Lion hunts and trophy imports

[Bill Thom]

Greetings all- this is my first post so apologize if Im messing up on protocols.
I have been thinking about a lion hunt for years but have been discouraged by what looks like an impossible task of getting the trophy shipped back to the US. I have done a little bit of plains game hunting but can not claim to have much experience. This would be a big step up for me and have It feels like now or never shifts in sentiment and to be fair I am not getting any younger . Does anyone have recent experience or advice on this? A few years back I did look at some hunts in Tanzania and Namibia but the pricing was a little out of reach. I have heard that the lion trophies taken on the more reasonably priced South African hunts are not eligible for importation into the US Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome. regards Bill

 

[Spear Safaris]

Hi Bill
Welcome to this forum.
South African Lion that are captive raised are not eligible for Import into the USA at present, Wild Lion are eligible though, we took one such Lion this last season in South Africa and the process is well on its way in being exported.
Wild lions from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania are importable to the USA, you just need to comply to the Us F&W standards and protocols. As you said the costs of these hunts can be prohibitive.
If any of the above is of interest to you and should you be interested in working with me on a Lion hunt, please feel free to email me.
info@spearsafaris.com
Cheers Ernest

 

[DE KLERK SAFARIS]

Hello Bill
We specialize in captive bred lions that have been released in a very large area.
They are free roaming for a long time and are catching their own game and are completely self sufficient.
Hunting is done by following the lion tracks on foot.
It is a very exciting hunt and as close to a true wilderness experience as you can get.
These lions can be imported into Mexico, Canada or any Caribean island (except USA territories).
The cost of lion hunts in South Africa are a third of what a lion in Tanzania or Zambia will cost.

So just giving you another option that wil not break the bank and the experience is as close to any lion hunt I have done in Botswana also by tracking them in the Kalahari desert.
If the trophy is that important to you have a look at Kenati.
They make a replica of your lion that looks identical to any lion trophy I have seen.
These replicas can be bought in USA and dispayed in your trophy room.

Sincerely
Hans de Klerk

 

[mark-hunter]

After the non importable lion hunt, there is an option for synthetic lion skin.

Non importable elephants, have also option to make replica tusks, etc.... (looking like reaI. Have seen it!)

Just giving some food for thought. Just search around the internet.

 

[Bill Thom]

Hello Bill
We specialize in captive bred lions that have been released in a very large area.
They are free roaming for a long time and are catching their own game and are completely self sufficient.
Hunting is done by following the lion tracks on foot.
It is a very exciting hunt and as close to a true wilderness experience as you can get.
These lions can be imported into Mexico, Canada or any Caribean island (except USA territories).
The cost of lion hunts in South Africa are a third of what a lion in Tanzania or Zambia will cost.

So just giving you another option that wil not break the bank and the experience is as close to any lion hunt I have done in Botswana also by tracking them in the Kalahari desert.
If the trophy is that important to you have a look at Kenati.
They make a replica of your lion that looks identical to any lion trophy I have seen.
These replicas can be bought in USA and dispayed in your trophy room.

Sincerely
Hans de Klerk

Hans- I appreciate you quick answer. The hunt you describe would be very interesting but not ready to go with the the replica option yes. I am holding out hope for some change or relaxation in import regulations but maybe that is not practical. Just for a very rough and non-binding estimate what would an approximate cost be for a 1 X 1 lion hunt be for a male and lioness be.
kind regards
Bill

 

[Bill Thom]

Ernst- I ahave not really looked at a Zimbabwe lion hunt. What would the costs be for an exportable lion or lioness? I am still in the exploratory stage so no need to provide a firm price just a very general indication would be fine.
regards
Bill
Hi Bill
Welcome to this forum.
South African Lion that are captive raised are not eligible for Import into the USA at present, Wild Lion are eligible though, we took one such Lion this last season in South Africa and the process is well on its way in being exported.
Wild lions from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania are importable to the USA, you just need to comply to the Us F&W standards and protocols. As you said the costs of these hunts can be prohibitive.
If any of the above is of interest to you and should you be interested in working with me on a Lion hunt, please feel free to email me.
info@spearsafaris.com
Cheers Ernest

 

[375Fox]

If you are going to participate in captive bred/CBL lion shooting I’d educate yourself on what it is. They are commercially raised then released into hunting area 7 days before the “hunt” starts. It might mimic a hunt but it’s a farming practice disguised as hunting. Short release times limit damage they can do on property, potential for escape, and ensure proper scheduling for hunts booked. Imports are not allowed into US because they are deemed zero conservation value.

There were lioness hunts advertised in save valley in Zimbabwe for around $20,000. That will be best price option on a wild lion. You’d need to speak with conservation force on their import potential.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Below is a post from almost a year ago of a free range lioness hunt in the Save Valley Conservancy.
Cost was: $17,500, which is a cheap as I can remember any such hunt posted on AH.
I do not know if this cat was importable.

I met Lindon Stanton at last year's DSC convention and I'd hunt with him.

I am no expert on importable lions, but chances are a big male will be 2+ times the cost of this 2024 hunt. Then there are the costs of importing and taxidermy... If that is in your budget, then great for you!

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/free-range-lioness-hunt-zimbabwe.79345/

Hi all
I have a great deal on a couple free range lioness in Zimbabwe’s renowned Save valley conservancy.

Area- save valley
Dates- various available
PH - Lin Stanton


The price is as follows.

10 days at $1150 per day
$5000 trophy fee
$500 ranger fee
$500 Tax levies etc…..

Total price $17500

Included in the hunt.
Full ph services with vehicle etc…
All food
All drinks
Daily laundry
Field preparation
Vehicle Transfer to camp

I have several references if you need to chat to someone who has hunted with me in save valley.

Please feel free to message me or email me.
Email - lindonstanton@yahoo.com
WhatsApp +263779913686

I will be attending the Dallas Safari club booth #1034
View attachment 578790

View attachment 578792

Otherwise, a canned lion or lioness hunt may be the next best thing. I've done one of these and it was good. If however I ever choose to do one again, I will contact the De Klerks. My wife and I enjoyed conversing with Hans and his son for almost an hour at DSC 2024. They seem like people who I'd enjoy hunting with. At first the De Klerks thought we or my wife was some kind of Anti-hunting spy. Hardly, growing up in Zambia, she has asked me to shoot the neighbors' house cat that was in our back yard. "Cats are creepy" she says. It's an African thing...

Where I previously hunted lionesses, they didn't offer the plastic skull copies. If I ever do another CBL hunt I will have pre-coordinated a copy of the skull which is something the De Klerks could do in their sleep. Live and learn...

Finally, our member @Rare Breed has a painting made from a photo of his lion as a trophy. He has it posted here on ah and it is darn near magnificiant! Reach out to him if he doesn't join in.

 

[K-man]

Good luck with whatever direction you wish to go, The most important question to ask the outfitter you are selecting is, "has one of your clients successfully imported a lion into the U.S. in the last three years?" then check that reference. That answer should help you decide.

 

[MarkB]

Below is a post from almost a year ago of a free range lioness hunt in the Save Valley Conservancy.
Cost was: $17,500, which is a cheap as I can remember any such hunt posted on AH.
I do not know if this cat was importable.

I met Lindon Stanton at last year's DSC convention and I'd hunt with him.

I am no expert on importable lions, but chances are a big male will be 2+ times the cost of this 2024 hunt. Then there are the costs of importing and taxidermy... If that is in your budget, then great for you!

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/free-range-lioness-hunt-zimbabwe.79345/


Otherwise, a canned lion or lioness hunt may be the next best thing. I've done one of these and it was good. If however I ever choose to do one again, I will contact the De Klerks. My wife and I enjoyed conversing with Hans and his son for almost an hour at DSC 2024. They seem like people who I'd enjoy hunting with. At first the De Klerks thought we or my wife was some kind of Anti-hunting spy. Hardly, growing up in Zambia, she has asked me to shoot the neighbors' house cat that was in our back yard. "Cats are creepy" she says. It's an African thing...

Where I previously hunted lionesses, they didn't offer the plastic skull copies. If I ever do another CBL hunt I will have pre-coordinated a copy of the skull which is something the De Klerks could do in their sleep. Live and learn...

View attachment 655138

Finally, our member @Rare Breed has a painting made from a photo of his lion as a trophy. He has it posted here on ah and it is darn near magnificiant! Reach out to him if he doesn't join in.

Great post. I also did a CBL hunt, if/when I repeat I will also contact @DE KLERK SAFARIS. It was all I expected at 1/4 cost of a wild male. Being Canadian it is importable and in my room. Although yet to be mounted, I got busy.

MB

 

[Philip Glass]

Hans- I appreciate you quick answer. The hunt you describe would be very interesting but not ready to go with the the replica option yes. I am holding out hope for some change or relaxation in import regulations but maybe that is not practical. Just for a very rough and non-binding estimate what would an approximate cost be for a 1 X 1 lion hunt be for a male and lioness be.
kind regards
Bill

There is no problem importing a wild lion. The process has been speeding up lately after some delays. Book your wild lion hunt and then engage Conservation Force to help with the import.

 

[Bill Thom]

If you are going to participate in captive bred/CBL lion shooting I’d educate yourself on what it is. They are commercially raised then released into hunting area 7 days before the “hunt” starts. It might mimic a hunt but it’s a farming practice disguised as hunting. Short release times limit damage they can do on property, potential for escape, and ensure proper scheduling for hunts booked. Imports are not allowed into US because they are deemed zero conservation value.

There were lioness hunts advertised in save valley in Zimbabwe for around $20,000. That will be best price option on a wild lion. You’d need to speak with conservation force on their import potential.

thanks for the reply-you make some good points and I appreciate you weighing in on this. To be honest until this weekend I had only considered a lion hunt as a general idea and had not looked into the details. It has been something I wanted to do but did not really know much about the various options or what they actually meant. Im getting toward the end of my F/T working life and have thought it would be a great way to kick off the nxt chapter. I did some plains game hunts and really enjoyed it but never asked the guys I hunted with about lions...I thought about a lion hunt a number of years ago then the Cecil episode in Zimbabwe hit the press , followed by a few other things that just kept getting in the way.Then 10 years went by! and here I am . My schedule and budget have opened up more since then and hopefully I can make a hunt work in 2025
regards Bill

 

[DE KLERK SAFARIS]

Just to clear up a few facts.
Canned lion hunting is illegal in South Africa.
The anti hunters just love to use that word (canned).
It puts the idea into readers minds that the animal is locked up in a small enclosure (therefore canned).
There is actually a court order that prohibit the press from using that word in any of their articles about captive bred lion hunting.
The reality is that the captive lion industry is very well regulated by our government.
Release dates as well as the hunting dates are monitored by the government officials.
There are minimum norms and standards regarding size of the property and how wild an area is and the amount of time a lion has to be free roaming.
It is also illegal to bait for these lions as it will make the lions dependant on the feed and will make it very easy to find the lions.
Each province (just like states in USA) in South Africa have got different regulations as to how long lions must be free roaming before they can be hunted.
The Northern Cape province require the lions to be free roaming for 2 years before they can be hunted.
The Orange Free State province requires 30 days and Northwest province 4 days for example.
At De Klerk Safaris we take the norms and standards just as a baseline and then increase the standards on every single requirement.
If the requirement is minimum 4 000 acres we make it 23 846 acres (having just added another 4 942 acres after buying the neighbours property and adding it to the game reserve).
If the requirement in Northwest is 4 days free roaming time we follow SAPA's (South African Predator's Association) as well as PHASA's (Professional Hunter's Association of South Africa) norms and standards of at least 30 days. Some of our lions will be free roaming for several months as we release a bunch in the beginning of the season so by the end of the season they might be on the game reserve for 4 months or longer.
If the requirements require an area to be wild we certainly fit the bill (240 km from the closest town, no paved roads closer than 55 miles from us, no overhead electric or telephone wires, no crops or culivated fields close to us, etc.
Our lodge is situated in the middle of the game reserve so clients start hunting the moment they leave the lodge. No gates to open or fences in sight or long drives to get to the hunting area.

I am a big hunter myself but hardly taxidermy anything.
For me it is about the experience and if I want to relive and remember it again I just look at the photos or videos again.
I would rather take the money spent on taxidermy and shipping and go on another safari.
But I can understand if a client wish to have the real trophy to show his friends and family.

But like the saying goes there are many different types of horses for different courses.
So each man (or woman) must decide himself what he wants to do.

Sincerely
Hans de Klerk

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Just to clear up a few facts.
Canned lion hunting is illegal in South Africa.
The anti hunters just love to use that word (canned).
It puts the idea into readers minds that the animal is locked up in a small enclosure (therefore canned).
There is actually a court order that prohibit the press from using that word in any of their articles about captive bred lion hunting.

Sincerely
Hans de Klerk

Sorry @DE KLERK SAFARIS about using the slang term "canned" for any CBL hunts.
It seems that any lion or lioness that spends a month in the bush would be hunting their own food!
An end of season hunt in pursuit (tracking) of one of the De Klerk multi-month survivors would be a tough hunt indeed!