Well Russell, I just completed reading about your incredible journey. You certainly had a phenomenal trip!!

I noticed that your shots were of the longer kind-similar to Namibia I would say. No matter, no animal is safe when Bwanamrm is on the trigger!!

Your Roan was especially impressive to me. An old guy for sure! That is really a special prize-CONGRATULATIONS on your dream come true!!

I was curious about the ele population. Did you see very many? Did they appear to be smaller in size than those you've seen in southern Africa?

What about the cats? See much Leopard or Lion sign? Lions roaring at night like on the Luangwa?

And lastly- go for that grand slam!! What a quest that would be to fulfill. I'll carry your Gatorade!

Well done Russell...................John

Thanks John,
Yes we saw lots of elephant but the body size was of a medium build and most bulls only carried 15 to 20 pounds of ivory. Not very impressive. That is why the old one-tusker caught our attention... his one tusk weighed between 25 and 30 pounds according to Yann. Certainly not big by southern African standards but a decent West African bull.

Lots of lion. Big-bodied, no manes. We saw several males, including one at 40 yards broadside for a couple of minutes on Day 1. Heard roaring one night and saw tons of tracks. Quota is small. Only one lion permit issued for Porga annually but if you hunt with a firearm you have an excellent shot at getting your cat. Olivia Angelloz killed a nice lion here two years ago and can give you a rundown on them if interested...

What do you and Scott have lined up this year?

Scott and I are still trying to figure out where to go in Africa that has both good quality lion and elephant. It's not easy. We don't have any trips lined up for this year but we are looking at a hunt for Red Stag in Argentina early 2009.

Do you attribute the lack of mane hair on the lions you saw to the plant life (i.e. scrub, thorns) there?

Where do you go next? Can hardly wait for your next adventure!!

John

As far as lion hunting in Benin goes it's truly rewarding however can be quite difficult because baiting, calling and hunting before dawn/after sunset is illegal... simply spot & stalk!

Russell, I'd love to see photos of the lion you saw while in Porga -of course it's the hunter without a tag that sees the lion!

I was the last hunter for Club Faune's 2006 Benin season & their lion tag had not been filled... I simply got lucky in harvesting a nice old male.

By the way Russell, the gentlemen who was allocated the 2008 lion tag never got one!!! If you wanna go back we can send you in April when it's really hot!

Benin sounds like a wonderful place to hunt.

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Do you attribute the lack of mane hair on the lions you saw to the plant life (i.e. scrub, thorns) there?

This is an intersting question that comes up frequently. Until someone sets me straight, I can not believe that this is anything other than the local genetics. Some have genes for thick manes, some do not. Certainly there are areas that are known for lions with thick or sparse manes but I do not know how much the habitat has to do with it. Is there any science to support the theory that a sparsely maned lion is more successful in a thick, thorny environment?

Not being a wildlife biologist I would attribute the lack of mane growth, in this particular area, to the extreme temeperatures. When I killed my lion in Benin it was about 125 degrees Farneheit (51 degrees Celcius!)!

Needless to say I wish I too had lacked a mane on my scalp; any extra insulation was certainly not needed in that kind of heat!

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By the way Russell, the gentlemen who was allocated the 2008 lion tag never got one!!! If you wanna go back we can send you in April when it's really hot!

Story of my life, Livy, "should have been here yesterday" or "thats the biggest buck/bull/ram/cat we've ever seen pose in the open like that! Too bad we don't have a permit!" Hmmm wonder if Yann thinks lightning strikes twice...

Thanks for sharing those precious moments! That`s an impressive bag of trophies.. Don`t worry about the oribi. As you probably know, taxidermist may do miracles. I had extensive damage on an oribi as well, but you can hardly see it on the mounted animal.
Fantastic Nagor buck, btw!! No need to put him in the book, but still a bonus in any collection!

Great post. GIG'EM AGGIES. CLASS OF 1994.

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GIG'EM AGGIES. CLASS OF 1994.

LOL!!! Liked the cap, huh? Gig 'em from an old Ag, Class of '81!

Just a great hunt Russel, once again you had a great trip.

As someone asked ahead of me, where next ? I still have too twist your arm into Mozambique.

Have a chat too Steve, we might just have a lion permit left for this year, and my local authority has been mumbling about the elephants again

Excellent report about a hunting area few of us have or will ever get to visit. Thanks and congratulations on a terrific hunt.

Small world, I just got back from Burkina Faso and we were sharing the border. One day we actually bumped into Yann and met on the river bank. We also had a great hunt, and I will be putting my own report up soon.
Cheers.

Express,
Yann told me a good friend of his had a 50,000 acre concession right across the Pendjari River from Porga... is that who you hunted with? I would love to hear about your hunt, please post!

Great pictures. I need to try this part of Africa some day.

I picked my taxidermy work up from my '07 leopard safari with Chifuti and my '08 safari with Club Faune in Benin. I had B&B Taxidermy do the work and was very pleased with the results... thought I would share the pix of the buff and roan trophies.






Also had shoulder mounts done of Western Buffon Kob, Bubal Hartebeest and Nagor Reedbuck as well as a life-size of my oribi... all very well done by Mike Baird and his crew.

With nothing at the taxidermist right now I need to go hunting!

Very nice mounts Russell
thanks for sharing them

They look great. How 'bout some pictures of the kob, hartebeest, reedbuck and oribi?

And where ARE you headed this year?

Wow, great looking mounts.

They came out great, Russ.. Now post up some pics of the other mounts as well!

A well written report with great pictures. The mounts look great too. A Roan is on my dream list one day. Thanks

Greg

Congrats, enjoyed your pic's and report

Great write up and really fun for me to see where my little rifle went. Thanks!

An uncommon destination,a fascinating story and impressive trophies. Thanks Jim

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:

quote:

GIG'EM AGGIES. CLASS OF 1994.

LOL!!! Liked the cap, huh? Gig 'em from an old Ag, Class of '81!

Congratulations and Gig ‘Em from an even older old Ag! Class of ’69.

I fit somewhere in the middle; Class of 79. Gig em!

EZ

Russ
Great report ! Call me at the office 214-360-9599 and I'll fill you in on my CAR fiasco. You had a much better trip than I !!!
Good for a laugh though and I want to ask a few things about your trip.
Thanks

Guys,
Saw this resurrection today... just back in town from a few days fishing for snook in South Padre. Windy but still fun.

Dane,
Yes I put the 9.3 through her paces on this hunt. Not an elephant like you planned but she hammered everything from reedbuck to buffalo!

Dave,
I'll give you a shout tomorrow. Hope you are feeling better and sorry about the CAR cockup. I'll call mid-morning!

And "gig 'em" again to all my Aggie bros!

Great report. As we all expect from you.

Funny thing you gun case look exactly like mine.

Congrats!!! LOVE THE ROAN

Russell,
You tell a great story and take amazing photos.

Jeremy

WOW...what a hunt! Outstanding trophies!