Had a nice dinner and got to talk to the outfitter and owner of the lodge at dinner and got some solid sleep. Was still sound asleep when the alarm chimed vs waking up at 3AM to stare at the ceiling. Had a nice breakfast and headed out to check for tracks. about a hour and a half later we came across 3 sets of tracks walking down the road together. Driving around the huge blocks to see if the tracks came out anywhere along the way. In going around several blocks we determined that the 3 lions were in a specific block and dismounted and got on tracks over the next 2 1/2 hours the track separated and went three different ways. So the decision was made which to follow based on wind direction. Spent the next hour weaving in and out of the thick bush. We came to a point where she made a j hook and started back the way she came. We moved a bit off to the side of the track to keep our sent line away. Knowing that she should be close we slowed way down. The tracker was out front followed be the outfitter, Geritt, Me and Rikus. When the tracker froze with one foot in the air and backed up slowly. we moved forward and the lioness was about 30 yards to our right. Sticks went up and direction to shoot once I had a opening in the brush. 286gr Aframe was on its way right behind the shoulder slightly quartering away, right through the boiler room. She jumped straight up and did a 180 degree crow hop. My second shot from several yards closer put her down. One assurance shot in the chest and another in the spine and my lion was down for good. If I could have changed anything I would have used a softer bullet. all the aframes were complete pass through except the one in the spine. I am very happy with the rifle and my shooting. Since everything happened so fast the adrenaline dump didn't occur till after the shots were fired and done. We got her moved out to a open area for pictures and get her loaded up and taken back to the lodge.
A easy lunch and short nap. Headed back out to look for a impala or old warthog. but they weren't on the Africa provides list for my hunt. On this property and the next 2 we saw a number of female with young warthogs but no mature males. The drought is having it's effects on some species more than others. So after dinner we made plans to head to Limpopo the next morning.
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