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Lion, leopard, buffalo with Thierry Labat and Zambezi Hunters (pics added pg 3)
25 June 2012, 21:08
Greg BrownleeLion, leopard, buffalo with Thierry Labat and Zambezi Hunters (pics added pg 3)
Great report and great lion Will! Congratulations!
25 June 2012, 21:11
Dead EyeVery good and congrats. Thanks for posting!
Amazing hunt Will! Thanks for sharing.
Now I really can't wait the next 4 weeks to get out there!
O
Great report Will, well-written! You made us feel as we were right there with you in the lion blind! I must say I also admire and respect very much your "one lion" decision even though you are still a young man with many hunts left to go. I'm fifty eight, with just two safaris under my belt (the first at age fifty) and even though I might have two or at the most three safaris left, I'll never be able to hunt a lion. Again great report and thanks!
USN (ret)
DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE
Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE
Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE
DSC Life Member
NRA Life Member
Congratulations Will!
Doug
25 June 2012, 23:51
Bwana BundukiWell Done Will!!!
JEff
26 June 2012, 01:36
JungleboyWell done Will!
If you remember, you encouraged me @ SCI to book with Professor Labat for
leopard in 2013. We are scheduled with Thierry in Sango for mid-May & can only hope to do
half as well as you!
Hopefully, his luck will continue for us!
Excellent job again, that's a real brute of a lion
Jim
26 June 2012, 02:52
Use Enough GunFantastic Will!

And a toast with my favorite soft drink to boot-Green Cream Soda!

26 June 2012, 03:41
Chris LozanoAwesome Lion!! Hard to believe that leopard was the second best of the trip.

26 June 2012, 04:19
bwanajayFantastic Will! I went straight for the pics now to settle down and read your report.
Awesome!!!!
26 June 2012, 04:38
TrophyShotPrintsSPECTACULAR Will...Good for you...Well done

26 June 2012, 05:52
retreeverWill,
Way to go. A real lion.
Mike

Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting
www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
26 June 2012, 05:56
bwana cecilAs Gomer would say"SHAZAAM!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I'll be back in the truck with Legend Labat in just 13 more months.
LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show.
Not all who wander are lost.
NEVER TRUST A FART!!!
Cecil Leonard
26 June 2012, 09:49
BRICKBURNWell fed cats.
Congratulations.
26 June 2012, 10:05
BwannaWill and Theirry congrats. Amazing cats. I hope some of your luck is stuck in those Courtneys I bought from you that you both wore
26 June 2012, 13:41
safari-doctorCongrats to Will, who was an awesome tour guide for my first African Safari. The lion was even more impressive in person...as one of the staff said, "a mucking fonster"!
26 June 2012, 15:46
David HulmeAbsolutely fantastic, right out of the top drawer.

26 June 2012, 18:34
safari-lawyerquote:
Originally posted by shootaway:
Did you use the Swifts on the lion?
Yes. 400gr Swift A-Frames on lion and on the leopard and buffalo as well.
Will J. Parks, III
26 June 2012, 19:20
David HulmeMudini: What a decent, down to earth, hard working and courageous man. A leading poacher nabber, month in and month out during the off season when we were working for Roger Whittall. I can't tell you how many poachers we brought to book together... A good man to have at your side when the fists/sticks/rocks/pangas/bullets start flying...
Thierry: It's been 17 or 18 years, but it doesn't seem that long ago when I took a very keen young man hunting impala on Ruware in the Chiredzi conservancy, where we then lived. We didn't shoot any impala but I never rated myself as a PH and we had a lot of fun anyway...
You have come a long way in a short time my friend and the sky's the limit. I am very proud of you.
Will Parks: I salute you and the many others like you on this site who continue to hunt Zimbabwe, who have backed us through thick and thin. You guys are the reason many Zimbabweans are able to put food on the table/send their kids to school, and I thank you on behalf of country and countrymen. I also congratulate you on your incredible collection of trophies.
Zambezi Hunters: Consistent quality speaks volumes. Pure class.
David

26 June 2012, 19:31
Eland SlayerGorgeous Lion Will....congratulations on a wonderful hunt!!
26 June 2012, 23:06
PSmithWill, those are BIG cats, well done!
Paul Smith
SCI Life Member
NRA Life Member
DSC Member
Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club
DRSS
I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas"
"A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck
27 June 2012, 00:57
jeff hWill thanks for the e-mail and pic. You should never hunt one again, This one you would never best. Congrats on a great hunt and over the top trophies! Great Report as usual. Who is doing all your cats?
NRA LIFE MEMBER
DU DIAMOND SPONSOR IN PERPETUITY
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB LIFE MEMBER
SCI FOUNDATION MEMBER
Well written and well hunted.
What an awe expiring Lion!!!!! That is one animal that you could never have too many photo's of.
Hey Buzz,I want that lions brother!!
27 June 2012, 03:06
pagosawingnutYou'd be hard pressed to better that lion I venture. Sounds like you had a great hunt and a fantastic time.
What an incredible Lion, congrats
27 June 2012, 06:02
SevensWill, you are both lucky and blessed! Congrats on the lion! The buffalo and leopard ain't too shabby either! Mieta for sharing the hunt with us!
27 June 2012, 07:59
bwanamrmThree of the Big Five in one hunt! Well done, superb trophies all... especially the lion.
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.
27 June 2012, 08:41
Nevada WapatiGreat trophies, Congratulations. Thanks for the photos and well written report.
Randy
27 June 2012, 10:08
Patricio GaudianoOutstanding
27 June 2012, 10:47
Big Game HunterWill,
Awesome trophies and a great report as usual.
I can't wait to hear it first hand at one of our meetings.
Keith O'Neal
Trophy Collectors Consultants
Po Box 3908
Oxford, AL. 36203
256-310-4424
TCChunts@gmail.com
All of your desires can be found on the other side of your fears.
27 June 2012, 12:45
Bwanamichwhat a fine hunt with superb trophies, congratulations.
quote:
I will confess that the ongoing conversation on this site about aging lions assisted me as I knew, for myself, that these lions were not shootable lions as soon as I saw them.
Then all the controversies of the years will have been worth it!

"...Them, they were Giants!"
J.A. Hunter describing the early explorers and settlers of East Africa
hunting is not about the killing but about the chase of the hunt.... Ortega Y Gasset
27 June 2012, 16:56
bcolyerHOLY SMOKES !!!! I knew you had a good report coming.....but geeze. What some cats, what a monster. CONGRATULATIONS! I can hardly wait till next week to get the story up close and personal. Please don't wash all the smell and flavor of Africa off for a few more days yet.
27 June 2012, 19:21
bwana cecilI think this morning the magnatude of this safari finally settled in on me.
This would have been an "EPIC" adventure to me & I'm quite sure it was to Will as well.
Truely a memorable experience!
Congratulations Will.
LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show.
Not all who wander are lost.
NEVER TRUST A FART!!!
Cecil Leonard
27 June 2012, 21:06
Bill CGreat hunt Will, congrats to you and Thierry. You guys continue to make a great team!
I met Thiery's parents on my way out of Harare in April, nice people.
Which scope did you end up using, and was it indeed "traditional" (no illumination)?
Have you thought about how you will be mounting that magnificent lion?
27 June 2012, 22:29
bobby7321great report, AWESOME lion!
Well done Will! Sorry I'm tardy on my reply...been busy. I spent a good bit of time visiting with Thierry in Roger's old camp in Chewore South in '06...he put us onto a great kudu bull...what a fine fellow! Keep well my friend!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
29 June 2012, 02:03
ghostbirdWill,
I realize you are probably catching up on some work... but, we need more photos !!!
Andy
--------------------------------------------
National Rifle Association - Life Member
National Wild Turkey Federation - Diamond Life Sponsor
Pope & Young Club - Associate Member
30 June 2012, 00:04
Molepolole"Please excuse the excessive pictures." You're kidding, right????? I agree with ghostbird - I want more photos! Will, so glad you got the same lion you saw a year ago, gave a name to, and have been dreaming about ever since. That makes him even more special. He's truly every hunter's dream - the perfect lion. Like bwana cecil said, the word "EPIC" comes to mind. A perfect safari for sure. And a fantastic hunt report too.