Leopard Hunts.... How much bait did you shoot?

[deewayne2003]

Considering booking a Leopard hunt in Zimbabwe for 2027 and another post about bait pricing made me start thinking about bait volume.

So for those of you who have hunted Leopard(successful or not) what kind and how many bait animals did it take to complete your hunt?

 

[Rare Breed]

For me in Zim it was 7 goats at $25 each to start then 1 entire cow for $500

 

[Happy Myles]

Depends. Sometimes one bait will do it. Sometimes lots of baits won’t do it. In my experience if you get a cat on a zebra bait the cat will come back they like the flavor and a quarter will provide enough meat to lure them back. One trip we had baits strung out everywhere with no luck getting cats to stay on bait. A charter plane picked me up and dropped off an Italian chap he killed a leopard off one of my baits driving back to camp. Go figure.
For lion I prefer hippo for bait. Tons of meat to lure cats back and they love hippo fat

 

[Andrew62]

5 impala, 1 zebra

 

[Rare Breed]

Depends. Sometimes one bait will do it. Sometimes lots of baits won’t do it. In my experience if you get a cat on a zebra bait the cat will come back they like the flavor and a quarter will provide enough meat to lure them back. One trip we had baits strung out everywhere with no luck getting cats to stay on bait. A charter plane picked me up and dropped off an Italian chap he killed a leopard off one of my baits driving back to camp. Go figure.
For lion I prefer hippo for bait. Tons of meat to lure cats back and they love hippo fat

I was told by Lue Hallamore my PH that Zebra was the best bait for leopard in his opinion.

 

[Sarg]

If possible try to spring for a prebaited hunt, it will also depend on what time of year as warm weather will rot baits out faster for the few that are being eaten, especially try to time your hunt before the seasons fawn-calf drop, also what area !

I’m afraid you are asking “How long is a piece of String ?”

 

[DLSJR]

In Zimbabwe we used impala & warthogs for leopard bait. It was many years ago but I was allocated something like 6-8 animals between pigs and impalas for bait. Put up 4 baits, shot a 165 lb Tom during daylight on very first sit.

In Tanzania we’ve used Zebra, buffalo and hartebeest. We had a bunch of baits and cats were feeding on five different baits.

 

[deewayne2003]

If possible try to spring for a prebaited hunt, it will also depend on what time of year as warm weather will rot baits out faster for the few that are being eaten, especially try to time your hunt before the seasons fawn-calf drop, also what area !

I’m afraid you are asking “How long is a piece of String ?”

Think of the question more along the lines of "How long was your piece of string?"

There are certainly lots of variables so I'm trying to get the some total of what others have experienced.

You make all valid points and I agree on the pre-baiting.

 

[Doug3006]

Two Zebras. I took one and @Jeff505 took the other. We paid the full trophy fees for both. Kept the hides for rugs. Turns out I only needed one…and only the two fron shoulders. My cat played nice and I got him on the first sit!

 

[Sarg]

Think of the question more along the lines of "How long was your piece of string?"

There are certainly lots of variables so I'm trying to get the some total of what others have experienced.

You make all valid points and I agree on the pre-baiting.

I worked in Zim a season as helper, worked on a lot of Leopards & shot a couple myself, back then it was either sex so if something big came in it got shot !

Much different in today’ client hunter world !

 

[thriller]

I shot 1 zebra…. Also I killed my cat on day 2 so probably not the best measuring stick here.

 

[thriller]

Considering booking a Leopard hunt in Zimbabwe for 2027 and another post about bait pricing made me start thinking about bait volume.

So for those of you who have hunted Leopard(successful or not) what kind and how many bait animals did it take to complete your hunt?

Prebaiting is a great way to improve your chances. It’s not free but its cheaper than a second attempt at a leopard

 

[Happy Myles]

For some reason I like to strategize, plan and do my own baiting, so prebaiting is not for me. While I am busy hunting other game i usually have someone else check baits for me. I have set baits all over Africa for a couple professional photographers. No plans to kill another Chui. I have killed several leopards so no more for me. While sitting on baits I have been lucky to observe a wide variety of other interesting animals attracted to bait.

 

[Jeff505]

Two Zebras. I took one and @Jeff505 took the other. We paid the full trophy fees for both. Kept the hides for rugs. Turns out I only needed one…and only the two fron shoulders. My cat played nice and I got him on the first sit!

It’s important to also remember that the leopards don’t get the back straps.

 

[K-man]

On one hunt I shot four zebras and four impala so 20 baits total. Sixteen of them were hit by young males and females. Three of them were hit by mature males, but the most consistent one got run off the bait by lions and never came back. The bait cost was $400 per zebra and $100 per impala (non-trophy)
My second hunt two impalas and one zebra, Killed on the fourth day and hunted Hyena off them later.

 

[DAK]

They prebaited but I only shot two warthogs and shot my cat on day 3 off of one of the half warthogs we hung on day 1.

 

[Graham Hunter]

I shot mine in Tanzania in 2023. The hunter just before me had killed a Buffalo so I didn't need bait at that point. My Leopard had been on bait for 5 days. I shot him 1st sit day 1sit sit.. My buddy shot his on day 6 his 1st sit. This area is Leopard Central and I believe 100% for 6 or 7 years. When we left there were 5 mature males on baits and the following 3 hunters were succesful.

 

[eyedok]

One hippo, 16 baits, Zambia, shot a big tom 42min into my first sit ever in a leopard blind, got into the blind 3:30pm, shot the leopard at 4:12pm

 

[Andrew62]

One hippo, 16 baits, Zambia, shot a big tom 42min into my first sit ever in a leopard blind, got into the blind 3:30pm, shot the leopard at 4:12pm

Pretty much the same for me, took a nice Tom about 45 minutes into my first sit, 4:45pm

 

[tygersman1]

As much as it takes. I literally just racked up $4k in leopard bait on a successful hunt. Yes, I’ve also done it for less. But this is one of those it costs what it costs kind of deals. Certainly helps if there’s a bait zebra option - essentially 9 baits per two zebra. I find Zebra lasts longer than impala too.