Leopard attack while hunting with Jeff Rann in Botswana

TMS said:

Why do people hunt dangerous game? Adrenaline rush, the thrill of the danger? Not all clients are spring chickens who can walk for miles and miles...I have seen plenty of videos of leopard bayed in trees, client walks up to the tree and bang, dead leopard....have a look at the client or ph in a lot of those videos, not a drop of sweat...why? because they were following up in a truck...to me there was a lot more thrill/rush in what Jeff was doing, that leopard could easily have gotten them. Maybe it's not everyones cup of tea, but just because you don't like it, doesn't make it wrong. Maybe, we should also mention leopards that are shot with missing claws, why missing claws? Because they were trapped and lost claws trying to get out the cage.....released for the hunt. What about free range or bred lions? Or how many animals hunted, have been shot from the back of a truck? I am not referring to the tame buff or lioness, that was outright wrong. Does it take bigger balls to sit in a blind and wait for a leopard? I have seen some blinds at water holes that are more luxury than my chalet. Where do we stop the debate? I think sometimes we need to get off our high horses.

To me the client in the leopard video was as happy as can be, as a PH we all want to see a happy client and thats what Jeff gave his client.

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If I'm on a high horse, so be it.
But, I still think that, using a motor vehicle to chase animals for sport, is very sad indeed.

Velo, a 14 day hunt put into a 3 minute video, doesn't always explain the hunt. I know Jeff wouldn't be unethical. Like I got told today, it's easy to be a wheelchair quarter back.

Simon you have the advantage of either knowing or having spoken to Jeff,you vouching for him means a lot.
What you and others have to understand is that myself and others here do not know Jeff and can only base our opinions on what we see from the video clip. We or I did not make the video or do the editing. This is what Jeff or the person who posted the video wanted us to see and thus with the information provided we base our judgement. No I did not see the 14 days of hard graft that went into hunting the cat,I saw a cat being run ragged by dogs and trucks. That does not make me a wheelchair quarterback if the whole game is not broadcast and I get shown a highlight reel.
Just like I form an opinion on what I see so will the anti's and those who are undecided based on what was chosen for us to look at.

I don't agree with what I have seen on the clip,just like I have not agreed with a few other things on other posts. What I see as wrong now does not mean I did not make mistakes or do something while hunting that I regret or that was/is wrong for others today. My opinion is formed after years of either doing it right or wrong. If this makes me a wheelchair quarterback then so be it,but I won't bend the rules so the game suits me.

Hi again TMS,

"High horse" rider and "wheelchair quarterback" ... those are good ones but, you forgot "poo poo-head".

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

Just a question of curiosity but would it be much different to those who see this as wrong to do the same hunt as the video but instead of a truck a horse or other animal is used?

HHS, who bent what rules? Yes, I do know Jeff, haven't discussed the video with him. Jeff has a brilliant reputation and I would back him any time. This poo poo head has had his say..

Amon458 said:

Just a question of curiosity but would it be much different to those who see this as wrong to do the same hunt as the video but instead of a truck a horse or other animal is used?

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Hello Amon458,

Riding a horse instead of a truck does not put me off, except that I would be placing the horse at risk of serious injury or death from the leopard.

I like horses (and mules especially) therefore, personally if / when I can afford it again, I will stick to hunting dangerous animals, while I'm on foot.

In my eyes, the use of a motor vehicle to chase animals for sport is simply not "cool" - IMO, whether one is chasing them down with their 4 wheel drive truck and spattering them with buckshot from semi-automatic shotguns or chasing them down with a fighter jet and strafing them with multiple belt fed machineguns in sync.

It really is very bad PR, especially in these shaky times (and it is very sad to watch - again IMO).

There is just something about using motor vehicles to chase game animals that totally rubs me the wrong way.

Cheers
Velo Dog

Hello again TMS,

Our flippant and hopefully humorous jabs at each other aside, evidently we shall simply have to agree to disagree on this topic of using one's motor vehicle to chase game animals.

If we should ever meet one day, it would be my great pleasure to buy you a beer or two.

Kind Regards,
Paul Ard (Velo Dog)
Anchorage.

Irrespective this was an illegal hunt. Not only was illegal means used but also illegal firearms, would be real interesting to find out how they managed not one but two semi automatic fire arms...

Below are the regulations that were in place at the time.

Botswana Limits
• You may import a total of three (3) firearms into Botswana: two (2) rifles and one (1) shotgun; or two (2) shotguns and one (1) rifle. Rifles must be of different calibers. • A maximum of 100 rounds of ammunition per firearm. Note that an import tax and duty is charged by customs on arrival. (Remember that airlines will restrict you to no more than 11 pounds or 5 kilos of ammunition.)
• Ammunition must be the same caliber(s) as the firearms you are importing.
• Semi-automatic, automatic and military-style firearms, and handguns are prohibited.
• Firearms in military calibers, including .308/.303 (7.62x51mm NATO), are prohibited, as well as .22 caliber.

Trophy hunting in Botswana is dictated by fair chase regulations and hunting is governed by the Department of Wildlife & National Parks (DWNP) which falls under the Ministry of Wildlife, Environment & Tourism.

- Hunting from a vehicle is not permitted, though the vehicle can be used to reach the area from where hunting on foot can begin.
- Shooting an animal from a vehicle is not permitted, a person actually needs to be 220 yards (200 meters) away from a vehicle to shoot an animal.

Is the .308Win. prohibited in Bots..? I know People who have them registered there..

Pondoro said:

Is the .308Win. prohibited in Bots..? I know People who have them registered there..

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I am not sure what the latest legislation is but what I posted is from time when hunting was still open.

Africa who knows if the license sais 308W probably legal if it sais 7.62x51mm who knows.

Would be interesting to know what it is now.

The buckshot didn't vaporise the leopards head even though the barrel was on its nose...so lot closer than 5 feet....and it ran off ....so............

Enough of that!!!!

BRICKBURN said:

Enough of that!!!!

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How utterly distasteful. This is in stark contrast to fair chase hunting: motorised vehicles, cameras; but, after all, this is about ego and nothing else. I could not watch it to the end. Although a lifelong hunter, I'd be on the side of whatever the antis had to say about this.

I think the leopard was trying to elude the dogs by jumping into the truck. Shotguns to the face was its reward. Sporting this was not and I'd like to know what size shot was used there. It did not have that buckshot effect I know and love. That was some of the worst slide action shooting I have ever witnessed. Do people actually acquaint themselves with the firearms they are going to hunt with on anything more than a cursory level? I see more and more videos of inadequate manipulation and cycling for follow-up shots. Sure there is recoil involved in some cases, but the novice level gun handling is not what I expected from folks who are on safari. A real eye opener for sure.

OMG they used SHOTGUNS for the leopard...I do remember some things!

Jeffro said:

How utterly distasteful. This is in stark contrast to fair chase hunting: motorised vehicles, cameras; but, after all, this is about ego and nothing else. I could not watch it to the end. Although a lifelong hunter, I'd be on the side of whatever the antis had to say about this.

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Don’t go chasing pigs in Aus then, pretty much all done from a car, bike or atv

Certus said:

Don’t go chasing pigs in Aus then, pretty much all done from a car, bike or atv

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Dont speak for everyone thanks.

sambarhunter said:

Dont speak for everyone thanks.

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+1