Leopard Success Rates

[Rare Breed]

I asked my PH what the success rate was for Leopards and was told about 50% with a 14 day hunt. Even at 75% I'm not personally willing to spend the exorbitant amount of money required on a hunt that could be fruitless.

The great Lou Hallamore always told me "50 50 on Leopard."

 

[HankBuck]

Thanks for the info. I have my first ever Mountain Lion hunt scheduled on the Arizona/Utah border in January of 2027. He has also been 100% for 6 consecutive years. I was thinking I was probably going to get one, but now you have me questioning that!!

@migrabill - depends on what Mountain Lion you would accept and be happy with - if any Legal cat is OK — your odds of success increase. If you only want a Large Tom - it becomes tougher to fill a tag. Also, if you ONLY want a large Tom make that very clear to your Guide/Outfitter. Some Guides consider the hunt “over” once they Tree a “legal” cat. You may Not have the opportunity to Pass Up a treed Cat and keep hunting for a bigger one. I had very direct conversations with my Outfitter before I agreed to book the hunt. I think Most Mountain Lion Guides are true “Houndsmen” and love running their dogs and treeing cats AND will let you pass up a cat you are not please with —- but get that understood and clear before booking your hunt.

 

[Red Leg]

This is actually pretty simple. Leopard success is all about the right outfitter/PH. Literally nothing else matters. It is on you to do some research. One thing I can guarantee is that the cheapest deal will not be the most likely to produce a leopard. There are less than half a dozen PH's in all of Africa south of the Sahara who I would recommend. The best, in my experience is Nick Nolte in Namibia https://nicknoltehunting.com/. There the leopards are big cattle killers and his success rate would be close to 100% if all his clients could shoot. A dear friend spent three safaris and 42 days trying to kill a leopard in Zimbabwe with two different outfitters. After much lobbying by me, he booked with Nick and killed a bruiser on the fifth evening. I shot mine on the third evening.

 

[wvfred]

I'm 0 for 2 on leopard. The first one I knew from the first day we wouldn't see a leopard but was lucky enough to get a buffalo. The second hunt was with a great leopard PH but the cats were very educated. My last hunt was for buffalo and a few plains game with Muchinga adventures (Johnny DuPlooy) where I saw three in daylight hours and one laid under our hyena bait for an hour so if I leopard hunt again It will be in Zambia with Johnny.

 

[mark-hunter]

Next question:

1) Ranch leopards
2) Leopards in the wild.

Success rate on them? Any difference?

 

[375Fox]

Next question:

1) Ranch leopards
2) Leopards in the wild.

Success rate on them? Any difference?

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.

 

[mark-hunter]

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.

I think this is a critical point for cosnideration.
Thanks!

 

[Sarg]

It depends on the area and the PH. There are areas in the Niassa, Luangwa, Selous that are approaching 100% success. The most successful hunts are the least educated cats in safari areas but would depend on other factors as well such as if hunting at night is permitted, quantity of plains game, density of leopards, etc. The most difficult are highly educated cats in cattle areas. I’d rather spend $50k on one successful leopard hunt than $25k each on 4 unsuccessful leopard hunts. Low cost low success leopard hunts get expensive quick.

There is no leopard hunting in South Africa at the moment. The most accessible is private ranch hunting in Namibia. It’s private land so bait can be included or low cost but it’s also the lowest success. There are some PHs with high success rates though. Concession areas in other countries have higher success, but also more expensive bait and day rates. The government doesn’t care if it’s a trophy kudu or bait kudu, it’s included in same quota for same pricing. If there are a lot of impala or zebra on quota the outfitter may provide a lower bait trophy fee though.

Why are you guys saying no Leopard hunting in SA ?

I’m not there this year but I’m pretty sure there is Leopard quota, it never actually closed, there was a small quota & DCA permits issued, I know this as I took one (not exportable) there are a LOT of leopards (& large) in SA especially in the Mts of Limpopo, I’m not sure on the outfits doing them but surely our sponsors on here will know ?

One of the main things involved/needed in a successful Leopard hunt is a good reliable client/hunter as they are the making or breaking of the hunt, I could write a book on the crappy behaviour & attitude of paying hunters but leopard hunters are the worst.

Whenever I read about a hunter failing more than 3 times he really should have a look in the mirror & he will most likely see his problem !

I’ve taken Leopards in Zimbabwe (worked there) South Africa (worked there) & Namibia, these were hunting areas & Cattle ranches where the cats are clued up, unfortunately none in Tanzania where from what I’m told, they can be a little more layed back from true wilderness areas ?

 

[mark-hunter]

Why are you guys saying no Leopard hunting in SA ?

I dont know about them. Neither did I say that.

But I know I did not see any Leopard hunt offer in South Africa on this forum in years.
Moreover, in my correspondence with South African outfitters about hunt options, I always mention leopard. And what they usually say: In Botswana!
Or elsewhere in other countries where they run other part of their operations. Prices vary

 

[mark-hunter]

One of the main things involved/needed in a successful Leopard hunt is a good reliable client/hunter as they are the making or breaking of the hunt, I could write a book on the crappy behaviour & attitude of paying hunters but leopard hunters are the worst.

Whenever I read about a hunter failing more than 3 times he really should have a look in the mirror & he will most likely see his problem !

Can you elaborate on complaining clients?

 

[375Fox]

Why are you guys saying no Leopard hunting in SA ?

I’m not there this year but I’m pretty sure there is Leopard quota, it never actually closed, there was a small quota & DCA permits issued, I know this as I took one (not exportable) there are a LOT of leopards (& large) in SA especially in the Mts of Limpopo, I’m not sure on the outfits doing them but surely our sponsors on here will know ?

One of the main things involved/needed in a successful Leopard hunt is a good reliable client/hunter as they are the making or breaking of the hunt, I could write a book on the crappy behaviour & attitude of paying hunters but leopard hunters are the worst.

Whenever I read about a hunter failing more than 3 times he really should have a look in the mirror & he will most likely see his problem !

You would need to point me to the outfitters offering legal non-export leopard hunts in South Africa. South Africa has always had a CITES quota, but no exportable quota has been issued in years to me knowledge. Supposedly there is or was going to be some issued this year, but a ridiculously small number.

 

[375Fox]

One of the main things involved/needed in a successful Leopard hunt is a good reliable client/hunter as they are the making or breaking of the hunt, I could write a book on the crappy behaviour & attitude of paying hunters but leopard hunters are the worst.

Whenever I read about a hunter failing more than 3 times he really should have a look in the mirror & he will most likely see his problem !

I’ve taken Leopards in Zimbabwe (worked there) South Africa (worked there) & Namibia, these were hunting areas & Cattle ranches where the cats are clued up, unfortunately none in Tanzania where from what I’m told, they can be a little more layed back from true wilderness areas ?

I’m curious about this part as well. I’ve heard lots of stories about demanding clients refusing to wake up early and wanting to be back at certain times, but I’d hope it would be rare on a leopard hunt. I’ve never considered quitting during a hunt or arguing with a PH wanting to work harder. It’s a foreign concept to me.

 

[Sarg]

You would need to point me to the outfitters offering legal non-export leopard hunts in South Africa. South Africa has always had a CITES quota, but no exportable quota has been issued in years to me knowledge. Supposedly there is or was going to be some issued this year, but a ridiculously small number.

I’ll have to look into it, DCA is most likely residents & not exportable but I have seen them advertised on a different forum - of course this doesn’t mean they are legal.

When I go into the area permit office & ask the guy he has told me there is permits but as said 3-5 for Limpopo, I had expected these would be exportable but never went that far.

That’s the reason I asked as I was told this year the numbers were up ?

On the hunters lacking I’d need to write a whole report but it would be better face to face over a beer !

We probably don’t get the full spectrum of clients on this forum ?

 

[mark-hunter]

On the hunters lacking I’d need to write a whole report but it would be better face to face over a beer !

Come to my place, I will buy a beer and a lunch in steak house.
Location, Croatia, Europe,

Otherwise, your report would be welcome.

 

[mark-hunter]

@Sarg
On South African Leopard export permits, most likely you have a point.

 

[AZDAVE]

I agree with @Red Leg, it is about the PH/outfitter. I spent alotttt of time talking to PH's at SCI and DSC in 2015-2019 about leopards and their success ratio, methods of hunting, best times of the year to hunt etc etc. I decided to book with a Namibian outfitter that has been very successful on leopards. (approaching %100) PM me and we can set up a time for a call. I will provide his contact information if you are interested after the call.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I would hate to go on an elk hunt or a deer hunt where the chance of success is 100%.

All I can ask is that there are animals of sufficient number to be hunted in the area that I’m in.

Why should leopard be any different?

Enlighten me.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I can only comment that I know of people who have gone 3x and finally got one on their 3rd time.

That's 42 days in the bush....for one leopard.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I would hate to go on an elk hunt or a deer hunt where the chance of success is 100%.

All I can ask is that there are animals of sufficient number to be hunted in the area that I’m in.

Why should leopard be any different?

Enlighten me.

The logistics of staying in a foreign country for potentially 14 days is one reason. Some people love it. I think it might be fun, to a point.

However, it's much different than hoping a 3-4 hour flight somewhere in the USA to go hunt elk.

I'm sure there are hunts that compare like that here (ie: sheep/goat species).

Then of course...the money.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I knew there was 5 permits in Limpopo at least for a few years. But for someone looking at this first Leopard hunt, I am not sure there is a ton of available information and would not necessarily recommend that route.