Leopard Success Rates

[LivingTheDream]

@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 a wounded leopard while squeezing the trigger, just like no one is thinking about recoil.

For what it is worth. I was thinking take your time, concentration, pick the spot, because if I mess up I am unleashing hell. The unleashing hell part definitely was making me channel all of my concentration into making a good shot.

 

[Scott CWO]

There is a major difference in success rates with daylight cats. The leopards in concession areas are much less educated, but not every concession is a good cat area, especially those bordering communities and many are legally daylight only that can make a difficult hunt. Namibia has very good numbers of cats, but they are also shot, poisoned, trapped, run with dogs on ranches as problem animals, much more educated cats and much more likely to be taken at night. I think it takes the right PH in Namibia. In a place like Niassa reserve I’d expect any quality PH to have extremely high success rates.

You’ll notice there are a large number of end of season leopard hunts in Namibia, but very few in safari areas. That should tell you a lot about success rates.

Yes, the Niassa is very high success and @DAVE LANGERMAN Safaris is a sponsor here. It is possible to do a “one and done” leopard hunt in the Niassa Reserve, as I did and several other people I know.

 

[mark-hunter]

@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.

375fox, do you think that leopard is different when compared with other DG?
I mean, do other DG animals, buffalos, elephants, etc.... suffer similar rate of messed up shots, or leopard is specific with higher rate?

 

[375Fox]

375fox, do you think that leopard is different when compared with other DG?
I mean, do other DG animals, buffalos, elephants, etc.... suffer similar rate of messed up shots, or leopard is specific with higher rate?

I’m not sure. An outfitter or PH would have to compile the data to compare. I’d say the difference though is leopard is designed to be a clear shot at relatively short range with a good rest. There theoretically shouldn’t be any wounded leopards. Buffalo and elephant you take the shot you are given possibly through some brush possibly offhand or off sticks. Bullet performance could make the difference of a wounded buffalo or dead buffalo or elephant as well that wouldn’t be as significant on leopard size game. I can understand wounding a buffalo or elephant more easily, but there seems to be a lot of wounded leopards.

 

[Russ16]

I’m not sure. An outfitter or PH would have to compile the data to compare. I’d say the difference though is leopard is designed to be a clear shot at relatively short range with a good rest. There theoretically shouldn’t be any wounded leopards. Buffalo and elephant you take the shot you are given possibly through some brush possibly offhand or off sticks. Bullet performance could make the difference of a wounded buffalo or dead buffalo or elephant as well that wouldn’t be as significant on leopard size game. I can understand wounding a buffalo or elephant more easily, but there seems to be a lot of wounded leopards.

I have not hunted leopard, but they do present a fairly small target that seem to be often shot in poor light. And often are feeding on a branch and in a sort of awkward presentation. In watching videos I often have a hard time picturing the correct shot placement in some of the positions they are in, that might contribute to it. I would obviously study the anatomy hard before going on a hunt.

 

[375Fox]

I have not hunted leopard, but they do present a fairly small target that seem to be often shot in poor light. And often are feeding on a branch and in a sort of awkward presentation. In watching videos I often have a hard time picturing the correct shot placement in some of the positions they are in, that might contribute to it. I would obviously study the anatomy hard before going on a hunt.

Very fair point. I still have relatively young eyes for a few more years. I didn’t give much thought to poor light. I wonder how leopard wounding rates compare to bushpig or hyena at bait?

 

[Rare Breed]

"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.

I have found John Sharp is correct, everyone has fear when hunting DG… the key is can you control your fear and make that first shot count

 

[375Fox]

I have found John Sharp is correct, everyone has fear when hunting DG… the key is can you control your fear and make that first shot count

How does he define fear in the book? I just can’t imagine any hunter trembling at the shot out of fear. Maybe some anxiety before participating in something you don’t yet fully understand? The only time I’ve felt fear/anxiety was following up on a wounded buffalo for two days in thick cover. I can’t say I’ve ever felt it on any other hunt that went as planned.

 

[Betterinthebush]

How does he define fear in the book? I just can’t imagine any hunter trembling at the shot out of fear. Maybe some anxiety before participating in something you don’t yet fully understand? The only time I’ve felt fear/anxiety was following up on a wounded buffalo for two days in thick cover. I can’t say I’ve ever felt it on any other hunt that went as planned.

I wondered that too. I took it as fear of screwing up and tossing the shot from overthinking and second guessing.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

How does he define fear in the book? I just can’t imagine any hunter trembling at the shot out of fear. Maybe some anxiety before participating in something you don’t yet fully understand? The only time I’ve felt fear/anxiety was following up on a wounded buffalo for two days in thick cover. I can’t say I’ve ever felt it on any other hunt that went as planned.

I had zero thoughts of fear on my leopard hunt even when he came to the back of the blind, walked around it, growled next to it, climbed a tree, etc. Even after thinking I stoned him dead, to then thinking I wounded him, to absolute silence and uncertainty, to almost anger at myself; zero thoughts of fear.

I will say it was the first time my hands shook in a while after pulling the trigger. Maybe it was my situation but I noticed it while trying to untie the double knotted rope tying my rifle into the rest after hearing a blood curdling growl post shot. It was wasn’t fear but more of an “I did it, oh shit I wounded him, I need my gun, time to get it” rapid fire thoughts/adrenaline dump/roller coaster of emotions. Deep breath/hold/out while consciously touching thumb to fingers for a second or two and then perfectly good to go, able to untie the knot while looking down at the bait for movement.

 

[Foxi]

“Fear” is probably the wrong word; I should have translated it as “nervousness” instead.
Nevertheless,
the fact is that these cats are often missed or wounded.
Why do you think that is?
They’re not a small target, nor is the distance great.
A convincing answer?

Fortunately, there are only heroes on this forum and good shots.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Nevertheless,
the fact is that these cats are often missed or wounded.
Why do you think that is?

I couldn’t say for certain, but my theory is this: have you ever seen a pro baseball player make a grievous error at a pivotal moment in the game? A pro basketball player miss a layup with no one defending the hoop? A hockey star miss an empty net shot?

It happens all the time. Same thing with hunting. If a hunters mind isn’t 100% on the fundamentals leading up to the shot before the trigger breaks. Breathe, relax, aim, stop, squeeze, follow through.. something is going to go wrong. The winning sequence is always the same. But that easy layup of a shot can become a devastating mistake making a dangerous follow up on a poorly hit animal now necessary. At best a complete miss, would be preferable.

I’m not a hero nor am I a gifted marksman. But I do take the job seriously and train my mind and body for what is expected. And I expect to make the first shot a killing shot, whether it’s on a leopard or an impala.

With that said, a positive and confident mental attitude I place as the highest priority going into a leopard hunt. That comes from training and familiarity with one’s gear.

And, this is important; staying away from dramatic YT videos of hunters and PH’s getting tore up. All that negative is a malignancy.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

“Fear” is probably the wrong word; I should have translated it as “nervousness” instead.
Nevertheless,
the fact is that these cats are often missed or wounded.
Why do you think that is?
They’re not a small target, nor is the distance great.
A convincing answer?

Fortunately, there are only heroes on this forum and good shots.

I think nervousness could be a good word choice for. In today’s day and age all the clips and videos and stories have probably gotten into some hunters minds where it almost causes a bit of self doubt or second guessing leading up to the shot. I also think many hunters build up a Leopard in their mind. I’d be curious to know if the longtime outfitters/PH think they faced more, less or the same number of wounded leopards 30-50 years ago before the current technology we have both in terms of firearms but also media.

I think leopard hunt pricing is a contributing factor. Here in America a majority of hunters and avid shooters are typically blue collar. People whose lives depend on their ability to pull the trigger often are typically in the lower to middle of the income spectrum. You take a high income professional and many (not all) of them didn’t grow-up in a situation where pulling the trigger every weekend to put food on the table was necessary or in a career where they had to do it to survive. Many high income professions also don’t leave a lot of time for extracurriculars like shooting/hunting, especially if they’re trying to advance in their career or be one of the best in their field. I’ve got a friend I grew-up hunting with who’s amazing in his profession. He can’t remember the last time he went hunting but he also makes At least an entire digit more than me income wise and could afford annual hunts most of us dream of and would consider once in a lifetime.
I’m also not saying all members of the military or law enforcement are great shots. I’d actual take almost any packed civilian range, over a military or law enforcement range. Some of worst and most unsafe shooting I’ve ever seen has been on military and law enforcement ranges. The ONLY times I’ve ever experienced someone firing during a “cold range” was on Mil/Leo ranges including 1 time while I was down range evaluating targets (a few lanes over from the shooter, who was significantly senior in rank and was well over 25 years time in service.

I think the other issue is also time and not paying enough attention. I think many hunters in a Leopard blind dial up their scope to really try and focus in on a specific rosette. I started to do it but stopped at 5 or 6x. Dialing up too much would’ve prevented me from seeing the entire Leopards body position and him changing from broadside to hard quartering towards.

I’ve made and will continue to make some bad shots throughout my hunting career. I made a couple in Mozambique a few weeks ago, and as was pointed out to me, what I consider a bad shot isn’t always what a PH or tracker considers a bad shot. I also found myself not noticing body position as well as I should which happens when shooting irons vs a scope.

In my Moz case we were alternating between Stable Sticks and traditional sticks. Every bad shot made was off stable sticks, and all 3 were always 2-3” right of where i was aiming. The PH and I even discussed it towards the end of the hunt and I believe that I must be torquing the rifle right at the shot break with either my wrist or body due to being steadier while on the stable sticks. Every shot off the traditional sticks; even when shooting through brush, through small shooting windows, at an obscured or partially obscured target, or quick offhand shots at running, jumping or fleeing game was devastatingly accurate. For me I attribute that to practicing off traditional shooting sticks and having more experience and muscle memory shooting from traditional field positions. That experience allowed me to adjust or move the sticks finding the right hole or position to shoot for me.

Moral of the long winded story, I’m buying stable sticks to practice a little more off because 2-3” right putting the round behind the shoulder into the back of both lungs, a single lung, or through one shoulder instead of on the point and breaking both shoulders can be additional walking/tracking/time

 

[SStomcat]

On a lighter note, they r plentiful in India, with habitat loss they are entering homes or preying on pets, hunting is however banned - https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GxvyM9Rf8/?mibextid=wwXIfr