It has been a long road to here. I have put in a lot of days the last three years training and hunting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glK5PeGYWck
These are the real heros in this story.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo1-1.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo2-1.jpg)
For these two hard working hounds a good day starts out with a view like this.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo2.jpg)
Looking Good..... :campfire:
:campfire:
Sounds good!!!
Yesterday morning we found that track. Shortly after we found this.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo3.jpg)
Yesterday was tough. Hard hunting lead to lions in rock piles with no opportunities to tree. That did not slow down these two though. Because this morning we hit the road again. Almost instantly we found this.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo1.jpg)
Again we found ourselves in the cliffs and rocks. This time the hounds told me the cat was in the rocks. I climbed and climbed all over before coming face to face with a lion. He jumped out right near my friend. He quickly put the dogs on the track and we found this!!!
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo-1.jpg)
Shortly after we got to this tree the lion jumped and we were on the chase again. Aspen my puppy leading way. It was not long before I could hear them barking treed again. This is what we found.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo1-2.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo2-2.jpg)
For aspen this was a big day. For the first time she would see a dead lion. She was pretty excited. Here they are ensuring the job was done right.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo1-3.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo2-3.jpg)
I was so excited for how these two pups worked and how hard they worked today.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo4.jpg)
Stalker Wolverine did the trick!!!!
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo3-1.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo-6.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/rburtis1/media/photo-6.jpg.html)
That's a biggin! Congratulations!
Excellent hunt story and photos, Randy. The music that hounds make is sweet song. Congrats!
Congratulations to you and the dogs. Excellent work!
Randy, that's an awesome cat! Congrats!!!!!
Congrats to you and your pups, they deserve an extra treat or 2 for a job well done! Beautiful cat BTW!
I am glad it all came together for you and the hounds. I know how hard you all have worked, congrats on a great looking cat..!
Nice job. That is something to be proud of.
Nice buddy! Congrats again on a fine lion! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well done mate! Is that a big cat for the area? And what is all that white stuff about the place...lol.
Thanks for the show, always glad to see hunters out and about chasing animals I know nothing about. Very cool indeed.
ak.
Congrats, nice cat and story.
Awesome :thumbsup:
Looks like you had a great time and came home with a great cat and story. Good looking bow too.
John
Awesome adventure, congratulations!
Love it when the Dogs get to do what they're trained for. Good looking pair you've got there. Congrats to all!
Congratulations on the cat, Randy. Thanks for taking us along.
Real nice cat, great dogs, good hunt, and thanks for sharing.
A fine ending. Got yourself some memorie's there that Ajax and a brillo pad couldn't touch, and a bond with those dogs that can't be broken.
Congrat !!
Froggy
Congradulations , for sharing !!!!!!!!!
Congradulations , for sharing !!!!!!!!!
Story was worth the wait! Simple, but well told. Very nice! Congratulations, buddy!
Awesome ! Congrats, looks like a real nice cat. I've heard they're good eating, do you eat them also ?
Great job. Give the pups a extra treat.
That is soooooooo cool! I would love to do that someday before I get too old and slow (if I am not already)!
Congrats Randy!
Bisch
The dogs love getting their mouth on the quarry. The dogs reactions are the best part of hound hunting. Congrats to you and especially your pups. :clapper:
Livin' the dream!! CONGRATS on a successful chase.
Congrats again bud :thumbsup: mabey one day ill meet those two heros :)
Great story and good pics thanks for taking us along and congrats to you and those pups!
That sounds like a fun adventure. Congratulations to you and your pups!
-Jay
Absolutely awesome!!
Big time congrats to you and the dogs!
Congrats on taking such a fine animal!
That's a dandy kitty right there....thanks for sharing the adventure with us! congrats!
That is awesome!! Beautiful cat and man is he big! Congrats!!
Congrats!
Congrats! Great pics also!
Way to go . Good job. Big kitty and two good dogs. :thumbsup:
That is awesome! Congrats Randy! :clapper:
How far did you have to go from the time you let the dogs loose till they treed?
Cool stuff, I hope to get my dogs on a cat or 2 next year......the're a bit young still. I have an idea of how much work you went through to get to that tree........and it started a long time before you turned out on that track. Well done.
Darcy :)
Congrats, Ferret.
I gotta get up there and buy you a cup of coffee. I'd be more than happy to spend some time on some "catch and release" if neither of us can get a tag. Just drink some coffee and work them dogs. That'd be more than worth the trip.
homebru
Well done young man to you and your faithful companions. Don't get any better than that. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Too cool. I love to see good dogs work.
Way to go Randy! Cool pics!
Way to go Randy! Beautiful cat and great lookin hounds :campfire:
Congratulations Randy, you definitely earned this one!
Folks, Randy started from scratch and put in the time, expense, and effort, to make it happen.
You DONE GOOD....REALLY GOOD! :notworthy:
Congrats, that is a fine looking feline. I have always heard they are good eating. A lion hunt is on my bucket list before I get to old.
hard eared buddy! Thanks for posting. Congrats
There is just something that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when hunter and hounds share the unbounded thrill of the chase. Like an ancient deep seeded bond, its truly something to experience.
great stuff
congrats on some good dogs
finally got a chance to check the thread. nice job brother.
Most-excellent adventure Randy!
Thank you for sharing it with us!
Great memories right there - with man's best friends!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Awesome! Congrats to the pups and to you. I have to say, great pictures too. You picked a great bow to do the job.
Well done Randy. I have been waiting for this since i meet ya in Solana.
Really nice looking cat. Congrats !!
>>>--vv------>>
Congrats, and thanks for sharing. That is absolutely awesome. That is one of my dream hunts. Very cool!
AWESMOME! Great pics, awesome adventure. I really want to do that. To be honest, it runs through my head everytime Daisy and I are out chasing rabbits. "Poor mans lion hunting".... :bigsmyl:
Randy, Congrats on one fine cat. Well deserved for the effort. Very good tale, Thanks.
Congrats on a very nice cat. That's some mighty fine eatin' there.
I hunted 7 days to take my cat in '05. One of the hunting highlights of my life. Wish I could afford to do it again.
Man Congrats! Nothing like seeing it all come together for a dog you have worked with. Congrats on the pups first, and on a great shot on a huge cat!
Congrats X 10!!! How far do you believe you traveled from the time you and your Buddies (Hounds) left the rig? How about time as well? Decide on a mount/rug/skull? How far up the tree was the Lion and how far or close were you able to get.....cool name huh Lion? Congrats again :thumbsup:
Awesome to say the least!!
Great story Randy, well done! Give the pups an extra bone ;)
Nice cat Randy...you and your dogs hard work paid off!
Atsa'myboy!! (In my old Italian accent)
:thumbsup:
Happy for you bro, you and them dogs earned that cat.
Nicely done...congratulations!
Congrats man. Thanks for taking out a deer killer!
Way to go Randy!!!
Damn nice lion Randy. Good work.
QuoteOriginally posted by Al Kidner:
Well done mate! Is that a big cat for the area? And what is all that white stuff about the place...lol.
ak.
I would say its on the high side of average.
Awesome Brother!
Congrats to you and your hunting partners!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
On my bucket list.
Thanks for sharing!
QuoteOriginally posted by Walt Francis:
Congratulations Randy, you definitely earned this one!
Folks, Randy started from scratch and put in the time, expense, and effort, to make it happen.
You DONE GOOD....REALLY GOOD! :notworthy:
Thank You Walt. Also thank you for your help.
RELEASE THE HOUNDS...........!!!!
Boy that must be really exciting, especially with your own dogs. Cat hunt is soemthing I've wanted to really do but just can't swing it now.
I know when my bird dog gets on fur he'll "open up" and it's big rush for me, but only on rabbit or coon for us. With my luck when the time comes for me to ever get a chance at lion hunt i'd be so worked up i'd need to have someone else put the arrow on the string :)
Very cool
Congrats
Awesome Randy. Loved reading that and the pics were great. congrats on such a nice Cat.
Ya done good. Good team effort. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Lion tastes excellent!
QuoteOriginally posted by Butts2:
Congrats X 10!!! How far do you believe you traveled from the time you and your Buddies (Hounds) left the rig? How about time as well? Decide on a mount/rug/skull? How far up the tree was the Lion and how far or close were you able to get.....cool name huh Lion? Congrats again :thumbsup:
You got a lot of questions there. I did not cut this track on the road. Walked in about a mile. It will be a rug. Dogs on the track for about an hour and a half. Shot was close. He was on the first limb that would hold him.
WOW. That is awesome. Nice cat, even more special when taken with two of your own dogs.
Very nice!!! :thumbsup:
Way to go Randy!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
WOW!!! What a hunt. There's nothing like hunting with fine dogs. When a good pup puts it together the satisfaction is almost indescribable.
Saweeet! Congratulations!
What a great cat! Congratulations Randy!
Great stuff.
Congratulations, thanks for sharing your hunt!
Awesome!!!!
Thanks for sharing!
fine stuff, strong work all around :thumbsup:
Wow, what a great hunt! Not only in harvesting a great cat, but doing it with the pups you've trained and worked with! My hat's off to you! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Bravo Randy, I am really glad for your success as a hunter and a dog trainer. :notworthy:
:clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by tradtusker:
There is just something that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when hunter and hounds share the unbounded thrill of the chase. Like an ancient deep seeded bond, its truly something to experience.
It really is something to behold. An honor I was gifted and will never forget.
:clapper:
:thumbsup: :archer2:
Another cool pic stalker at full draw
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/photo-3.png)
Awesome! Nothing like working your own dogs to a score like that.
That's a dandy .. thanks for sharing and congrats
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Way to go man! Bobcat just ended here, so I'm switching over to really looking for lions! Way to go with the hounds
Congrats to you and your pups. Very rewarding when all the training comes together in success. I have been walking,and running behind dogs for the last 17 years on the job. I understand how proud of those pups you are right now. Congrats to all.
Very Cool. Congrats on a job well done.
WOW great work man. Congrats and thank you for the photo and journal work. Andrew
great job :thumbsup:
Way to go brother...congrats on your accomplishment! :clapper:
Very cool!! Thanks for sharing, That definitely looks like a lot of fun and hard work! Congrats
Steve
Thanks everyone. I have a video I will show you all soon.
That's awesome!!! beautiful dogs!!! cograts
Randy,
That is awesome. Well done as always. I have 15 FULL days of chasing them now and still am waiting for that right one.
Looking forward to the video just to hear the pups!
Nice cat, Randy. One of these days I would love to chase one before I have to use a walker.
You can do it Pat.
Can't wait to see that video!!
Some day I will run behind a group of dogs in search of a cat and smile the whole way.
Added the video
Crazy man!
Nothing like training your own hunting dogs and having success with them. I'm a little jellous though. I've only done on rabbits and ducks. That's awesome bro!
That's a dream come true brother!! :notworthy:
Love the video!
Thanks Pat
Congratulations! Great video! :thumbsup:
Curt maybe one day your dream will come true.
Very nice, congrats on a successful hunt. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That is awesome Randy! Great video. Great 1st AND 2nd shot! :clapper:
Congrats Again!
Benjy
Wow...that's a big cat! :eek: Congrats!
Randy what an amazing hunting story and video. Love watching the hounds work. When they come up to the cat it is almost as though they are barking, "We did it!" Congrats to you and this is definitely on my list of hunts to go on in my lifetime.
Best of luck in the rest of the 2013 season!
Justin
Nice Vid Randy....thanks for putting us there with ya....too cool!!!
Great video Randy! Super proud for you bud :thumbsup:
That is a ton of hard work culminated into a great shot with your best friends cheering you on. Way to go!
Great video.
Wow! That is amazing! Congrats and great video!
Benjy caught the second shot. Well done. A little insurance when a animal like that is about to join your dogs on the ground.
Congrats Randy, it don't get much better than training your own dogs and watching them do what they do so well. I know the pride you have in your dogs what your feeling for the job they do.
Really nice cat and your country is the stuff lion hunters dream of. Thanks for the heads up on this thread and give those dogs a extra pet or twenty. RS
Thanks Robin. You are one of the people I have to thank from here for your training advice?
No thanks needed Randy. Your the one who did all the work and invested the time, money, and hope in a couple pups. It's always been worth it all for me when you walk under the tree and a lion looks thru your soul as you meet his eyes.
Hope you and your hunting pards have many such trees in your future.
Awesome video Randy and congrats on a fine cat.
Nice quality video. Congrats to you and the dogs on a nice accomplishment! :thumbsup:
So cool! Good job!
thats awesome! I have got to get in on some of that action while I still have decent legs!
Great achievement ,,,Wonderful story, well done nice pics and video,,,thanks for sharing,,,
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
MOST-EXCELLENT video Randy!
Thanks for sharin' the adventure!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
I glad everyone is liking the video. I have not made many.
QuoteOriginally posted by FerretWYO:
Benjy caught the second shot. Well done. A little insurance when a animal like that is about to join your dogs on the ground.
That is exactly what I was thinking! I know that I would be concerned about my dogs when that big cat hit the ground!
Great job and video.
Benjy
Been asked about this a couple of time since its up top.
TTT
Needed to read a good hunting story, the D@%n wind is about to drive me crazy.
Just about a year ago... :thumbsup:
Thanks Pat. The wind is getting to me too.
Nice cat Randy!
Congrats!
I missed this last year, that is one heck of a cat, congrats!!!
Great trophy, that is a beautiful cat.
What a huge lion! Congrats!!!! :clapper: