania and pressure those Lions, and we already have a Lion problem developing in Tanzania, they are over hunted now IMO...

Be carefull what you wish for, you just might get it.

Those folks that hunt Lions in RSA are perfectly content with their Lions, and it keeps them from putting pressure on other Lion populations in Africa, and hey, if you think a penned Lion won't chew on you your mistaken..Lions are just like Buffalo and any other fenced animal IMO....

Leave it alone, your rightousness may ruin YOUR Lion hunting...A little knowledge is a dangerous thing sometimes.

And unfortunately, thats the rest of the story!

ALthough I do not like the idea of shooting a zoo lion in a fenced paddock, I won't tell them how to conduct their hunting because I don't want them to tell me how to conduct mine.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
ALthough I do not like the idea of shooting a zoo lion in a fenced paddock, I won't tell them how to conduct their hunting because I don't want them to tell me how to conduct mine.

Amen.

Lion hunting in SA , you need 2 Goverment wardens and 2 PH'S to come with you on the hunt. All carry rifles. This I understand was due to the problem with canned Hunts.

I agree with Mr. Atkinson and some of the others. Not to my taste to hunt lion in that manner, but if that's your thing, O.K.. Recently had a PH friend tell me that the pen raised lion is actually more dangerous as they have lost their fear of man. He claimed they have had more charges from pen raised lion than those that are totally wild.

quote:

Originally posted by Ramrod:
Recently had a PH friend tell me that the pen raised lion is actually more dangerous as they have lost their fear of man. He claimed they have had more charges from pen raised lion than those that are totally wild.

Sales pitch!