When it comes to fending off a surprised lion and his girlfriends feasting on zebra tartare, the situation requires both enough gun and fast reflexes.
“As the trail took us through the tall grass and around a small hill, suddenly we surprised a large male lion and its two lionesses contentedly feeding upon a recently killed zebra … . In response to our noisy intrusion, the lion bounced to its feet to turn and face us in one quick move. … Our adrenaline pumped with each switch of the lion’s tail. Crouching low, growling deeply, its tail jerking ever more fiercely, the lion charged.
… Cheetah held my rifle in a ready position, his eyes glued to the oncoming lion. Andrew, his mouth wide open, was speechless. … In a single great bounce, the lion was virtually upon us. In the same split second, Cheetah tossed me the gun. I snatched it in midair, jammed it to my shoulder, and managed to get off a quick shot at the lion’s right shoulder, just as it was making its final leap.”—Channing Beebe, Cannibals and Big Game, from the chapter “Too Close.”
Did you like this quote? Then we think you’ll absolutely love this trifecta of picks from GunDigestStore.com. Check out Safari Rifles II by Craig Boddington, The Perfect Shot, Shot Placement for African Big Game by Kevin Robertson, and the wonderful classic fireside tome, Pondoro, Last of the Ivory Hunters, by John “Pondoro” Taylor.
