How dangerous is it to hunt a Leopard?

How dangerous is it to hunt a Leopard?
I have the impression that they are of no threat to the hunter and PH at all unless you wound one.

Norwegianwoods said:

How dangerous is it to hunt a Leopard?
I have the impression that they are of no threat to the hunter and PH at all unless you wound one.

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No experience here but I have a feeling that they could perceive us as a prey item. Then the obvious stalking and killing skills would come into play. Same goes for croc but we share preferred common ground with the leopard where they can initiate the stalk and follow on their terms. They do appear to be on the cautious and generally shy side when it comes to human contact. I would bet they hold a very firm spot on the list but don't where in the scale.

Good question. Leopards in the India rang up some incredible totals as man eaters (100+ victims). Corbett has an amazing story concerning one of them - the leopard of Rudraprayag which killed 125+ victims over an eight-year reign of terror. In Africa, while man eaters are recorded, the primary threat to us is a wounded cat. During the hunt in 2008 when I shot one, we had a cat circle our blind one night at a distance measured in inches (by tracks in the morning light) and never knew he was there (I would estimate that I was separated from him by a bit of canvas and maybe six inches when he rounded my corner). I have twice followed up shot cats - mine which was dead, but under circumstances which will give you religion (and a healthy respect for detachable scope mounts) - and one which was very much alive and which gave me even more respect for a detachable scope. Open negotiations with one, particularly with a bad shot, and you can have amble opportunity to observe the reasons for calling him dangerous game.

Norwegianwoods,

Sorry, I thought this was in reference to the other thread. That's why the croc reference was added. I failed to pay attention to detail. Maybe I should give my eyes and phone a rest!

Norwegianwoods said:

How dangerous is it to hunt a Leopard?
I have the impression that they are of no threat to the hunter and PH at all unless you wound one.

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When the blind was set up on my Leopard hunt I'll tell you that both the PH and the tracker made DAMN certain there was a whole bunch of thorny trees blocking any access behind and to the other side of the blind.


The Leopard had already shown it was willing to check the blind out. We found tracks in the sand right beside the blind one day. (There are multiple stories of this behaviour from Leopards in many hunt reports)

Considering the blind is a little bit of mesh and grass and burlap, it does not provide any real protection.

In the absolute silence with no wind you hear the grass crunch right beside you.
This grass is part of the bottom of the blind.
So when this noise originates well within three feet or less on your side of the blind where there is no brush, a Leopard feels REALLY DANGEROUS.

Have you ever had an electric jolt go up your spine and freeze you in place?

I remember this leopard back in 2008 in Namibia, it was a rancher's pet near Windhoek. Anyway one day out of the blue it grabbed a visitor by the neck I believe and broke it pretty easy killing the person. Never under estimate any cat!
They could easily attack a blind if they wanted too.

As RedLeg says many cases of unprovoked injuries and killings by leopard in Africa and India. Never read any Capstick? I think Someone needs to hit the books!

I like to compare it to trusting a wolf ? Yes, I don't trust either.

Although they will try and avoid confrontation they are extremely dangerous, as the many reported attacks proove. Now wound one and in my humble opinion you have awoken the most dangerous of the dangerous game, not nescesserilly in terms off getting killed, but definitely in terms off getting your ass kicked well.

Thanks for the answer everyone.

rooihond, you are totally sane It was Jeromy that moved my post to a thread by its own

I know very well that the leopard in India is very dangerous and some of them like to eat a bit of human flesh now and then.
The Leopard in India is not legal to hunt, so that is a non issue for us hunters
In general it seems to be much more common for predators to include people in their menu in India than in the rest of the world.
I don't know if this is because of the density of people, lack of other prey or that they are wired differently, or a mix of it all.

The problem with man eating Leopards in Africa looks like it is much less of a problem.
I can't recall I have seen that happen for a very long time. Lions are a total different story.

"Tame" pet Leopards or any other form of "tame" predators people keep, is in my opinion the most dangerous of all as they usually totally lack the respect and fear for people.

I totally understand the fear people can feel when sitting in a blind waiting for the Leopard in total pitch darkness because you know what it is capable to do to you and maybe the person already feel a bit uneasy about darkness in any situation.

I just wonder how high the danger is in reality.

If you wound one, I very well know that you have a totally different ball game.

And sestoppelman, I have read a bit of Capstick.
Great reading, but I don't take all he as written as the total truth and a gospel

They can be very dangerous and there's plenty of evidence of African leopards killing humans........ and believe me, a leopard scratch doesn't just hurt, it bloody hurts and what's more, it keeps on bloody hurting for a very long time!

They're also helluva cheeky and it's not at all uncommon for a hunting camp to have a 'camp leopard' that lives nearby or even for a leopard or two to live in close proximity to largish permanent human habitations....... I used to live on a private golf estate near White River which is about 15 minutes drive from the Kruger Park and occasionally used to see a leopard crossing the road or sometimes hear him calling at night.

For those of you who don't know Pietermaritzburg in KZN, South Africa is a city of half a million people with a fairly decent green belt around it particularly toward the north east of the city. The I spent the vast majority of my holidays in the Cascades timber plantations and Ferncliff Nature Reserves and always noticed bushpig sign along with the odd bushbuck or reedbuck sighting. In the last 5 years there have been increased sightings of leopard and their sign is fairly common on tree trunks if you head over to the less frequented corners of the plantation. A few years ago someone went missing when out walking and his skeleton was found a couple years later with signs consistent of a leopard attack being the cause of death.

A story that I heard a few years ago of a hunter tracking a leopard he knew to live in the area and the spoor led him into an area with thick bush on a rocky outcrop at which point he decided to sling his rifle and draw his revolver. Not long after, he got that eerie feeling that something wasn't right, and the saying 'The hair on the back of your neck never lies' was proven once again. He stopped in his tracks and looked up, just as he did so the leopard pounced and, by chance, in his panic he pulled off a shot that found its mark. If he had made the mistake of continuing to track with his rifle in hand, it could have been a very different ending.

In my opinion, Leopard are not shy of living near humans and, as far as I know, will do their best to avoid people normally but if one takes a fancy to you as a meal or it feels threatened either during a follow up or it knows you're tracking it, you're up the creek without a paddle if you're not prepared and on the ball.

hi,

Im no expert , im from Europe but i would put it this way if a leopard is on the hunt and would see some small child walking alone i guess he will take chance for a meal. Also if anyone is very unlucky to be under a tree or a walk way where a leopard hunting is waiting to pounce then i guess you will be a meal too...

But they are very shy and elusive and if they saw you from afar they would disappear and not attack you.

As for hunting them if they are on the ground near you and wounded or trapped yes they will attack you.

If you shoot them from bait or in a tree you should have no problems.

regards

Mike jones

If you scratch behind their ears they purr, trick is not getting eaten prior to said scratching

dobber said:

If you scratch behind their ears they purr, trick is not getting eaten prior to said scratching

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This guy tried to scratch him behind the ear.

dobber said:

If you scratch behind their ears they purr, trick is not getting eaten prior to said scratching

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You can ask PH Chap Esterhuizen about scratching a Leopard behind the ears to.



http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-video-clips-watch-instantly/4552-leopard-attack-zimbabwe.html

Norwegianwoods,

Leopard is one of two DG I would like to hunt. If I post on here that I am going on said hunt, and you guys and gals never see another post from me, one of two things happened, 1) Jerome got tired of my constant rants politics or posting the decals, or 2) the Leopard reinstated the reason he is part of the Big 5.

Have a good one...

If you go on a Leopard hunt, I am sure you will shoot straight and get a big tom to bring home
I think you are in a bigger danger of Jerome getting tired of your rants

Leopards are extremely intelligent predators. I thnk by nature they are super at defensive aggression, rather than offensive aggressors. Nw th problem z men are th super offensive aggressors hence we square off, and whoever happens to be quick, wins th contest

35bore said:

Norwegianwoods,

Leopard is one of two DG I would like to hunt. If I post on here that I am going on said hunt, and you guys and gals never see another post from me, one of two things happened, 1) Jerome got tired of my constant rants politics or posting the decals, or 2) the Leopard reinstated the reason he is part of the Big 5.

Have a good one...

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Or 3) Your Remington failed you ........ :stirring: :sting: :beer: