What is your success rate as a client hunting leopards?

[Red Leg]

Great point...anyone can get lucky but to repeat it over and over at 90% is something else. By the way, I reached out to Nolte after hearing your story months ago and didn't get a response. Maybe he's just booked up but let me know if you think I should contact him by a certain means. I went through his website email.

I'd simply try again or go through their FB page.

 

[rcgarcia84]

For leopard I am 1 for 4. All hunts were done with Sean Grant in Zimbabwe. First 3 were on Shangani Ranch back when he had the hunting rights. I was an anomaly though and am only the second client who failed on a cat hunt with him in 25 years. It really was just plain bad luck as I did everything to up my chances. PH is a leopard specialist, right time of year, right time of moon phase, uneducated cats, can hunt at night. We were holding out for a giant as that area is known for, but they just didn’t like me. We hunted last year on his new leopard area in West Nicholson and took a great old male during daylight on night 6. With counting the days of pre-baiting that’s 76 days. Planning on going again in 2027 to try for another.

I have a much better record with cougars going 3-4. First hunt was done back in 2002 in the Okanagan Valley in BC. Snow was horrible and did not even come across any good male tracks. Since then I have hunted solely with Byron Stewart of Tracks n Trails Outfitting in Alberta. Have taken my cats no later than day 6 of my hunts. Alberta has the best cougar management for trophy quality in the world.

 

[JHT]

I got mine three hours into my first sit with MJK Safaris in Zimbabwe's Makuti Safari Area

 

[Green Chile]

For leopard I am 1 for 4. All hunts were done with Sean Grant in Zimbabwe. First 3 were on Shangani Ranch back when he had the hunting rights. I was an anomaly though and am only the second client who failed on a cat hunt with him in 25 years. It really was just plain bad luck as I did everything to up my chances. PH is a leopard specialist, right time of year, right time of moon phase, uneducated cats, can hunt at night. We were holding out for a giant as that area is known for, but they just didn’t like me. We hunted last year on his new leopard area in West Nicholson and took a great old male during daylight on night 6. With counting the days of pre-baiting that’s 76 days. Planning on going again in 2027 to try for another.
View attachment 627709

I have a much better record with cougars going 3-4. First hunt was done back in 2002 in the Okanagan Valley in BC. Snow was horrible and did not even come across any good male tracks. Since then I have hunted solely with Byron Stewart of Tracks n Trails Outfitting in Alberta. Have taken my cats no later than day 6 of my hunts. Alberta has the best cougar management for trophy quality in the world.

What a story. What were your feelings being successful after 76 days??

Good to know about Byron Stewart. I will look him up. I might want another one someday.

 

[Andrew62]

I shot this leopard just 45 minutes into my first ever sit for leopard. This was 1988, Buffalo Range Safaris, Butch Coatan was my guide, Omay area of Zimbabwe.

 

[Green Chile]

That seems to be the two main patterns...really fast success...or tons of effort and many days before being successful. The interesting thing is how many of us have been unsuccessful even when going to operators who are very successful. My last hunt, the PHs had been successful the last 4 years running until my hunt. My hunt and another recent one were both unsuccessful with that operator. Luck is some kind of factor and if you focus on a specific cat, be prepared to go home without one.

 

[whitetail]

My October 2020 leopard specific hunt in Namibia with Jacques Spamer of @JKO Safaris- was successful but of course the usual chess match with baiting which certainly tests the patience. But I was very fortunate to connect as many have been on leopard specific hunts multiple times and come home without a leopard in the salt. Definitely need to be with a great PH and quality location with plentiful numbers of cats (and of course, a lil luck).

 

[Green Chile]

Beautiful cat! I love the look and color of the big Namibian cats.

 

[Rare Breed]

This question isn't directed to the outfitters and PHs on the forum but you can answer of course. I'm asking this of the regular forum member who is a client in Africa. If you have hunted leopard, how many times have you gone and what is your success rate? There are many factors but primary would be going to a good area with an experienced cat PH.

So far, this is the one species that has eluded me in several ways. 20 odd years ago, there were permits in RSA for leopards. I booked a hunt and the permit never came through. So old Spots skunked me before I even got on the plane! Most recently, I did a 2 week hunt last year (cancellation hunt actually) in Zim for a cattle killing leopard specifically. Hunt report was posted here...we found him but couldn't keep him on bait...passed up on female cat obviously and also a young adult male. So I'm zero on success even though I have hunted with experienced PHs. Curious about the rest of you? I know some are successful very early in their leopard hunting but there are many stories of multiple attempts to take 1 leopard...and some of you have taken multiple leopards.

Awesome thread I am watching with great interest!!! Leopard is the last for my big 5. I saved him for last given he is the hardest to get based on success ratios

 

[rcgarcia84]

What a story. What were your feelings being successful after 76 days??

Good to know about Byron Stewart. I will look him up. I might want another one someday.

It was surreal, and after it all sank in it was almost sad. Like a piece of me was missing. I had been obsessed and passionate about leopards and leopard hunting for about twenty years. It was like a “Now what?” feeling. Luckily it all came back and I am still as passionate and obsessed as ever!

 

[Green Chile]

It was surreal, and after it all sank in it was almost sad. Like a piece of me was missing. I had been obsessed and passionate about leopards and leopard hunting for about twenty years. It was like a “Now what?” feeling. Luckily it all came back and I am still as passionate and obsessed as ever!

I hear what you're saying...after that much focus, now what do I do? I have felt that at different points in life...it's real.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I know this was directed towards clients, I just want to say this. In Zim your hunting area is as important as your PH.

 

[Mnovak]

I was fortunate to harvest a Leopard on my first leopard hunt on my first sit!
Leopard was at the top of my list for African game to pursue, a hunt I never thought I would be able to do. There are several areas, locations and techniques to pursue these beautiful animals as you’re aware. There are also variables in the associated costs with such hunts and this was a variable which I had to consider as my hunting funds do have limitations. After all of the considerations, conversations with PH’s and outfitters I aligned that I would like to do a leopard hunt over bait and with a bow if possible. ( I ended up using a rifle due to the limitation of the set the Leopard I harvested was frequenting did not allow a set close enough for archery) I was fortunate in that my go to outfitter had a connection in Namibia with a reputable outfit that has very high success rates for leopard. This is the direction I chose to go, I did understand that the opportunity to target the biggest cats would be to go to a region where they could run the leopards with dogs targeting specific large males or hunt at night.
If you’re going to do a bait hunt I recommend an outfitter who pre-baits and has multiple sets with access rights to a lot of property. This was the case with the outfitter I hunted with in Namibia.
I have only been on the one leopard hunt and it was a 14 day booking. The outfitter had multiple sets and cameras on each set. We reviewed pics prior to my arrival and when on site. We decided to target the cat I took due to the fact he was on bait during daylight (I also learned that the leopards generally only hit and stay on a bait for a few days and then move on, this is what I was told they do anyway). Good communication and the willingness to keep the client engaged is value added. Sorry if I rambled, I get excited talking about hunting and especially my leopard experience!

 

[Green Chile]

Thanks for sharing. You did your research and it paid off early!

 

[Andrew62]

I was fortunate to harvest a Leopard on my first leopard hunt on my first sit!
Leopard was at the top of my list for African game to pursue, a hunt I never thought I would be able to do. There are several areas, locations and techniques to pursue these beautiful animals as you’re aware. There are also variables in the associated costs with such hunts and this was a variable which I had to consider as my hunting funds do have limitations. After all of the considerations, conversations with PH’s and outfitters I aligned that I would like to do a leopard hunt over bait and with a bow if possible. ( I ended up using a rifle due to the limitation of the set the Leopard I harvested was frequenting did not allow a set close enough for archery) I was fortunate in that my go to outfitter had a connection in Namibia with a reputable outfit that has very high success rates for leopard. This is the direction I chose to go, I did understand that the opportunity to target the biggest cats would be to go to a region where they could run the leopards with dogs targeting specific large males or hunt at night.
If you’re going to do a bait hunt I recommend an outfitter who pre-baits and has multiple sets with access rights to a lot of property. This was the case with the outfitter I hunted with in Namibia.
I have only been on the one leopard hunt and it was a 14 day booking. The outfitter had multiple sets and cameras on each set. We reviewed pics prior to my arrival and when on site. We decided to target the cat I took due to the fact he was on bait during daylight (I also learned that the leopards generally only hit and stay on a bait for a few days and then move on, this is what I was told they do anyway). Good communication and the willingness to keep the client engaged is value added. Sorry if I rambled, I get excited talking about hunting and especially my leopard experience!View attachment 627737

Wow, just look at the scars on this bad boy's head, he must have been a real scrapper! Thank you for posting both the picture and some back story!

 

[Happy Myles]

Ah, Leopard. I love them as an animal and as quarry. I have not been a lucky Leopard hunter but have still managed to take several after many days of hunting, countless baits, lots of patience, and effort over decades. Luckily I enjoy peacefully watching other wildlife while sitting motionless in a blind avoiding even scratching harassing insects. Do not get me wrong i love long hard tracking stalks after Buff and other challenging animals. Placing and checking baits over vast territory is hard expensive work which I do not have done in advance. The choice of baits and careful placement of them is interesting work. Checking baits can get tedious, unless you are lucky. Some folks are lucky. The late Rory Gallatly and I worked hard shooting, placing and checking baits on one of our several Zambia hunts and were unsuccessful. He drove me to a primitive dirt landing strip after a thirty day safari to meet my charter plane and pick up an Italian hunter. Driving back to campi they spotted a big Leopard on one of my baits, killed it while the new hunter was still in street clothes. It was his first safari animal and he had not fired his rifle beforehand. Rory claimed the Italian wanted to go back to the landing strip and take my charter homeward. Such is African safari. Do not feel sorry for me I have taken my share of Leopard and enjoyed every minute. Except for the time I was mauled.

 

[Mnovak]

Wow, just look at the scars on this bad boy's head, he must have been a real scrapper! Thank you for posting both the picture and some back story!

Yes, he was pretty scared up from fighting. Happy to share, glad you enjoyed it.

 

[bakerb]

Sorta 1 for 2. Same package, but took two trips.

First trip was a new lease in a new concession and they had trouble getting the dog permit. So we baited and did the whole baiting/blind thing. Had a great male on bait, but poachers moved in and spooked him off. We did not get a Tom that trip.

Came back 2 months later and had the dog permit. Took 4 days basically to get on a tom with the dogs. It was quite a hunt

 

[slam8031]

I was cut short on the first leopard hunt with threats of Namibia shutting down sue to Covid so we left after 72 hours and three sits in the blind. I returned four months later and got my leopard on the first sit. So I would argue one for one in hunting leopard. Four days hunting in the blind. Hunt report(s) are on AH.

 

[slam8031]

Due to Covid …