GHOST IN THE DARKNESS

[ChasinTail]

I find it interesting that some of the southern boys have given me so much shit over rigging lions yet they would believe a story like that? A trophy room in a cave made by an old tom lion--wow! Sorry boys but ol' Ike ain't buying any of that.

ike

Let me guess... You'd have to see it to believe it?

[Ike]

Any one thats talks about himself in the 3rd person is kinda a looney JMO...

If only some of the rest of you only had such minor problems the world and the board would be a better place!

Ike in the third person!

[Ike]

Let me guess... You'd have to see it to believe it?

Yup, if those southern boys have to see my hounds rig a lion to believe it then I have to see the cave, the horns (and they better all measure 30"), fresh and old lion tracks in and out of that cave, and DNA or finger print evidence that no man has done it.........when I write my book maybe I'll throw that question and others out there every couple chapters so that hounddoggers in the future will be aware of that possibility ( you know like Willey Carroll did about whether a tom scratches with his front or rear feet)......

ike

[Mike Leonard]

When is that book coming out Ike?


You are too funny!


I think deep down you really like me.

What the Hay keeps the world turning don't it? LOL!

[Ike]

When is that book coming out Ike?
(I haven't started it yet, but before I quit writing I had plenty of book offers Mike. And believe it or not I probably wrote over a hundred feature articles before I quit. Seriously, I realize there isn't any money in books or videos, just nickel and dime shit, but I will have my say before I'm done unless the good Lord takes me before I'm ready) If I do write a hound book you can bet I'll include all my Internet friends!

You are too funny!
(As are most of you southern guys Mike!)

I think deep down you really like me.
(I do like you Mike, and I do believe you are serious about our sport, and for the most part most of what I direct at you is in fun)

What the Hay keeps the world turning don't it? LOL!
(It's all good until people make personal attacks against others and get off the topic which always sends the post downhill....what is it, do people think they will bully a guy off the Internet or what?)

[Wimpy]

So talking about different things that lions have done, how many of you have seen a nest made out of oak leaves, built by a female lion?

[Brent Sinclair]

I have found where lions will pack parts of a kill back to a place where a female has left her kittens, I have to believe anything is possiable.
We will never know everything about lion habits....
IMO I think Mike is a very knowlagable man with no reason to tell a story that he himself would not give some thought to before relatin it to anyone.....I'm sure not going to say it would never happen, I've never seen it...I've eatin crow and stuck my foot in my mouth a few to many times and realizing ANYTHING is possiable, except Ol Jon's remark that huntin in the snow is just goin out and killing a lion...
I found this last year while in Africa on a leopard hunt...I showed called the trackers over and they just gave me an empty look....we didn't hang around long and don't want to know...human or primate???? Maybe there is still a "Ghost In The Darkness" out there???

[Pops]

the lions were the Ghost AND the Darkness.

[houndnem]

I thought it was a good story mike. The reason I would belive it is that it's logical. lions like to stash thier kills, anyone who has followed cats knows this. some barry them under a tree and some carry them over a mile to their stashing grounds. Right after the deer rut, mature bucks are run down and dam near defenceless. they will be more inclined to turn and fight the lion than run and this makes those dirty thirties easy prey. an older lion that stashes in a cave could have caught on to this theory. unlike dogs smelling a lion track 6 feet in the air and then with nose 1" away not being able to smell it I belive this.

[BEAR HUNTER]

This lions on his way to his local taxidermist

[Ike]

roflkmao...or maybe his private cave or trophy room!

[Mike Leonard]

Like I said I don't know John Kibler but his book was informative and controversial. Most of the information in it is basic trade secrets that most all serious lion hunters know and understand, some of the lion lore is mythological and abstract but possibly comes with the seasoning of a great story teller. Dale Lee for all is cantankerous ways was a master story teller. He could hold audiences captive when he spun tales. In fact Dale and Clell had a tour they would do going to gyms and civic centers telling hunting stories , showing off trophies and even brought a live lion and a pack of dogs along with them. Clell would come out and strum his guitar and sing a few cowboy songs and then Dale would take the stage and start spinning yarns. In the early 50's they were a big hit. So like a say some tales may get stretched. ( Sort of like the old saying cowboys don't lie they just improve on the truth a bit. LOL!

The stashing stories are a bit hard to believe, in fact I talked to a friend of mine yesterday that was hunting in Sowats Canyon on the north rim and asked him if he had ever seen anything like that. He said never had but sure had seen 2 or 3 deer drug all together and fed on.

Houndem: I think you have a very good theory there on the big bucks. I have seen those deep rut or post rut bucks so dump and blind they would probably try to run a lion down and breed it. LOL!

[Catman]

Well I think all of us tell a story or two. Some of us tell stories.....some are story tellers. Like I said earlier....take two houndsmen...the same track....turned out together....you'd have two different versions of the days activities.
As far as a trophy room. I wouldn't find that hard to believe in an area rich with game and limited on cover.

[BEAR HUNTER]

Uh-oh...if Ike thought my post was funny I better apologize to Mike. I was just being a smart@$$. Found that fake picture on a google search and thought I would post it to provide some more laughs. I enjoyed the story.

[Dads dogboy]

Mr. Mike,

I am a believer in anything being possible. Below is a pic a friend with the USFS sent me taken on a Game Camera set up last Spring, on a location found by a Timber Cruiser. He had found the remains of two old deer kills and one fresher one within few yards of each other.

The USFS biologist thought LION so they set up the camera and this is what they captured on camera over the next two weeks. No LION just this Bobcat, who came back many times during this period.

Did it kill three deer in the same place...possible! Did he establish a pantry where he could go for a meal....?



Interesting to ponder. This is a Big ole Tom Bobcat who lives in an area about 8 miles from our Dogpens in AR but too close to a highway to try to Hunt him!

CJC