Lion Hunt?

[EDELWEISS]

I just got an email from my PH. The Lion hunt that we had planned for our honeymoon might have to be canceled because of the US changing its policies about importation. He gave me a few options. I could hunt it anyway - just not bring it back to the US (for now / if ever) and since we are having a professional video the hunt, we'd still have the DVD. OR hunt Cape Buffalo OR hunt Hippo OR do a kick ass plains game hunt.

I really wanted Lion but Im not sure a DVD is enough of a trophy. Cape Buffalo was on my list but only after Lion and Leopard. Ive long thought that Hippo (ON LAND) was a cool hunt and should be considered the Big Six (or a replacement for Rhino). Im not opposed to another plains game hunt but it would be a bit of a let down...

A trophy Buff will be more expensive than lion by almost $5K plus the taxidermy (shoulder mount vs a rug). Hippo is still a couple thousand more but theres less taxidermy. On the plus side if I do Buff or Hippo I can get some actual use from that .577Nitro I had to have, because the 470 SxS wasnt enuf.....

[barnetmill]

The right way to do these things is with a spear. Makes it more equal. The Masai use to do that for a young man to prove that he is man. Using a rifle is cheating.

[spanky68]

EDEL if you want to hunt lions I can show you a special spot in southeast D.C. that u can hunt "lions" without a very long plane ride or need for permits or worrying about importation/customs laws. :veryhappy:

[EDELWEISS]

Well I was hoping for a charge but it seems only Mark Sullivan promotes that. If it helps the 577 is a single shot

[Hasher]

For me it would depend on what I had shot over there before. My first trip was a really kick ass plains game hunt. 17 trophies and 15 different species. What part of SA are you going to? There are some really cool thing left you can hunt in certain parts like in the Eastern Cape/Karoo area you can do the Springbuck Grand Slam which is one of all 4 color phases. I did it and it makes a really nice pedestal mount with all 4 on it.

You can also hunt for a lot of the Tiny 10 there as well as in Limpopo and Kwa Zulu Natal and in Mamapulnga.

If you have a Greater Kudu and are in the Eastwrn Cape get an Eastern Cape/Lesser Kudu.

Or see if you can do a buff/hippo combo. Those two together should be far less than a Lion.

Btw who are you booked with?

[grizzlyblake]

I just finished reading Capstick's Death in the Long Grass for the tenth time. I'm enamored with the old safari stories.

I would take a buff over a hippo if I had to choose.

[Mike OTDP]

I just got an email from my PH. The Lion hunt that we had planned for our honeymoon might have to be canceled because of the US changing its policies about importation.

Sad note...I don't think the anti-hunting twits have any clue how much money a legal safari brings into the local economy. Not to mention turning the game into a valuable asset to be preserved, instead of vermin to be exterminated.

[TangoFoxtrot]

DVD is not High Definition (HD) so no way. :shock:

[choirboy]

EDEL if you want to hunt lions I can show you a special spot in southeast D.C. that u can hunt "lions" without a very long plane ride or need for permits or worrying about importation/customs laws. :veryhappy:

Choirboy

A "Lying Hunt" in DC -- talk of a fantasy dream come true. You might need some ammo bearers. The necklass collection might require an addition on the house.:piratewheel:

Choirboy

[bog]

I would do the Buff or Hippo but both the same taxidermy for either, instead of the shoulder mount have the skull beetle cleaned and make a rug/throw or even leather out of the hide, tough choice. What are the chances of having to change the lion hunt? Maybe a call to Safari Club would give an idea if the new laws are empty threats, if their lobbyist is on top of it, or if it's just doomed to happen.

[Tara_infidela]

Look into charter flight seat availability. We've done that. All my leopard skins are still back in SA

[EDELWEISS]

Im booked with KMG Safaris. I used them last time for a plains game hunt on the Easter Cape and was very happy. They treated me like family. The PH sent me some details about a hippo hunt. He says that since I didnt want to shoot them in the water, we would do a "night" hunt with NV to locate one, and stalk to maybe 20 yards. Then once we flip on the light the hippo would charge (either at us or towards the water). He said we'd have less than seconds to make the shot.

I have to admit it DOES sound exciting! Taxidermy is usually just the tusks but I have heard the feet being used as supporters for a table or stool and the thickest part of the hide made into a "Shambok" (sorta stiff whip). So I end up saving on the back end. My last hunt cost more for the taxidermy than the whole hunt.

[EDELWEISS]

Look into charter flight seat availability. We've done that. All my leopard skins are still back in SA

Talk to me about the charter flights???

Did you leave the Leopards in SA because of import issues?

You can email or PM me if you like

[EDELWEISS]

Got another email from the PH, we were discussing "gun" options. Ive got a Merkel 470 SxS and a .577 Nitro Express single shot built on a Ruger No1 action by JDJones of SSK Industries (the Hand Cannon guys). The conventional logic is the 470 because its a double rifle and has two quick shots in case the first one misses or fails to stop BUT I bought the 577 because its a STOPPER. Its 750grs at 2000fps. The 470 NE is certainly no slouch either (500grs @ 2100fps). The plan is to have the PH shoot as well since I dont want to lose the game or have it suffer OR become Hippo shite. So the question is which rifle? Both scream Afrika to me Both are up to the task. Ive gotten pretty fast at dry fire reloading both. Im faster with the 577 (only one thing to put in one hole) but no way can I reload the single shot before I could fire the second barrel in the 470. The sad fact is I dont shoot either enough to say how fast Id be in a charge. Ammo cost is the issue 577NE runs about $20 a round and more than a few shots a day is torture. The 470 is cheap compared to 577, ammo runs about $7 to $10 a shot. Its also much easier to find.

The next question is optics. Neither gun has any glass and ordinarily I say Dangerous Game Guns shouldnt have optics for shots measured in feet; but this being the 21st century AND a night hunt, Im wondering about a small red dot (RMR?). The 577 is set up for Ruger rings and that presents its own issue for red dots. I dont think the quarter rib is wide enough to mount a RMR directly to it and any add-ons raises the optic even further. Im pretty sure the 470 is drilled for a rail but I dont want anything like a conventional scope.

Thoughts?

[paknheat]

Try an Aimpoint in the Ruger rings. It may work.

[EDELWEISS]

https://youtu.be/RBTr6OLAHB0

[Mike OTDP]

I'd go with the .470 double. If you can only shoot the .577 a few times, it will be a lot more likely to induce a flinch. All my reading of African hunting has emphasized that accuracy matters most.

[Tara_infidela]

What action and make is the 470ne? I've seen some cheap ones break at bad times. That said, I've taken hippo with 375h&h and 470. I like bigger holes on the hippos and follow up shots are more necessary than not. Don't always count on the PH being in the right spot when needed. Shit happens


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[EDELWEISS]

I'd go with the .470 double. If you can only shoot the .577 a few times, it will be a lot more likely to induce a flinch. All my reading of African hunting has emphasized that accuracy matters most.

Well first you cant shoot either of them a lot both of them will "wake you up in the morning" and thats what gives you the flinch



What action and make is the 470ne? I've seen some cheap ones break at bad times. That said, I've taken hippo with 375h&h and 470. I like bigger holes on the hippos and follow up shots are more necessary than not. Don't always count on the PH being in the right spot when needed. Shit happens


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The 470 is a Merkel. I dont recall the exact model off the top of my head. I bought it from Craig Boddington in 2012. Its a nice gun and I have zero complaints. Im sure this is exactly what its meant for; but I also bought the 577 for this too. If it was a daylight hunt it would be the 577 for certain, or if I could arrange a porter to be my gun bearer Id take both in the bush (now theres an idea??? and I'll dress like Stewart Granger too...) Honestly I really only expect to get one shot before it turns or tramples us but a second shot is comforting. This is what I get for "cheaping out" and not buying a 577 double

[45Smashemflat]

The 470 is the way to go, it's a double... Nuff said. :)

[choirboy]

I have my home built .458 Win Mag on a 98 Mauser action. No one has shot a full box of 20 in one day, my reloads to factory spec. I did start doing downloads to 45-70 specs but you have to use .458 bullets not .457. I carried it for Black Bear but never got a shot. My cousin did take a Black Bear with it in Canada.

Choirboy

[Tara_infidela]

It's hard to imagine the 470 not being enough gun.

Enjoy the hunt!


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[DogDoc]

Just out of curiosity, what does the taxidermy cost for a typical mount of an antelope?

[Hasher]

A big question this one.

Most st of the game over there is some form of an antelope.

An Impala is usually 450-600. But an Eland which is 1500-1800
pounds on the hoof can run from 1100-1700 for a shoulder mount.

Then you have shipping 1800-4500 depending on size and weight of the crates, and customs clearance charges on the US end of about another 600.

[EDELWEISS]

Just out of curiosity, what does the taxidermy cost for a typical mount of an antelope?

The taxidermy is only HALF the cost. TRANSPORTATION is the big cost on my last trip getting my trophies hime was $5K

[Dave Sauer]

It's hard to imagine the 470 not being enough gun.

Garrett cartridges website has a story about the first guy to take the big 6 in Africa with a lever action 45-70 using Garrett ammo. Ammo is guaranteed to go lengthwise through anything on the North American continent. I have some of it and it kicks like a mule in my 1895 cowboy! More recoil energy than a 375 H&H. Laced on one of those leather Sorbethane stock gizmos. That helped some.

[EDELWEISS]

......and just when I thought it was gonna be Hippo, HeadShrinkHer stepped in with some logic, "You always wanted to hunt Lion, so Hunt LION!" Honestly she wasnt thrilled about the night hunt and she'd read about Hippo attacks... So we're back on for LION! (yesssss). IF we're lucky and a Republican gets elected maybe USF&G will give the go ahead for importation. IF not then the rug and skull will stay at the lodge with a plague.