I know that having a full main is important but what about the size of the body? Should the main cover the belly? how do you judge female lions? Is color of the main important? I have seen pics of lions with mains ranging from almost white to black. Is one color shade more desirable than others like with color phase bears?

I judge them mostly from a computer or TV sreen. At least for the next couple years. I don't think females are frequently taken in most non canned situations. Zimbabwe and maybe Namibia might be an exception. Trophies are in the eye of the beholder. The classic is a big black maned lion, but I'd be equally happy with a stunner ginger or blonde maned lion. The mane tends to start at the chest and top of the head. It then fills in around the chest and ears. After that the shoulder and armpits may get hairy. Of course that's completely dependant from area to area and lion to lion. Generally most wild lions don't have copious hair growing down their stomachs to their groin. Those tend to be canned lions. As far as judging age and trophy status a good book on that is Aging the African Lion by Craig Packer.

Brett

A Hunter's Guide to Ageing Lions in Eastern & Southern Africa by Karyl Whitman & Craig Packer here:

http://www.shakariconnection.c...-hunting-books5.html

If there's none available check back in a day or two.

Alternatively, judge them by whether you believe them to be innocent or guilty.

quote:

Alternatively, judge them by whether you believe them to be innocent or guilty.

In which case you turn to the African Hunting Report forum!!!!

Brett

Judge not, lest you be judged.

Packer's book is on my list of books to get one day. I have heard good things about it. Infortunately, it will be the closest I get to lion hunting I'm afraid.

There was a thread within the last 18 months that had pix of various lions and a 'quiz' on how old they were. I was clueless.

Most important measure, that unfortunately will never show in any mount was how it was hunted.

One of those scraggly maned lions from Benin would in many ways be a better trophy than the majority of recent black maned RSA lions.

+1 and they track them in Benin!

Brett

Don't know about mains , but big manes are important.

Big manes, big teeth, big roar, big paws, big claws.

Big lion.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Don't know about mains , but big manes are important.

Big manes, big teeth, big roar, big paws, big claws.

Big lion.

The non-man eaters are OK but I don't care for the man eaters.

465H&H

I personally judge a male lion on how well he does a leeuloop. Our South African friends will fill you in.....

By the content of their character, naturally!

I hope to find out in 2012.

I dream of a big headed, big bodied, full maned, twilight of his life, ousted pride male of about 8 years old.

Oh, and world peace too.

quote:

Originally posted by rxgremlin:
I personally judge a male lion on how well he does a leeuloop. Our South African friends will fill you in.....

Leeuloop taster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...08_k&feature=related

well if they've been drinking while driving i'd give em 30 days

I guess you give them a polygraph and if they're lyin' or indeed lion, you find them guilty.

If the test is inconclusive, it must, in the mane, give you paws for thought.... and if they're roaring drunk, they're definately guilty.

steve - go back to bed and restart the day

If I ever get the chance to hunt lion, I'm pretty sure I will judge them from a distance until after they are dead. Every time I see a video of someone getting up close to a live one it doesn't work out well for them usually.

Colin

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
steve - go back to bed and restart the day

Sorry mate. I've had Rudi/375fanatic here all afternoon forcing me to drink beer with him..... y'know how it is with those Ka-Boerer!

I'll be fine tomorrow!

So, a man with a giraffe on a lead walks into a bar in the middle of the African bush.

The barman looks him up and down but doesn't comment on the giraffe.

"Yes sir, what can I get you, says the barman".

The chap replies, " A beer for me and a treble whisky with a loooong straw for my tall friend please"

The barman serves them, and they both quickly drain their glasses...... after which, the giraffe gives a loud burp and then collapses on the floor unconcious. There's dust and broken furniture everywhere.

The customer doesn't bat an eyelid. He just drops the lead, steps over the neck of the giraffe and heads for the door.

"Oi!" yells the barman. "Come back, you can't leave that lyin' here!"

'Don't worry about it" say's the the customer. "That's not a lion, that's a giraffe"

quote:

'Don't worry about it" say's the the customer. "That's not a lion, that's a giraffe"

Hope you're not planning to support yourself as a stand-up comic when you retire my friend ...but it was kinda funny!

Study Whitman and Packer to get the phenotypic characteristics down pat for a 6 or > age.

Hunt with a reputable outfit!!!

Once shot, for good reinforcement of what you and your PH thought on age, get their rudimentary 2nd upper premolars (1st little upper cheek-tooth) x-rayed at some point.

Your PH should be sure he does not have kids on-the-tit.

If he fits those criteria...does not matter what he looks like...he is a trophy!

We age mountain lions by the length of the parallel sides of the canine above the gum line. Would that work on African lions?

465H&H

quote:

length of the parallel sides of the canine above the gum line.

I bet it is not highly accurate for mountain lions as that would be suject to wear.

On X-rays we are looking at the width or maturity of the pulp cavity. It is NOT influenced by wear and is pretty reliable.