Which species for 1st dangerous game hunt?

[Mtgoat]

My first safari (plains game) is behind me and, yes, I got the Africa bug and am starting to plan for the next trip. I could be perfectly happy with more plains game. However, I would like to add a DG animal on my next trip. However, I'm not sure which one to try for first.

I have eliminated elephant and rhino from consideration and hippo and croc don't get me particularly excited. I am most inclined to go for either cape buffalo or a lion. I'd love to take a leopard, but time starts to become a problem with them. I figure that I can go for a max of two weeks and I've been told that the odds are only about 50% for taking a leopard in that much time.

I would appreciate any advice that you folks with experience in such matters care to offer.

 

[James.Grage]

MT
The ways things are taking place in Washington, DC.

I would suggest that you select a LION or Leopard Safari. With a Lion safari being the driver. In a few countries where free range lion roam you will be able to shoot your bait animals to hang and after a hit you will go through the blind set up and then the wait for the lion to approach and feed while you lie in wait.

Cape Buffalo will be around for along time to come i can not say that about the cats.

 

[Bobpuckett]

MT I'm with James on this, the lion would be first on the list then flip a quarter as to Leopard, Buff or Elephant or maybe even Rhino.

 

[Mtgoat]

If I were to go for lion, it would be for a female. I don't have room left for a full body - which is what I feel a male requires. However, a female would look good draped over a sofa or even as a rug. I would almost certainly go for a captive bred one. However, I have been told that of the lion hunts that one is the most dangerous.

Does that change your answer?

What about the relative danger? Do you agree? Is it material or is it just splitting hairs?

 

[Bobpuckett]

If I were to go for lion, it would be for a female. I don't have room left for a full body - which is what I feel a male requires. However, a female would look good draped over a sofa or even as a rug. I would almost certainly go for a captive bred one. However, I have been told that of the lion hunts that one is the most dangerous.

Does that change your answer?

What about the relative danger? Do you agree? Is it material or is it just splitting hairs?

If you don't want a full body mount then that would leave the leopard out for me that would have to be a full body mount as well. but saying that I'll say this there is nothing wrong with a rug mount as well and it is by some concidered more traditional. and male or female makes no difference thats personal preference and the way I see it the sex doen't matter as to which is more dangerous they'll both tear your butt up if they get the chance.

 

[Mtgoat]

...the way I see it the sex doen't matter as to which is more dangerous they'll both tear your butt up if they get the chance.

I guess that's why they're called "dangerous" game. :wink2:

 

[Mtgoat]

If you don't want a full body mount then that would leave the leopard out ...

In my trophy room, there is a ledge that was designed with to accommodate a mountain lion and/or leopard lying down - or possibly on a limb or rock ledge extending from the ledge. Unfortunately, that ledge won't work for a lion. It would look to cramped. (I feel strongly that the animals in my trophy room need to be displayed tastefully rather just crammed together.)

 

[BRICKBURN]

Guess your question is answered.

Buffalo it is or Lion and a bigger house!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Mtgoat,
You are certainly on the correct path in your line of thinking. My personal opinion is that Lioness is better value for money. I am currently considering a rug mount for a lioness I shot last year, to go into the lodge. It will be between that, and a shoulder mount. Saw a photo of a lioness shoulder mount, and it looked great.
All the best for your trip and you know the fellas here on AH are just waiting to help you wherever they can.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen

 

[peras]

Mtgoat,I would suggest a lioness,the prices are still affordable,but willl escalate soon.If you hunt one in the next year,you will be able to import your trophy,a year later well we dont know yet.A rug mount on a lioness is beautifull.Buffalo you will always be able to hunt.Good luck with your planning and enjoy!

 

[Red Leg]

Also depends what else you want to do and how you like to hunt. You could go with Nick Nolte in Namibia and in a 2 week hunt have an excellent chance at a leopard while picking up PG running the bait line - but you will spend a lot of time in a blind. Zim, Moz and the Limpopo offer areas where you can hunt cape buffalo and PG - and of course there is Tanzania. I have only taken leopard and buffalo, though have been around a lot of elephant. we are off to Moz next summer for buffalo again - really addictive. Like you, I have had no interest in hippo and croc, and could have easily added them to the license while hinting buffalo in the Caprivi (where they were everywhere) a couple of years ago.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If I were to go for lion, it would be for a female. I don't have room left for a full body - which is what I feel a male requires. However, a female would look good draped over a sofa or even as a rug. I would almost certainly go for a captive bred one. However, I have been told that of the lion hunts that one is the most dangerous.

Does that change your answer?

What about the relative danger? Do you agree? Is it material or is it just splitting hairs?

Captive bred lion hunting dangerous? Yeah, I'd say so. I hate to steal Jacques Spamer's thunder here, but I downloaded this from his FB page and thought it appropriate. In addition to a number of charges from male lions this year, he had this lioness get testy. I believe the cameraman took a hit here.

 

[Red Leg]

Captive bred lion hunting dangerous? Yeah, I'd say so. I hate to steal Jacques Spamer's thunder here, but I downloaded this from his FB page and thought it appropriate. In addition to a number of charges from male lions this year, he had this lioness get testy. I believe the cameraman took a hit here.

View attachment 23039

Sorry, but this makes me sick. It might be dangerous, it might involve a firearm, but it has nothing to do with hunting.

 

[billc]

I hope we dont get into starting to tell people what hunting is and is not on here.All of us on here dont have ten of thousands of dollars to spend on day fees let alone trophy fees for a so called wild lion.Would we all like to hunt all the remote countries of africa you bet.Can we all afford it hell no.I am pretty sure if you wound a raised lion you will be just as dead or hurt as if it was a so called wild lion.So both seem dangerous to me.If the hunts are done by the rules and legally nothing wrong with the hunt.Might not be for everyone but we all can pick if we do it or not.This is the main problem with all of us hunters we can never just all get along and make us as a group stronger then those who want to take it away from us.I am sure there are some guys who make a raised lion hunt fun and exciting and some who may not.I would trust any of the outfitters on this site to do it well and by the book or better.Good luck on what ever you pick and enjoy the hunt.

 

[Red Leg]

I disagree and will continue to do so, because shooting pen-raised lions is a reprehensible practice which does not reflect well at all on "hunting" or "hunters." In other words it doesn't reflect well upon me personally. And by condoning this practice, I am convinced we become enablers to those who will eventually turn all of Africa into Botswana. "Getting along" and not being judgemental of what is to my mind an obviously unethical practice (notice I said nothing about legality, danger, or cost) makes me little more than an abetter of that behavior. So feel free to put me on your ignore list, but I won't shut up about it.

 

[peras]

I hope we dont get into starting to tell people what hunting is and is not on here.All of us on here dont have ten of thousands of dollars to spend on day fees let alone trophy fees for a so called wild lion.Would we all like to hunt all the remote countries of africa you bet.Can we all afford it hell no.I am pretty sure if you wound a raised lion you will be just as dead or hurt as if it was a so called wild lion.So both seem dangerous to me.If the hunts are done by the rules and legally nothing wrong with the hunt.Might not be for everyone but we all can pick if we do it or not.This is the main problem with all of us hunters we can never just all get along and make us as a group stronger then those who want to take it away from us.I am sure there are some guys who make a raised lion hunt fun and exciting and some who may not.I would trust any of the outfitters on this site to do it well and by the book or better.Good luck on what ever you pick and enjoy the hunt.

:beatingdeadhorse:I am with billc on this one.At least the outfitters on here are honest about what they offer.I respect the views of others on this issue,personally I had more ethical and exciting hunts on captive bred lions than wild ones.Just my view.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I disagree and will continue to do so, ................. I won't shut up about it.

To get along you do not have to agree. Thankfully.

 

[peras]

To get along you do not have to agree. Thankfully.

:thumb:

 

[kal]

Back to the original subject, I have found myself in the same predicament with my trip next August. I have always wanted a cape buff in the worst way, had it in my plans to try and tackle one with archery gear. With all the current turmoil surrounding lion I am strongly thinking about taking a lioness while I can. Like many have stated, no one is picketing to save the snot nosed buff. Lions and leopards appear cuddly to non hunters. It would seem to me all are plenty capable of sending your remains home in a envelope. Best of luck deciding.

 

[billc]

brickburn i agree and would still welcome his comments on africa.We may never all agree on everything would just rather not make any bad comment on anyone in the hunting world on this kind of stuff.I do think they could do somethings to make it better but something take time to get near perfect for all.