Mark Sullivan Lion (1 picture)

31 July 2013, 06:50

Here is a lion that was killed yesterday in Tanzania. Mark asked me to post it up for him. I am not able to mention the specific area of the kill.

Mark felt the lion is likely 12 years plus. It is a fabulous lion to be certain. I thought some of you might enjoy seeing the photo.

Best regards,
Shawn

Shawn Joyce
Diizche Safari Adventures
P.O. Box 1445
Lincoln, CA 95648
E-mail: shawn.joyce@diizchesafariadventures.net
Cell: (916) 804-3318

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31 July 2013, 07:01

LionHunter

Magnificent kitty and he looks to be large of head and body. Congrats to Mark and his client - I presume it was shot by a client, yes? That question is NOT intended to start the

contest nor the

beating. It is a beautiful cat, so I hope everyone can just enjoy it.

31 July 2013, 07:02

D R Hunter

I like seeing it!!!

31 July 2013, 07:06

bwana cecil

Not knowing sheep shit from Shinola shoe polish about lions, I am only asking, wouldn't a 12yr old lions teeth be worn down more than those?
Magnificent lion by the way.

31 July 2013, 07:17

ExpressYourself

Sorry I did not pick Mark’s brain for all the specifics of who killed it. The client used a .375 H&H. The shot was 50 yards. Mark had him on bait, built a blind. They entered the blind in the dark and waited an hour and a half for it to get light. The lion was roaring the entire time. They watched him for 45 minutes before taking him.

I did not question (not to be condescending) Mark’s criteria for judging the age. I just put up the picture for general enjoyment. If I hear additional I will update this post.

Cheers,
Shawn

31 July 2013, 07:23

RIP

So far, so good. I am impressed by both the lion and the civility.

31 July 2013, 07:29

MJines

Beautiful lion. Congratulations to both Mark and the successful hunter.

31 July 2013, 07:30

mohan

Nice Lion.

31 July 2013, 07:50

Leopardtrack

quote:
Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Not knowing sheep shit from Shinola shoe polish about lions, I am only asking, wouldn't a 12yr old lions teeth be worn down more than those?
Magnificent lion by the way.

+1

I am no expert either but I have several guide books for aging Lions and according to the pictures there is no way that that Lion is 12...probably closer to 6 or 7.

Beautiful, mature, a old enough to shoot, so I say "good job" to you Mark S!

31 July 2013, 08:11

ExpressYourself

quote:
Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
quote:
Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Not knowing sheep shit from Shinola shoe polish about lions, I am only asking, wouldn't a 12yr old lions teeth be worn down more than those?
Magnificent lion by the way.

+1

I am no expert either but I have several guide books for aging Lions and according to the pictures there is no way that that Lion is 12...probably closer to 6 or 7.

Beautiful, mature, a old enough to shoot, so I say "good job" to you Mark S!

I can’t see the canine ridge or lack of it on the upper canines or the back of the lower canines to comment on wear. I can’t see the rear molars either…but I bet Mark can though :0).

Shawn

31 July 2013, 08:33

lavaca

That is one impressive lion. I don't think anyone can disagree with that. Any further commentary is unwarranted, IMHO.

31 July 2013, 08:47

twoseventy

Great lion and great photo. Thanks, Shawn. What dreams are made of.

...I say that hunters go into Paradise when they die, and live in this world more joyfully than any other men.
-Edward, duke of York

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― Adam Smith - “Wealth of Nations”

31 July 2013, 08:51

bwanamrm

Helluva cat!

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.

31 July 2013, 08:57

Todd Williams

Great cat! Congrats to both the client and Mark.

31 July 2013, 08:58

bronxfats

Well done to all participants.Cats,as grand as he,are true treasures. The full mount will amaze and educate all as to the size and power of the lion.I raise my glass to your hunt and success. Jim

31 July 2013, 09:07

SBT

Seriously great lion. Congratulations to all involved.

31 July 2013, 12:00

Milo Shanghai

Nice looking lion. Well done all.

Would be interested to hear what methods MS (or anyone else, for that matter) uses to age a just-shot lion in the field.

Going by the photo alone I would be surprised if the one in question is 12. Not looking to start a fight but would like to learn a bit about age estimation for my own enlightenment.

31 July 2013, 12:30

jens poulsen

Impressive.

31 July 2013, 14:08

BenKK

Awesome cat!

31 July 2013, 15:14

fujotupu

......... Moved to the Lion thread ..........

31 July 2013, 15:26

tendrams

quote:
Originally posted by ExpressYourself:
I am not able to mention the specific area of the kill.

Give me a break.

31 July 2013, 16:50

jorge

At least five pages... Congrats to Mark and his client.

31 July 2013, 17:23

Bob Keeler

Wow!! Congratulations, that is a lion one dreams about!!

31 July 2013, 18:03

ledvm

quote:
Originally posted by ExpressYourself:
quote:
Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
quote:
Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Not knowing sheep shit from Shinola shoe polish about lions, I am only asking, wouldn't a 12yr old lions teeth be worn down more than those?
Magnificent lion by the way.

+1

I am no expert either but I have several guide books for aging Lions and according to the pictures there is no way that that Lion is 12...probably closer to 6 or 7.

Beautiful, mature, a old enough to shoot, so I say "good job" to you Mark S!

I can’t see the canine ridge or lack of it on the upper canines or the back of the lower canines to comment on wear. I can’t see the rear molars either…but I bet Mark can though :0).

Shawn

I am not saying that the lion was too young by any means...but the chances of that lion being 12 yrs old are VERY slim.

You CAN see enough of its teeth to say that without a doubt. Should have just left the 12 year old remark out.

Even if you were just in Vegas playing the odds...they would astronomical on a 12 yr old wild lion. But...those teeth virtually guarantee it is not 12...or...even close.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM

A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House

No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.

31 July 2013, 18:28

safari-lawyer

JAWS.

31 July 2013, 18:50

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Not knowing sheep shit from Shinola shoe polish about lions, I am only asking, wouldn't a 12yr old lions teeth be worn down more than those?
Magnificent lion by the way.

It matters not! He is a good lion, and of legal age for harvest, and that is all that counts about this lion. Further comment is not needed here!

.........................................................................

31 July 2013, 18:53

venda axe

I was under the impression that ageing a lion was fairly difficult. But I see that some of us can judge their age with just one photograph.

Give the man his due. Great Lion!!!

Bob

31 July 2013, 18:56

bluefish

can't tell the location of I'd have to kill you?

31 July 2013, 19:37

Dave Fulson

Yesssir!!

31 July 2013, 20:04

Bwana Bunduki

Great Lion!!!!

Do you think I could buy Mark's shirt he is wearing? Sorry...can't help myself sometimes....

Jeff

31 July 2013, 20:23

BEGNO

Great Lion. Certainly old enough it appears to me. At any rate, if the PH says shoot, well consider it done.

31 July 2013, 20:30

fairgame

Great cat. Well done.

31 July 2013, 20:32

ledvm

quote:
Originally posted by venda axe:
I was under the impression that ageing a lion was fairly difficult. But I see that some of us can judge their age with just one photograph.

Give the man his due. Great Lion!!!

Bob

With that photo...it is NOT hard to say with a high degree of certainty that this lion is not 12(or even close)...unless someone has been throwing him a goat carcass every 2-3 days for the last 5-6 years.

That said...I am not disputing that he is old enough to take. Congrats to the hunter.

31 July 2013, 20:40

Paul C

Who gives a shit if the cat is 6 or 60 years old, that is a great trophy.

31 July 2013, 21:01

Brice

Watched it for 45 minutes....

Talk about a bonus for the client! (PH as well.)

31 July 2013, 21:35

BrettAKSCI

quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
quote:
Originally posted by venda axe:
I was under the impression that ageing a lion was fairly difficult. But I see that some of us can judge their age with just one photograph.

Give the man his due. Great Lion!!!

Bob

With that photo...it is NOT hard to say with a high degree of certainty that this lion is not 12(or even close)...unless someone has been throwing him a goat carcass every 2-3 days for the last 5-6 years.

That said...I am not disputing that he is old enough to take. Congrats to the hunter.

Yeah....that was my thought as well Lane. Congratualtions to Mark and the hunter. What a lion!!!

Brett

PS> Kind of like.....oh by the way I've shot 14 year old sheep the last two years. Possible? Yes. Likely? Absolutely not!

DRSS
Life Member SCI
Life Member NRA
Life Member WSF

Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter
May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick.
And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too.
May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep.
May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip.
-Seth Peterson

31 July 2013, 22:16

ledvm

quote:
Originally posted by Paul C:
Who gives a shit if the cat is 6 or 60 years old, that is a great trophy.

Not me sir. 6 or >...fine by me.

What I do have a problem with is BS and that statement about that lion being 12 is BS. Felt obligated to point that out...esp since I got about a dozen PM's about it.

I told him congrats.

31 July 2013, 22:40

Caracal

quote:
Originally posted by MacD37:
quote:
Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Not knowing sheep shit from Shinola shoe polish about lions, I am only asking, wouldn't a 12yr old lions teeth be worn down more than those?
Magnificent lion by the way.

It matters not! He is a good lion, and of legal age for harvest, and that is all that counts about this lion. Further comment is not needed here!

.........................................................................

31 July 2013, 22:48

Tim Vining

Very nice Lion, what a mane. Mark and his client did great.

31 July 2013, 22:49

Full Roar

Very nice lion and I am sure the hunt with Sullivan was fantastic in all other aspects.
The lion is certainly mature and a very respectable cat
push's my buttons to want to go hunting with Mark a bit more regardless of the anti Sullivan sentiment out there

Congratulations to Mark and his client