An unforgettable adventure in a Safari to game-rich nation of the former Burkina French West Faso Africa.

ur tracker pointed to the lion’s spoor on the sandy who said something to him in French. Neither Tim nor I un- soil. The tracks headed toward a verdant creek bot- derstood a word of French, but we still knew what he meant. O tom that contrasted starkly with the dull brown Obviously the track was fresh and we were about to follow vegetation surrounding us. Above the underbrush, in the dis- the lion into the brushy creek bottom. If we happened to see tance, we could see tops of tall trees. They indicated the creek the lion and Philippe thought him at least six years old, Tim serpentined in a southeasterly direction. would have to shoot quickly. Although it was midmorning, we were enveloped in a I checked my Ruger Guide Gun to make sure it was dusky haze. The breeze was out of the north, blowing across fully loaded, even though I knew it was. I had no intention the Sahara Desert and carrying with it fine sand and grit. To of shooting unless things got a bit Western and Tim and my right, Tim Fallon was making certain his .375 Ruger was Philippe needed assistance. The trail led into the little bot- fully loaded and he had quick access to additional rounds in tom, then paralleled a long water hole. We followed, paying Story and photos by Larry Weishuhn his cartridge belt, if needed. He nodded an affirmative, then attention to things around us, every sound, every movement, moved closer to our professional hunter, Philippe Lavillette, even every odor.

74 SportsAfield.com March/April 2015 75 “Rrraaahhh! Rrraaahh!” roars and grunts suddenly erupted the cameraman/producer for my television show, could not see At camp, we were introduced to Philippe, our PH, and his has an excellent lion population, with tightly a hundred and fifty yards ahead, just beyond where we could the roan through the camera’s lens. Then when he could see staff. We quickly learned he spoke no English, only French. regulated hunting, and a huge elephant population, which is see. It sounded like the devils of Hades had escaped! the roan, I couldn’t. Such is making TV shows! Regardless of We spoke no French. Thankfully, however, the language of not hunted. In spite of great hunting opportunities, very few Philippe turned, smiled, and said, “Baboons!” Apparently Tim’s not taking a lion, and my not taking a roan, we had a hunting is universal. We understood very few words of each Americans have hunted in Burkina Faso. This added greatly to the lion we were trailing had walked into a troop of baboons fabulous hunt. Our hunt whetted our appetites for a other’s language; even so, we had no problem communicating our interest in hunting there. and the were none too happy about his presence. return to northwest Africa. when hunting. Several times while driving the remote two-tracks and Quickly we moved forward, hoping to see the lion. Walking Tim Fallon and his family own the FTW Ranch, home Part of the fun of going to far-off lands is learning about while on stalks, we were confronted by the area’s abundant around a slight bend in the creek, we spotted two nearly grown of the Sportsman All Weather, All Terrain Marksmanship the history and culture. Before leaving I did some research elephants. They had no fear of man and they didn’t seem to cubs hastily disappearing into the dense underbrush, but there (SAAM) shooting school. He and I have hunted together in about Burkina Faso, which is situated south and west of the understand “scram!” They seldom backed down, and more was no sign of the big male. The screams, grunts, and roars of North America, Asia, and Africa. I live just an hour’s drive Sahara Desert. From the sixteenth through the nineteenth than a few times we had to make hasty retreats. Thankfully the baboons continued for another three or four minutes. from the FTW, and I spend as much time as possible on the century, this broad savanna region was known as the King- they did not complete their charges, but several times we were Our trackers did their best to sort out the spoor, but the ranch, shooting and learning by watching others as they go dom of Ouagadougou. not too sure they wouldn’t. big male had walked on hard, dry mud where it was impossible through SAAM’s various courses. The primary ethnic group, although there are some sixty On the first full day of hunting we saw many western kob. to find tracks. After an hour of trying to pick up the lion’s trail Shortly after Tim and I started hunting together, he in- different ones in the country, is the Mossi. Tradition has it They seemed to be everywhere. After a morning of following without success, we headed back to our vehicle. troduced me to Patty Curnutte, who, along with her husband, the Mossi originated from a marriage between Yennengo, a lion tracks that turned out to have been made by young lions, We had been on fresh lion tracks every day for the last six owns a booking service called The Global Sportsman. Since Mamprusi princess, and Riale, a Mande hunter. Their son, we decided to shift to for the afternoon hunt. First days—females with cubs, small males, and two large, older that meeting, Patty set up several hunts for Tim and me, in- Quedraogo, is considered the father of the Mossi people. we had a good lunch and a two-hour rest. By midday the tem- males that had given us the slip. Obviously this area of Burki- cluding the current one. During the early European colonization of Africa, the peratures were close to 100 degrees. No one complained about na Faso, not far from the border with Benin, had a substantial Our Burkina Faso adventure began in a rather interest- French settled the region and it became known as French sitting in the shade during the heat of the day. lion population. ing manner. Upon arriving by plane in Ouagadougou (pro- West Africa. Later it was called Upper Volta. In 1984, the Leaving the relative coolness of the high-canopy, shady Tim’s and my hunt in Burkina Faso had its origins in nounced Wog-ah-do-go), our jumping-off point, I learned my country established its independence and became known as creekbottom, we found a small herd of western kob. Using his a hunt we had done the previous year in Benin, with Safari visa was dated for a month later. I had to leave my passport Burkina Faso. hands, Philippe indicated one of the males had long, massive Chelet. Tim had hunted lion there without success, but we with the Customs office to get another visa, and I did so In doing my research, I learned Burkina Faso has excel- horns. Philippe decided he and Tim should stalk and shoot the had both taken extremely good western savanna buffalo. Tim reluctantly, with the promise it would be delivered to me at lent populations of such species as roan antelope, sing-sing big ram. I watched from a distance as they got to within 150 had also taken a really nice harnessed bushbuck and a roan camp before I left. Scary! But they were true to their word, waterbuck, western kob, western , bohor , yards of the kob. I heard the shot and watched the big male go antelope. I failed to take a roan, but I’d had several oppor- and my passport arrived by courier about halfway through , western savanna buffalo, and Grimm (bush) , as down. A few minutes later I was at Tim’s side congratulating tunities. Each time I could have taken a shot, Blake Barnett, our hunt. well as and other species found in northwest Africa. him on his first Burkina Faso . His kob was absolutely

Tim Fallon and Larry Weishuhn with Tim’s Burkina Faso lion, an old, nearly maneless male. Larry Weishuhn with a fine roan antelope.

76 SportsAfield.com March/April 2015 77 beautiful. It looked something like a About ten we started on a lion track. Three to his finger on the right. I knew what ickMurray Custom Leather Company cross between a lechwe and an . hundred yards into the walk, I decided to he meant. I settled the cross hairs of the D C-3CRP Murray We spent the rest of the afternoon go back to the vehicle. I was hurting too Zeiss on that bull’s shoulder and gently Buttstock Shell Holder looking for roan antelope and found sev- much to walk any farther. pulled the trigger. At the shot the bull C-8 Murray Rifle eral, but none Philippe thought worthy That afternoon we drove onto a broad bucked and ran to the left. As soon as I Cartridge Belt $105 of pursuing. Late in the afternoon we savanna and spotted three roan antelope, all shot, I bolted in another fresh round and New for this year, designed for no tracked a herd of buffalo, only to get close males. They ran about two hundred yards, brought the cross hairs to bear in front movement on recoil with a 2-inch enough and realize it was merely a group stopped, and looked back at us. Philippe of the bull’s shoulder. I was just about to width nylon strap over the recoil pad. of cows. said something to the trackers. He grabbed shoot again when the bull stumbled and Available in cartridge sizes Sleep came easily and quickly that my shooting sticks, then motioned me to fell. I kept my cross hairs on him—if he 10 round: from 270 through 577 Nitro. Elastic Loops $200 night. follow him. With his hands he indicated so much as wiggled, I was going to shoot Shotgun model with 5 leather loops. Before daylight the next morning, as one of the bulls had good horns. again. He didn’t move. 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I rested the Ruger, Later that afternoon, after looking Fold-over, double layer style with two safety snaps, 9 round capacity, or laces to adjust. A three-way latigo knot secures the slide and swivels eliminating any screws that could mar hurt—perhaps I had pulled a muscle. As then turned to Philippe. He held up three over numerous western hartebeest, Tim virtually rattle-proof, soft point the morning continued I hurt a bit more. fingers, then with his right hand pointed found one he wanted, an ancient old your stock. Lightweight, strong, and no bulk. Comes ready protection, and available in 4 to use with US made swivels installed. Available with either male with thick, backswept horn tips. cartridge sizes blue, stainless steel, or "mil-spec" swivels. One shot from his .375 Ruger rendered Black add $10 With US mil spec swivels add $10 the hartebeest “ready for the salt.” Short - 243 length $70 On our way back toward camp, we Medium - 30.06, Long Model for rifles with barrel band swivels add $10 spotted another herd of western savanna 300 Winchester, etc. $70 buffalo. We drove past, parked, and walked Long - 375 H & H, A1-AR15 Quick Set Sling $90 to where we had last seen them. They had 300 Weatherby, 300 (For rifles with fixed swivels) Jarrett, etc. $70 moved, but we picked up their tracks and C-3 Murray Rifle Shell Holder trailed them for about a half mile. They W size - 378, 460 stopped to feed in tall grass. 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78 SportsAfield.com Coming into the Burkina Faso followed two big bulls that crossed deep day we spotted a Grimm duiker. Tim There was no movement, not even a tail with the herd. The big bull was on the hunt, there were two primary animals I water and we could not follow. While was able to stalk to within close range twitch. Tim had his lion. backside, barely visible. There was 250 wanted: a roan antelope and a western tracking buffalo we found fresh hippo and take the handsome male. After shaking Tim’s hand and yards of open space separating us, and savanna buffalo. If possible,I also hoped and croc tracks. We did see crocs, but we We were driving from area to area dancing a couple of jigs, we walked no way to get closer or circle the herd to take a harnessed bushbuck. Tim’s never did see any hippo. Several times we looking for buffalo and checking for lion closer to inspect the lion. He was an old because of the wind. We were about to ® ® primary animal was a lion, but he also were confronted by irate elephants and tracks when we spotted a gorgeous har- one, huge of body, although not heavily start walking single file toward them TM hoped to take the various plains game had to retreat rapidly, which made for nessed bushbuck. He was about a hundred maned, which is typical of northwestern in hopes of closing the distance when Burkina Faso had to offer. some interesting and anxious moments! yards off of the two-track. We drove past, African lions. He was missing a lower three kob spooked just to the left of During the next days we tracked nu- We hunted lion in the morning and stopped, got out, then slowly headed back canine and his teeth were well-worn. No the buffalo herd. Within a couple of The stylish, yet simple merous lion and buffalo. We got close to buffalo and plains game the rest of the to where we had last seen him. He had doubt he was at least seven if not eight or heartbeats, only a cloud of dust re- several more buffalo herds. Twice there day. Tim took a very nice bohor reed- moved but was still in the same opening. more years old. We were ecstatic. mained where previously there had and adjustable way were only young bulls in the herd and three buck, which we saw run into a clump of Taking advantage of the wind and cover, With Tim’s lion down, we started been nearly forty buffalo. other times kob or warthogs spooked the tall grass. When it broke cover he made we stalked to within a hundred yards. I hunting another area to look for sing- We followed them for half a mile, to display your trophy herd before we could get a shot. We also a great running shot. Later that same shot from there, and he went down. I’ve sing waterbuck and buffalo. We soon to a point where the bull’s huge track European mounts! long been enamored with bushbuck and found a monstrous waterbuck. Tim was separated from the herd. We trailed the have hunted other subspecies in southern able to stalk close and shot him at less single track for another mile until it dis- Africa. To me, the harnessed subspecies is than fifty yards. The waterbuck was appeared into a river. Glassing across the the most beautiful of the tribe. ruggedly handsome and long of horn. water, we could see where the buffalo On the eighth morning of our hunt, We spent our last day looking for had walked out on the opposite shore. we drove south to where a couple of days buffalo. That morning we stalked a herd Unfortunately, we could not follow. Not before we had found a big set of tracks. that had some young bulls, but nothing only was the water too deep and too We soon found fresh lion tracks crossing as big as the one I had taken the previous wide, alas—the river separated Burkina the dirt two-track. Rather than immedi- year in Benin. Faso from Benin. ately following the spoor from there, Tim Toward the shank of the evening In many ways, it was a fitting end to and I indicated through hand signals that we found where a huge buffalo track a tremendously exciting and successful we wanted to continue driving the road to crossed the road. We followed it for African adventure. One of these days I see if the lion had crossed a second time. about a mile. There, the track joined a hope to return to Burkina Faso and look We drove on. A half-mile later, we found big herd. Two miles later we caught up for that buffalo again. where the lion had crossed the road going the opposite direction as the first tracks. Hunting in Burkina Faso Apparently he was zigzagging, hunting between the creekbottoms on either side Our Burkina Faso hunt was arranged for us by Patty Curnutte of The Global Sports- of the dirt road. man (www.theglobalsportsman.com) agency. Patty also accompanied us to learn more The track looked fresh, so we de- about the area and the professional hunters operating there. cided to continue from there on foot, Our flights were arranged for us by Traveling with Guns (www.travelingwithguns. PH Philippe Lavillette and Larry Weishuhn with Larry’s harnessed bushbuck. but rather than follow the tracks, we de- com). Steve Turner and his crew have arranged many flights for me to foreign destina- cided to walk the road. If we found he tions. They specialize in getting hunters and their guns to hunts throughout the world. had crossed the road again, we would get We flew Air France, and Travel with Guns made certain our guns accompanied us and on the spoor and follow. If we didn’t find the appropriate paperwork was done. another fresh track, we would return to A visa is required to visit Burkina Faso. It can be arranged well before the trip. Un- the last tracks and start from there. fortunately the wrong arrival and departure dates were shown on mine. I should have We walked about two hundred checked as soon as I got the visa, long before leaving, to be certain the dates were correct. yards, looking ahead and on both This was my mistake! sides, as well as behind us, as we went. Tim and I both used Ruger rifles in .375 Ruger. Tim’s is a Model 77 African and mine Philippe, the trackers, Tim, and I could is a Model 77 Guide Gun. Both rifles were topped with Zeiss HD5 2­-10X scopes with Z600 hardly believe it when we saw the lion reticles ideal for shots out to 300 or more yards. Both of us carried Zeiss Victory 10x RF step into the road about a hundred yards binoculars. We shot Hornady’s 300-grain DGX loads. ahead of us. He stopped in the road and Temperatures in Burkina Faso can be on the hot side, reaching 100 degrees or more turned broadside. Tim was immediately during the day. The mornings can be cool. Most of my clothing was from Walls Outdoors. on the sticks and on target, waiting for Be prepared for long walks. My personal choice of boots for this type of hunting are Rus- Philippe to make the call—shoot or sell Moccasin’s Longhunter. don’t shoot. It seemed like an eternity Tim and I are both members of Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com), which is before Philippe hissed, “Shooooot!” and, good insurance in case of medical emergencies. I highly recommend anyone who travels 2 Powder Coated Color Options to me, it seemed like a second eternity to and hunts in remote areas, either in North America or abroad, be a member. 2 Sizes for Small & Big Game Mounts before Tim pulled the trigger. At the Our taxidermy was done by The Wildlife Gallery (www.thewildlifegallery.com). Fully Adjustable shot, the lion did a flip and lay still. Tim They do all my work.—L.W. Buy Now at Tim Fallon with his bohor reedbuck. kept his rifle pointed at the downed lion. www.skullhooker.com 80 SportsAfield.com 81