re: OB's thoughts on lion killing situation in Africa?

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So, lions existed a long arse time and did just fine on their own, man comes in and encroaches on their land, overhunts them, and then decides the only way to SAVE the lions is to kill more.

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Same argument for deer. Deer have existed long before humans and did fine on their own until we go on their land. As we expanded we took more of their land. Only way we can save the population of deer is by killing an an alloted number relative to pupulation size. You cannot stop human expansio, you can curb species population to make it better for the population because of humans taking their territory.

i shoot bucks over corn just so i can pay extra fees to help conserve and fund their habitats and populations.

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Deer have existed long before humans and did fine on their own until we go on their land. As we expanded we took more of their land. Only way we can save the population of deer is by killing an an alloted number relative to pupulation size. You cannot stop human expansio, you can curb species population to make it better for the population because of humans taking their territory.

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Fine,

but why the emotional connection to A lion, if it hadn't been Cecil it would have been another mature male lion. Cecil just happened to pull the short straw.

Whether it was over hung bait, lured from a reserve, or killed with a Swiss Army knife, it is one dead lion. Conservation purpose served.

People don't see it for what it really is. Same reason people get all bent out of shape over big game hunting brown bear. They don't view the bear as something that will actively hunt cubs but rather a cute little bear with a funny hat that says "only you can prevent forest fires."

Charismatic megafauna. Bambi, smokey the bear, the Lion king, the list goes on and on. Yet nobody cries a foul when they have a hamburger or a pull pork sandwich. It's stupid.

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So do you shoot the first legal deer that walks in front of you?

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Most of the time, yes. I'm in it for the meat and having a good time at the camp. I'll never hang a deer at my house.

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Condemning someone for trophy hunting African Lion when you are a deer hunter, is kind of silly. For all we know there is a healthy and huntable population of African Lion where this one was killed.

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I didn't condemn all trophy hunters, I just said that the sport doesn't interest me. As for the subject trophy hunter, this guy has already broken several hunting laws (no license, lying about location of bear taken, etc). He has a poor history and it makes his "I blame the guide service" excuse hard to swallow.

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For all we know there is a healthy and huntable population of African Lion where this one was killed.

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If this is the case, nothing wrong with hunting them in a responsible and legal manner. The dentist's hunt doesn't meet those qualifications.

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Hunting these animals is good, however,

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Agreed. Past mating age males can hamper population growth by running off/killing viable mates for the females. At that point the males need to go. It's important for a well managed population which is important to keep lions out of the endangered zone.

I read somewhere, if someone would like to correct me please do, that they were hunting at night when he shot the lion. I can't see how that would be legal in itself.

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However, I have absolutely no problem with big game hunting, trophy hunting or safaris. If you've got the money, have at it. Hunters are too quick to separate themselves from other hunters, in my opinion


Yeh. If dude knew they lured it off the property then he should have the penalties that come with it b/c that guide sure as frick will. That being said..... If not for these "terrible trophy hunters" many of those villages and preserves would either starve or go under. That money they spend is used to protect the preserves and the meat is given to the villages. So, for people to act like your an a-hole for shooting an animal (albeit this one is questionable) realize what's really going on here. The local economy depends on this money and food.

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Yep. I know several doctors that have gone to Africa on safari and dropped some serious $$$$ into the local economy. Plus my cousin (one of the doctors) went about 20 years and said their guide's helper was a Zulu or someo other kind of tribal warrior and has the pics to prove it. He said the deal was his tribe gets the meat or they may or may not eat you.

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Have to do your homework with your guide though. You may never see your animals if anything is questioned. You can waste thousands of dollars out there. About 15 years ago it was 25k per big 5.

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Not only in Africa, there is scamming all over the hunting and outdoor recreation industry, but especially in a 3rd world country.

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OB's thoughts on lion killing situation in Africa?

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1. Don't know enough about the killing of the animal to comment other than if the dentist was part of luring the lion off of the preserve, removing the collar, etc then he should suffer the consequences, but if he was just dupped by the guides well then he should have done his homework better.
2. The guides and the ppl that did take part in the crimes committed should suffer the consequences of breaking the law.
3. Ppl are blowing this way out of proportion. Jimmy Kimmel and the other social media ppl should shed a tear about the black on black crime in this country, loss of Louisiana wetlands, the starving kids in Africa and elsewhere in the world, the crumbling infastructure in the USA, the enslavement of laborers building the World Cup stadiums, the enslavement of natives in Africa that is still happening, the constant state of civil war in parts of Africa, the genocide that is going on in Africa, or a thousand other way more important issues than the killing of a lion.