Folks,

Since we are discussing lions again I thought you might like to see this picture taken on 23 Nov '11 near the Turgwe river on the Save.

Mark

How old are the rocks?

Very cool!

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
How old are the rocks?

Are you going to carbon date the lion?

Chikara.

So Andrew! How old is this one? Since he is still alive and we can't see more of him were you to see him on a hunt do you have your client try to brain him, wait for a better shot or neither until you've looked him over further?

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
So Andrew! How old is this one? Since he is still alive and we can't see more of him were you to see him on a hunt do you have your client try to brain him, wait for a better shot or neither until you've looked him over further?

Mark

LOL I must be the unethical one...Brain him!!

Anton,

I have to say that would be my first thought also. Bang!

Mark

My impression is that this is a young lion. He is too perfect, no scars and short young looking mane. But what do I know!

465H&H

Great one Fairgame. I laughed out loud
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
So Andrew! How old is this one? Since he is still alive and we can't see more of him were you to see him on a hunt do you have your client try to brain him, wait for a better shot or neither until you've looked him over further?

Mark

Mark,

You are such a bully. An honest reply would be that he is a shooter but still borderline. He lacks facial scars which are collected with age. However he is well maned and mature. I would put his age somewhere between 4 and 16.

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
My impression is that this is a young lion. He is too perfect, no scars and short young looking mane. But what do I know!

465H&H

465,

In my youth I was a good scrapper and did not pick up many scars.

If Jonny said he was a shooter I would not hesitate. He would look great in my trophy room.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
My impression is that this is a young lion. He is too perfect, no scars and short young looking mane. But what do I know!

465H&H

465,

In my youth I was a good scrapper and did not pick up many scars.

Whereas I was a bit uncoordinated, and although younger than fairgame, have more scarring....

This lion is in the Save, it is day 5, I can afford to wait for a better visual.

Mature Lion, no doubt!!! Excellent mane development on top of head/around ears, awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:


Mature Lion, no doubt!!! Excellent mane development on top of head/around ears, awesome.

Eish, and your haste caused you to shoot that trophy rock!

Why not? Greyish hue, hard looking and obviously older than 6 years.

If I had lots of cash (which I don't) and a was really good shot (which I'm not) and could control my racing heart (which I couldn't) I'd shoot that lion right between the eyes.

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:


Mature Lion, no doubt!!! Excellent mane development on top of head/around ears, awesome.

Eish, and your haste caused you to shoot that trophy rock!

What rock??

I guess that I am more of a lion conservationist than any you Aaron!

465H&H

Hey Mark: Nice cat! He's slightly scarred, although not to the liking of some. Is this in Savuli?

quote:

Is this in Savuli?

Hope so. Lots of back and forth lion traffic between Sango and Savuli, but I'm betting he's on Makore.

If I see that lion in June, he's getting hooked.

When I first saw the lion, I thought I might have a pic of him. On more mature reflection, I think Mark's lion has a bigger hairdo.

whose his hair stylist? his roots are showing. and until i see his dental xrays, no way would i shoot him( unless of course i never intended to post his picture here and get a hemorrhoidectomy from the armchair quarterbacks)

I don't know...that rock in front is a little too grey yet, and not many scars. I'd have to see more of it to be sure......

There is a dark, longish line between the eyes and slightly below, on the nose.

It is the aiming point.

What color is his nose?

........... but the lack of scars could mean a lack of competing 3-4 year olds - shot out by all those hunters on their once in a life time safari that couldn't go home without their trophy because they paid $20k - trying to oust him from his pride with cubs resting behind those 6+ yo rocks!

Seriously, even a blind hunter can make that decision

quote:

Originally posted by PSmith:
If I had lots of cash (which I don't) and a was really good shot (which I'm not) and could control my racing heart (which I couldn't) I'd shoot that lion right between the eyes.

How old is that lion?
If I was looking at him the way he was looking at me - I would hope to say he was about 1 second from his last birthday.

Are you sure this is not an SA canned lion.
I hear that they have their hair done the same way on the day of the shoot. Just after feeding and teeth cleaning according to some.

I have no clue about his age, so I would fully trust my PH unless his name was Tim.....

Even if he said "no its too young"??

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:
I have no clue about his age, so I would fully trust my PH unless his name was Tim.....

Well the rocks are no longer pink,so we definitely know the rocks are old/mature,the lion is hanging around with old rocks so he has to be mature, right? lets shoot him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:


Seriously, even a blind hunter can make that decision

Not anymore...Even when very confident, PHs are going to hesitate now. The threat of what could happen to one's reputation if the wrong call is made has just become a major consideration. Decent trophies are going to evaporate now before the call is made. And that is good, especially in areas like the Save where PH's should strive to keep the trophy quality where they have been.

For something of a comparison, consider the removal of female leopards from the quota. In days gone by, if the PH thought it was a male it got whacked. Sometimes it was a female. Now, if there is any doubt whatsoever that it's a female, it gets passed up, meaning younger males which look girly get passed up.

All good. Stricter control of hunting regs can only be welcomed in this day and age, especially in Zim and especially when it comes to animals like lions and leopards. Ironic statement, I know.

Just my thoughts on this fine day, cheers David

I am not suggesting this lion is not a shooter, I think it is a fine specimen but am sure I would be way out if I tried to guess its age. I will anyway, I think it is 5 or 6 and there's a bigger brute just up the road, near the Turgwe/Mokore junction.....

Or maybe behind the rock, just about to step out.....

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
My impression is that this is a young lion. He is too perfect, no scars and short young looking mane. But what do I know!

465H&H

465,

In my youth I was a good scrapper and did not pick up many scars.

Hopefully most of your fights didn't involve beasties with claws. I used to box myself and my nose bears testament to the fact ...

UEG,

The pic was taken on Mokore but considering the size of Mokore and it sharing a common border with Savuli my guess would be he would come easily to a slightly fragrant half buffalo set in the right place on either property.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:


Folks,

Since we are discussing lions again I thought you might like to see this picture taken on 23 Nov '11 near the Turgwe river on the Save.

Mark

At least...it is not a 2-3 year old.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

At least it is NOT a 2 or 3 year old (which we have seen before)...is >4 (ie: 4+ to 6)...potential for 6.