Mike---hearty congratulations to you and Carl on fine shooting and great animals.

The show was very well done and you guys both have many reasons to be pleased.

LH - Just watched the show, really good stuff my friend! I loved the trail cam footage of the lion.

And yep, you definitely hit the tree when shooting the tuskless. I recorded it, and it looked like to me you shot right through it. Either way, I love them CEB's!!

Yes he cut a 2-3" tree half way down and still killed the ele. A definite testament to their straight line travel even through trees .

Great hunt Mike and Carl!!!

Does this mean I get credit for a tree AND the tuskless? What is the trophy fee on a tree in Zim?

For sure, those CEB BBW #13s are hell for leather! Apparently NO deflection whatsoever.

I'd like to thank you all for your comments on the TAA record of our safari, as would Carl (he has read your posts). Glad you enjoyed it and that we decided to share it with you. We had a truly great time with Len and all the Chifuti Safari staff. So good we're going back this August. And Safari Classics will film both safaris so maybe we'll have something to watch on TAA in 2013!

Keep well and shoot straight. And remember, having your safari filmed is the best gift you can give yourself.

Do you guys remember back in either November or December when Sam, Baxter, and I were playing with the 4X4 blocks 20 ft in front of the target? Busting straight through them and hitting target time after time, no deflection, no stability issues, nothing. 20 Feet! This was with the 475 B&M 450 BBW#13 Solid and we even did the 420 NonCon with the same results, hitting the mark every time. I was even amazed! It is a confidence builder, no doubt about it!

quote:

Does this mean I get credit for a tree

Only if You brought the section of the tree that you shot and have it at home! If not, then No, but you do still have to pay the trophy fee, and that depends on the type wood!




Mighty Fine My Friend!!!! I have not had a chance to view part II yet, will get to it, have it recorded!

Should have a package coming this week soon!

Michael

Two really good episodes. TAA is still tops in my book!

Mike

He is the very lion- truly a great Lion well done indeed. You guys were fortiunate to hunt with Len, he is a brilliant PH.

Half the problem we had when we were trying to shoot him was that Andy Hunter was hunting lioness in Chewore at the same time and unbeknown to us both we had baits 300 meters apart ( me in Dande and Andy in Chewore) and the lions were going between which ended up halving our chances!

Anyway congrats on a super lion and thanks for the pic! Cheers Buzz

PS- I always hate getting out done by a Chifuti PH!!!!

quote:

Do you guys remember back in either November or December when Sam, Baxter, and I were playing with the 4X4 blocks 20 ft in front of the target? Busting straight through them and hitting target time after time, no deflection, no stability issues, nothing. 20 Feet! This was with the 475 B&M 450 BBW#13 Solid and we even did the 420 NonCon with the same results, hitting the mark every time. I was even amazed! It is a confidence builder, no doubt about it!

Hell yeah! And I also remember there was a post on the thread wondering if the 4x4 was a little too soft and too consistent in it's grain and that the performance might be different in a real-world incident...well, we have an answer, and on an elephant no less! If Dan (and Michael and Sam as designers) need any more testimonial than this one, I can't imagine what it might be!

Can't wait to see the episode. It's over at the in-law's house on their DVR as we don't watch TV here, hope to see it by the weekend.

Congrats to all involved!!

I missed part one but sure enjoyed part two. Videos are amazing sometimes for what they let us see later. No one would ever catch the pass through on the lion or especially the chip off the branch on the ele in live action. In fact, my impression was the PH was a little concerned about the hit at first although the video tells the "real" story on the great lion shot. Wonderful all around. Hope to catch part one on a repeat.

Don

I was hunting with Chifuti and Mark Vallaro in June and July and we had him on bait on the Mkanga River. Have video of him showing no tail and a large scar on his brisket. I ended up getting a huge black maned male [470 lbs] and we have both lions : Stumpy {the lion with no tail] and the lion I shot on video and Stumpy
looks like he weighs 50 or 100 lbs more than mine. Was just wondering if you weighed him.
Congratulations on a superb lion!

There was lots of speculation as to how Stumpy lost his tail and got the scar on his brisket.

The lions were not at the same bait site and were 15 miles apart.

Louis

Sounds like Stumpy's luck eventually ran out.
I was the hunter with Buzz back in May on the very same cat. We have some good trail cam pics of him as well. Obviously became a bit of a celebrity for a while and enjoyed having his picture taken. Big cat !

When I was hunting him he only liked getting his picture taken after sunset. It was nice to hear of him making a mistake and Len and Carl closing the deal.

Thanks to Buzz and Louis and R for providing some of the backstory to Carl's great Lion.

We did not weigh him, but in my experience with large Lion, I would estimate him at 500#. My 2004 Zambia Lion was estimated at 550# and was 10 or 11 in the SCI record book when taken. Carl's Lion skull was a bit smaller. Lion weight is not definitive and is dependent on a number of factors including the last time of feeding and drinking.

In any event, it sounds like the Mkanga Valley is producing some huge Lions. Clearly good Lion management by CM and Chifuti is paying off.

LionHunter, As far as i know, we dont get the hunting films on this side of the pond. Can Tracks Across Africa be bought in dvd? Its probably the nearest I,ll ever get to the Africa experience. Enjoyed the thread.jc

Glad everyone enjoyed the hunt via Tracks. Quite an adventure and a great lion to cap it off. Thanks for the kind comments from both our hunters and our viewers.

Hey John,

How're things in the Highlands? Glad you enjoyed the thread; there are some really knowledgeable, experienced and good guys here on AR.

Currently Season 2 & 3 Highlights of TAA are available on DVD. Email Tamela at

tamela@safariclassics.net

and she will help you; she does ship worldwide.

Our hunt was last September and the Season 4 DVD is not yet complete.

Best regards,

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Hey John,

How're things in the Highlands? Glad you enjoyed the thread; there are some really knowledgeable, experienced and good guys here on AR.

Currently Season 2 & 3 Highlights of TAA are available on DVD. Email Tamela at

tamela@safariclassics.net

and she will help you; she does ship worldwide.

Our hunt was last September and the Season 4 DVD is not yet complete.

Best regards,

LionHunter. Thank you for the reply, I shall contact Tamela, it sounded like a good hunt.
We have enjoyed a mild winter here in the Highlands but continue to have our fair share of rain. Yes, I enjoy the banter and good info on AR. Regards jc.