And So My Second Quest for Leopard to Complete My Big 5 Begins!!!!!

Rare Breed said:
Wow, great hunt!!! Unfortunately no cat… we just pulled out. Divan and his team could not have worked harder and I highly recommend both he and his team!!!!! As we all know this is why it is called hunting! Perseverance is so important to a hunter especially a leopard hunter. Unless you use hounds cats have to come to you unlike the other DG so I will be planning a third attempt not giving up on my vision of the big 5 with only my leopard remaining
Click to expand...
Might try CMS at Zim. I got mine the second day in the blind and others have as well.

full
 
Rare Breed said:
Wow, great hunt!!! Unfortunately no cat… we just pulled out. Divan and his team could not have worked harder and I highly recommend both he and his team!!!!! As we all know this is why it is called hunting! Perseverance is so important to a hunter especially a leopard hunter. Unless you use hounds cats have to come to you unlike the other DG so I will be planning a third attempt not giving up on my vision of the big 5 with only my leopard remaining
Click to expand...
The wonderful gift in these situations is the extremely rewarding memory that may ultimately result.

An animal killed on day 11 of a 8-day hunt will always prove more rewarding and memorable than one taken on day 2…and hate day one opportunities. At times I’ve wondered if I’d not rather come home empty-handed tan tag day one. Fortunately for me, I don’t have day one kind of luck normally. I’m more often the day 11 killer on a 8-day hunt…which example isn’t a hypothetical but my first Dall ram…and worst yet, trying to save weight, I only packed food for 9-days. But hands down my favorite hunt for an animal I personally killed and the sufferfest made it more rewarding.

I hope you get your cat…but admit I almost hope you get to enjoy the anticipation and efforts of a couple more before connecting. I mean how cool of a story to say you had to go on X number of hunts before finally connecting. Having the perseverance to keep after it in the face of adversity, shows real grit and desire. Keep after it, don’t give up, and think it would prove amazing if you could claim that it took 7 separate attempts in 3-4 countries with 7 outfitters before that spotted chainsaw was yours. That was prove an incredible journey and feat in itself. Alas…Tsala and Moz may cut that journey short…but you never know…you might just luck out and be that one guy who could claim it took 7.

Regardless and joking aside…it’s an awesome journey and hope you continue to enjoy the ride and all the wonderful adventures along the way.
 
I'm switching over to hounds to hopefully finish my Spots next season with sponsor @PANTHER TRACKERS. Would you consider that option? Feel free to contact me offline after you get home.
 
@Rare Breed As others have said, thanks for sharing your adventure. It is amazing when you can relate to anothers' experience in a way that takes you right back there to the moment you experienced it. When you were describing your time in the bush, I could almost smell the evening air coming in. Worth more than money, my friend. God bless.
 
Rare Breed said:
Wow, great hunt!!! Unfortunately no cat… we just pulled out. Divan and his team could not have worked harder and I highly recommend both he and his team!!!!! As we all know this is why it is called hunting! Perseverance is so important to a hunter especially a leopard hunter. Unless you use hounds cats have to come to you unlike the other DG so I will be planning a third attempt not giving up on my vision of the big 5 with only my leopard remaining
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear it didn't work out, but I greatly admire your ability to still have a positive outlook and attitude about it.
 
Wildwillalaska said:
An animal killed on day 11 of a 8-day hunt will always prove more rewarding and memorable than one taken on day 2…and hate day one opportunities. At times I’ve wondered if I’d not rather come home empty-handed tan tag day one. Fortunately for me, I don’t have day one kind of luck normally. I’m more often the day 11 killer on a 8-day hunt…which example isn’t a hypothetical but my first Dall ram…and worst yet, trying to save weight, I only packed food for 9-days. But hands down my favorite hunt for an animal I personally killed and the sufferfest made it more rewarding.
Click to expand...

I used to feel this way as well. The few times it happened to me I have passed on animals that would have ended up being my largest, and have taken some to then feel a bit bummed by the fact that the hunt was over so quick.

Like you, it has not been a big issue for me, because I generally have terrible luck. So, I am way more likely to go into overtime, or eat tag soup despite hunting more hours than anyone at camp.

However, (and maybe because of my luck) I have shifted my perspective on this. I now think, if you consider how many things in life are incredibly difficult, and more difficult than they have to be, why pass up an opportunity and a gift from god (or whoever you want to attribute it to), on the rare occasion you are given an easy win. Take the easy win, be grateful and show gratitude for it, and enjoy the moment. At least that is how I look at it now.
 
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure, it was very riveting! I like your optimism and attitude, excellent traits to have and it reminds us it’s really about the journey.
 
I'm bummed for you. Next time.
 
Brandon.Gleason said:
Great hunt to follow along with. Anxiously awaiting the final words.

How did you like the Z5i in the twilight? Setting up a leopard gun for Zim in July and went with a Z6i 2-12x50. Going to do a little evening shooting when we get out the Pennsylvania next month to see how it shoots at twilight and with a spotlight (private land hunt in Zim).
Click to expand...
The Z5i worked great!!!
 
Sabre said:
I used to feel this way as well. The few times it happened to me I have passed on animals that would have ended up being my largest, and have taken some to then feel a bit bummed by the fact that the hunt was over so quick.

Like you, it has not been a big issue for me, because I generally have terrible luck. So, I am way more likely to go into overtime, or eat tag soup despite hunting more hours than anyone at camp.

However, (and maybe because of my luck) I have shifted my perspective on this. I now think, if you consider how many things in life are incredibly difficult, and more difficult than they have to be, why pass up an opportunity and a gift from god (or whoever you want to attribute it to), on the rare occasion you are given an easy win. Take the easy win, be grateful and show gratitude for it, and enjoy the moment. At least that is how I look at it now.
Click to expand...
God is Great. Always, but on His own time.
 
Thank you for taking us along, and thank you for sharing your ups and down of this wonderful trip. Too bad Mr Spots did not cooperate with you. Sometimes we have to count our blessings, even when Mother Nature wins. Safe travels.
 
Wildwillalaska said:
An animal killed on day 11 of a 8-day hunt will always prove more rewarding and memorable than one taken on day 2…and hate day one opportunities. At times I’ve wondered if I’d not rather come home empty-handed tan tag day one.
Click to expand...
That’s why one books combo hunts. The leopard I took on day two of sitting in a blind was part of a 21 day buffalo, leopard and elephant hunt. You can read about it in my hunt report linked on my profile.
 
Green Chile said:
I'm switching over to hounds to hopefully finish my Spots next season with sponsor @PANTHER TRACKERS. Would you consider that option? Feel free to contact me offline after you get home.
Click to expand...
The place I would hunt a cat with hounds would be Mozambique - with the right operator. There they typically are run in a forest environment and tend to tree like a puma rather than offer close quarters combat in rocky terrain.

Wherever and however you choose to next hunt one, diligently search the operator’s actual success rate.
 
Rare Breed said:
Wow, great hunt!!! Unfortunately no cat… we just pulled out. Divan and his team could not have worked harder and I highly recommend both he and his team!!!!! As we all know this is why it is called hunting! Perseverance is so important to a hunter especially a leopard hunter. Unless you use hounds cats have to come to you unlike the other DG so I will be planning a third attempt not giving up on my vision of the big 5 with only my leopard remaining
Click to expand...
Sorry about the luck, I guess the silver lining is that you get to hunt leopard again!!!
 
Rare Breed said:
Wow, great hunt!!! Unfortunately no cat… we just pulled out. Divan and his team could not have worked harder and I highly recommend both he and his team!!!!! As we all know this is why it is called hunting! Perseverance is so important to a hunter especially a leopard hunter. Unless you use hounds cats have to come to you unlike the other DG so I will be planning a third attempt not giving up on my vision of the big 5 with only my leopard remaining
Click to expand...
Sorry your hunt was unsuccessful.

Curious if there anything you’d have done differently given the chance on this hunt? Did you learn anything from Divian you wish you’d have done on your previous hunt? Anything you might do different on the next hunt? Any changes in how you’re selecting a location or outfitter for attempt #3?

Wildwillalaska said:
The wonderful gift in these situations is the extremely rewarding memory that may ultimately result.

An animal killed on day 11 of a 8-day hunt will always prove more rewarding and memorable than one taken on day 2…and hate day one opportunities. At times I’ve wondered if I’d not rather come home empty-handed tan tag day one. Fortunately for me, I don’t have day one kind of luck normally. I’m more often the day 11 killer on a 8-day hunt…which example isn’t a hypothetical but my first Dall ram…and worst yet, trying to save weight, I only packed food for 9-days. But hands down my favorite hunt for an animal I personally killed and the sufferfest made it more rewarding.

I hope you get your cat…but admit I almost hope you get to enjoy the anticipation and efforts of a couple more before connecting. I mean how cool of a story to say you had to go on X number of hunts before finally connecting. Having the perseverance to keep after it in the face of adversity, shows real grit and desire. Keep after it, don’t give up, and think it would prove amazing if you could claim that it took 7 separate attempts in 3-4 countries with 7 outfitters before that spotted chainsaw was yours. That was prove an incredible journey and feat in itself. Alas…Tsala and Moz may cut that journey short…but you never know…you might just luck out and be that one guy who could claim it took 7.

Regardless and joking aside…it’s an awesome journey and hope you continue to enjoy the ride and all the wonderful adventures along the way.
Click to expand...
It would be cool to say it took 7 Hunts and 3-4 countries, but I’m not and I don’t think many on AH are presently wealthy enough to do 7 Leopard Hunts. Most don’t have the ability to Dall Sheep hunt each year since as an AK resident. Extending a hunt past the plan, and killing on Day 11 of an 8 Day Hunt is something I’d 100% do if the opportunity existed and do agree it’d make that memory even sweeter. I always try to keep/have the ability to extend a hunt in my back pocket. Changeable tickets are very valuable.
 
@Rare Breed

No harm done. Hunting is just as much about the experience as it is about the results.

Get in touch with me when you return home. I’ll set you up with a good white hunter friend of mine who arranges leopard hunts over hounds in Botswana. We’ll get you that leopard no matter what the cost.
 
Red Leg said:
The place I would hunt a cat with hounds would be Mozambique - with the right operator. There they typically are run in a forest environment and tend to tree like a puma rather than offer close quarters combat in rocky terrain.

Wherever and however you choose to next hunt one, diligently search the operator’s actual success rate.
Click to expand...
Exactly what my research found….Moz with Panther Trackers. By the way, I know you like Nick Nolte, and for good reason, but repeated emails and WA attempts over several months to book with him got me zero responses.
 
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