Leopard Success Rates

Russ16 said:
I probably misiderstood on Buffalo as bait.

That said when I go I won’t express any opinion on what to use as bait.thats what the PH is for, he knows what better than I the best way to do it.

Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...
Some will use Buffalo as bait, especially if the client has a combo booked with Buffalo. Some clients are apprehensive about shooting bait as well. They’re stretching to make the hunt happen and keep thinking about another grand or two here and there on bait. I’m the client that’s often stretching, so I get it but I just remind myself that another grand or two in bait today is way less than I’d spend coming back because I’m gonna have to shoot the same bait plus some then.
 
So, prime areas are Nyasa and Luangwa.

What is average day rate there when hunting DG?
And what is then a leopard trophy fee in average?

The idea is to try leopard as add on, and spend time hunting buffalo, or croc, or hippo.
To try for a two or three dg animals that include leopard?

This construction, to me looks best buy option, on a single DG day rate with high success rate.

Am I wrong in this estimate?

Separate question:
Same idea, but in Zimbabwe.
What are prime leopard areas there?
Then to do a multiple DG safari there with leopard included.
 
The active part of a leopard hunt is usually over in 30-45 seconds.
But those moments remain etched in your heart like almost nothing else.
Besides, no other big-game animal is shot at so often from a good stable point, and yet there are often woundsearches for this species.
Does fear play a role in the subconscious?
Probably so.
There are a lot of good tips in this thread—it’s worth reading through.
1782132388758.png

"Shot" it with my Pulsar cam on 20 meter
 
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mark-hunter said:
So, prime areas are Nyasa and Luangwa.

What is average day rate there when hunting DG?
And what is then a leopard trophy fee in average?

The idea is to try leopard as add on, and spend time hunting buffalo, or croc, or hippo.
To try for a two or three dg animals that include leopard?

This construction, to me looks best buy option, on a single DG day rate with high success rate.

Am I wrong in this estimate?

Separate question:
Same idea, but in Zimbabwe.
What are prime leopard areas there?
Then to do a multiple DG safari there with leopard included.
Click to expand...
Zambia isn’t cheap. You need to pre-book your cat same with Niassa. It’s not just a casual add on. I have a few Zambian price lists. Daily rates plus concession fees range $30k-$40k and $8k-$15k trophy fee. Many areas will require a charter also. Niassa will be closer to $30k in daily rates plus charter and a trophy fee around $10k.

The valley areas in Zimbabwe have high success rates on cats, but not 100%. Nuanetsi is well known for big leopards and high success.
 
mark-hunter said:
So, prime areas are Nyasa and Luangwa.

What is average day rate there when hunting DG?
And what is then a leopard trophy fee in average?

The idea is to try leopard as add on, and spend time hunting buffalo, or croc, or hippo.
To try for a two or three dg animals that include leopard?

This construction, to me looks best buy option, on a single DG day rate with high success rate.

Am I wrong in this estimate?

Separate question:
Same idea, but in Zimbabwe.
What are prime leopard areas there?
Then to do a multiple DG safari there with leopard included.
Click to expand...
You could probably find better pricing with some of the more marginal concessions in Zambia or hunting areas outside the Niassa reserve boundaries, but the success rates would be lower.
 
mark-hunter said:
So, prime areas are Nyasa and Luangwa.

What is average day rate there when hunting DG?
And what is then a leopard trophy fee in average?

The idea is to try leopard as add on, and spend time hunting buffalo, or croc, or hippo.
To try for a two or three dg animals that include leopard?

This construction, to me looks best buy option, on a single DG day rate with high success rate.

Am I wrong in this estimate?

Separate question:
Same idea, but in Zimbabwe.
What are prime leopard areas there?
Then to do a multiple DG safari there with leopard included.
Click to expand...
As .375 said…there is no hunting Leopard as an “add on” (certainly not planned as such)
There are basically three levels of success and cost as stated above numerous areas
1) best areas and best chances of success…$40k ish all in (Zambia Luangwa and Niassa). Pretty much 100% but it’s hunting so no guarantees
2) Zim best areas…some Zambezi valley areas and the ranch areas down South. All in around 35k these days. Very high success with the best operators and PHs
3) Namibia….lower cost…lower success but there are a couple of key folks that do better. Low to mid 20s in cost generally
4) TZ… highest cost….excellent quality. But a hunt for someone who also isn’t on a budget and wants other game and multiple Buffalo etc

Obviously cancellations pop up EVERY YEAR for those with flexibility… great deals come up.
 
kpoynter said:
Obviously cancellations pop up EVERY YEAR for those with flexibility… great deals come up.
Click to expand...
You mean cancellations in prime areas? Correct?
 
mark-hunter said:
You mean cancellations in prime areas? Correct?
Click to expand...
They happen but they can be difficult to find. They usually get offered to existing clients first. You might find some better deals if a hunt isn’t sold yet after the big shows or an outfitter’s first year holding a concession.
I’ve been offered leopard at end of season on two Namibian hunts. I thought chance of success was low. I was offered leopard on my July elephant hunt in Zimbabwe. If I had known I would have taken my elephant on day 2, I would have taken the opportunity. It was available because the leopard hunter missed 2 during his hunt and left unsuccessful.
 
mark-hunter said:
So, prime areas are Nyasa and Luangwa.

What is average day rate there when hunting DG?
And what is then a leopard trophy fee in average?

The idea is to try leopard as add on, and spend time hunting buffalo, or croc, or hippo.
To try for a two or three dg animals that include leopard?

This construction, to me looks best buy option, on a single DG day rate with high success rate.

Am I wrong in this estimate?

Separate question:
Same idea, but in Zimbabwe.
What are prime leopard areas there?
Then to do a multiple DG safari there with leopard included.
Click to expand...
Most PH’s (especially in the prime areas) don’t have a single DG day rate cost or let you hunt multiple DG animals on it. Once you kill your primary you’ll have to hunt another DG Day rate on top of the one you’re still paying for DG trophy #1, unless you booked a multispecies hunt at a more expensive rate as highlighted below. The outfitters have a limited amount of quota and to get the prime areas have to tender more so they budget day rates off of selling each big ticket item separately or a a Full Bag Rate. Some outfitters also budget only using 40-60% of their total gov quota, but are expected to buy all of it so that’s factored into the costs. There are a few outfitters who don’t operate this way (you’ve hunted with one), but they’re the outlier.

Niassa Examples - Outfitter and Area will dictate rate. The core areas near the reserve will be more, while the fringe areas of Niassa CAN be cheaper. I looked at 5 different price-lists to get these prices.

Buffalo + PG: $1100 - 2150/day
Leopard + PG: $1,500 - 2,500/day
Leopard + Buffalo: $1,800 - 2,850/day
Lion + Buffalo: $2,700 - $3,900/day
Full Bag Rate - $70,000 - $90,000 Total
 
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Foxi said:
The active part of a leopard hunt is usually over in 30-45 seconds.
But those moments remain etched in your heart like almost nothing else.
Besides, no other big-game animal is shot at so often from a good stable point, and yet there are often woundsearches for this species.
Does fear play a role in the subconscious?
Probably so.
There are a lot of good tips in this thread—it’s worth reading through.
View attachment 772096
"Shot" it with my Pulsar cam on 20 meter
Click to expand...
Great image!! Haunting.
 
Foxi said:
Besides, no other big-game animal is shot at so often from a good stable point, and yet there are often woundsearches for this species.
Does fear play a role in the subconscious?
Probably so.
Click to expand...
I don’t think fear has anything to do with it. I think going from complete rest to excited adrenaline causes some buck fever and poor shots. If you stalk an animal you’ve had time to prepare yourself mentally. Even a deer from a stand, you’ve most likely had an opportunity to watch it come in and settle yourself down. Also, most other animals you know you’ll likely get another opportunity so no reason to try and rush yourself on the shot.
 
Foxi said:
Does fear play a role in the subconscious?
Probably so.
Click to expand...
I do fear DG animals.
And then I build respect.

But there is also imagination.

A story from Namibia.
This particular client was watching numerous movies about leopard hunt.
He dreamed of leopard hunt.
And in his dreams, just as on YT, leopard was always on a bait on a tree.
because on YT is always like that.

This particular leopard never climbed the tree.
He would stand on hind legs, to reach the bait.

So, when the moment came: PH said, this is your leopard, shoot!
He shot at branch at the tree.

In the dark night, with vivid imagination, and well trained on YT video clips, he imagined a leopard on a tree.
And leopard was below the tree.
Clean miss.

Leopard gone for ever.
They found a bullet hole in a tree above.

A ph told me this story.
 
mark-hunter said:
You mean cancellations in prime areas? Correct?
Click to expand...
Well… Prime areas yes…but our man .375 Fox was of course right again…
Top areas/outfitters… core clients or mailing list will see first and they go pretty quick.
You can certainly get on the email list to top outfitters.
I mean Jamy Trout just advertised one here.. he’s a great guy and highly highly reputable (I had a great hunt with him two years ago) That hunt ? Great deal BUUUTTT it is in Kaokoland… super cool and wild as F… success rate? 75% tops?
 
I’m 1 for 3 on leopard. The first was a great hunt, but unsuccessful, the second was the most pathetic excuse for a hunt I have ever experienced, the third, with CMS, was in Dande an I took an elephant and leopard within 5 days if I remember correctly.
 
Foxi said:
The active part of a leopard hunt is usually over in 30-45 seconds.
But those moments remain etched in your heart like almost nothing else.
Besides, no other big-game animal is shot at so often from a good stable point, and yet there are often woundsearches for this species.
Does fear play a role in the subconscious?
Probably so.
There are a lot of good tips in this thread—it’s worth reading through.
View attachment 772096
"Shot" it with my Pulsar cam on 20 meter
Click to expand...
I do not have the amount of trips over to Africa as a lot of you, but I wonder if excitement in the first time seeing that animal comes into play. Outside of a zoo or an African National Park, I have never seen a wild leopard. If you look at the plaines game I shot, I have seen plenty of each species. When I shoot my first Cape Buffalo (fingers crossed 2028), it won't be the furst time I see a Cape Buffalo. But... there is a good chance that I will shoot at the very first wild leopard I have ever seen. So, not only are you dealing with "Wow, cool. there's a leopard!" but you have to remain calm enough for the shot. Just a thought.
 
"I don’t think fear has anything to do with it."

@375 Fox

Comparing that to a deer—well, I don’t know.

Anyone who’s ever had anything to do with hunting in Africa—whether they’ve been there or not—knows that tracking a wounded leopard is one of the worst things that can happen to a professional hunter because of a guest.

These stories—countless of them real and terrible, and even more often just stories—but they really get to you. Or why do you think people so often miss these cats, even though they’re only 40 meters away, a steady target and the shooter’s rifle firmly supported?

The subconscious is always present.
 
375Fox said:
I don’t think fear has anything to do with it. I think going from complete rest to excited adrenaline causes some buck fever and poor shots. If you stalk an animal you’ve had time to prepare yourself mentally. Even a deer from a stand, you’ve most likely had an opportunity to watch it come in and settle yourself down. Also, most other animals you know you’ll likely get another opportunity so no reason to try and rush yourself on the shot.
Click to expand...
@Foxi you cut out the part where I gave my reasoning why so many mess up an otherwise easy shot. I don’t think anyone is thinking about the fear of a wounded leopard while squeezing the trigger, just like no one is thinking about recoil.
 
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