The African lion is one of the most easily recognizable animals that calls the continent home. Their huge size, impressive manes, and fright-inducing roars are the stuff of legend. Lion hunting is highly regulated and must be done ethically and with the regulations in mind. Only certain lions can be taken due to the regulations and careful care must be taken in order to not shoot an illegal specimen.
Hunting lions can take a lot of time and is generally performed in one of two different ways. The first lion hunting method is baiting. Bait is dragged towards the hunting location to create scent trails and then hung in a position that is low enough for lions to reach, but that is too high for scavenging hyenas. Once a bait is in position the hunter will usually stay in a blind within sight of the bait and take a shot when appropriate. Bait locations can also be stalked and checked at first light to catch a feeding lion.
The other, and more exciting, lion hunting method is the stalk. Lion tracks and other sign are followed until the hunting party catches sight of the big cat. A fully grown male lion usually weighs over 300 pounds, but some particularly large cats can tip the scales at over 500 pounds.
As with any dangerous game, a wounded lion is an accident waiting to happen. Proper shot placement is vital to making a clean kill and avoiding any risk of injury. Depending on the type of bullet used, a .300 caliber rifle can humanely kill a lion. However, a bigger caliber wouldn’t hurt to ensure a clean kill. Shots can occur at ranges between 30 and 50 yards.
All it will take is seeing one giant lion track, hearing one bone-chilling roar, or catching sight of the king of the jungle for your heart to start racing and your adrenaline to start pumping.