Judging Lion

StephenZambia · Sep 18, 2016

Thanks Jerome.
I missed a whole line of lions in the 5-6 year age class, and they're all Luangwa lions. But there are no older ones for Zambia, and if there is a legal age of 6, that's a pity as there isn't an example of a legal age Zambian lion.

pacific · Sep 28, 2016

Out of interest, I have posted a few pictures of a skull of a lion taken in the luangwa valley this year. Can I please have some help with ageing this lion.

BRICKBURN · Sep 28, 2016

Tough part is that it has been cooked.
Assuming the color did not change from the cooking I'd guess at 10+

I'd also have liked to have seen the top of the skull to see the knitting.

Any pictures on the hoof?

AfricaHunting.com · Sep 28, 2016

BRICKBURN said:
Tough part is that it has been cooked.
Assuming the color did not change from the cooking I'd guess at 10+

+1
Any pictures of the Lion?

pacific · Sep 28, 2016

AfricaHunting.com said:
+1
Any pictures of the Lion?

I've sent the skull to ZAWA for their normal ageing procedure after which I will do a full hunt report which will include pictures of the lion. Brickburns estimation is pretty close. Three very experienced different local PHs have aged it at nine years old.

StephenZambia · Sep 29, 2016

How to look at it?
Yellow teeth --> older than 4
Distal longitudinal ridge at back of canines (typically not visible before the lion is dead) chipped --> > 6 years (often chipped at 5-6, but here completely chipped)
Tooth wear:
All teeth show wear (look at those incisors! broken upper left canine), but no teeth missing (often the case when 9+ years) --> 7-9 years.
At 5-6 years of age the upper P2 (small first tooth behind canine), and lower p3 (again first tooth behind canine) would show little wear but they show considerable wear here, indicating a few years beyond 6.

Overall I would age him 8-9 years. I would have guessed 9+ if there was a tooth missing. Overall my guess is that this wasn't a difficult assessment in the field if this was a good lion to take or not.

pacific · Sep 29, 2016

StephenZambia said:
How to look at it?
Yellow teeth --> older than 4
Distal longitudinal ridge at back of canines (typically not visible before the lion is dead) chipped --> > 6 years (often chipped at 5-6, but here completely chipped)
Tooth wear:
All teeth show wear (look at those incisors! broken upper left canine), but no teeth missing (often the case when 9+ years) --> 7-9 years.
At 5-6 years of age the upper P2 (small first tooth behind canine), and lower p3 (again first tooth behind canine) would show little wear but they show considerable wear here, indicating a few years beyond 6.

Overall I would age him 8-9 years. I would have guessed 9+ if there was a tooth missing. Overall my guess is that this wasn't a difficult assessment in the field if this was a good lion to take or not.

Thanks a lot for your contribution Steven. Learnt quite abit from it. I can't wait to post the pictures but have been kindly asked by the outfitter to wait for ZAWAS own assessment first for obvious reasons. There was no doubt in the PHs mind once he saw the trail cam pictures. He was a loner and known to the trackers but was left to feed for three days to see whether any other pride members would join him. I was itching to take him and when I finally got my chance, my 416 Rigby didn't disappoint.

Royal27 · Dec 13, 2016

There have been some advances and simplification in the area of lion aging. Its actually really simple now.

First, you look at the mane and make sure it is one that you like.

Then, you grab hold as illustrated below.

If the lion smiles it is still a breeding age lion and another trophy should be pursued
If the lion looks bored (as the lion in the illustration), then it is past breeding age and is a shooter

Simply and straight forward!

Should you have any additional questions please contact @gizmo as he has pioneered this new method.

CAustin · Dec 13, 2016

@Royal27 that's a good one sir!

Edward Wright · Feb 10, 2017

Good stuff scored 60% first time in, but over under aged a few, so I feel good

ArmyGrunt · Feb 12, 2017

Royal27 said:
There have been some advances and simplification in the area of lion aging. Its actually really simple now.

First, you look at the mane and make sure it is one that you like.

Then, you grab hold as illustrated below.

If the lion smiles it is still a breeding age lion and another trophy should be pursued

If the lion looks bored (as the lion in the illustration), then it is past breeding age and is a shooter

Simply and straight forward!

View attachment 166233

Should you have any additional questions please contact @gizmo as he has pioneered this new method.

Probably a good way to judge if it's mature

Sim251090 · Apr 3, 2020

I don't know if this is the right section but I try. I have a lion's fang and I wanted to know more about the goodness and age of the animal. unfortunately he is without a skull, he always has been "he was not hunted by me". in my opinion it is the left canine of the lower arch and it could be a 7/8 year old lion. what can you tell me? ps: sorry for the poor quality of the photos.

Judging Lion

StephenZambia

pacific

BRICKBURN

AfricaHunting.com

pacific

StephenZambia

pacific

Royal27

CAustin

Edward Wright

ArmyGrunt

Sim251090

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