ZIMBABWE: Zim Isn't For Sissies! Leopard

[Stephen Knox]

I've had my disappointments too. Wish it had turned out better. When down on myself or the results, I tend to turn to Roosevelt's Man in the Arena Quote:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

—Theodore Roosevelt
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

"Keep buggering on" Winston Churchill

 

[30.06king]

You're not alone. I've been humbled too but on different game. Never hunted Leopard which are acknowledged for unpredictable results.
As hunters we all want success but need to remember if we are genuine, honest hunters that sometimes nature will hold the winning hand. I remind myself that's part of the game. My defeats made the taste of the successes even sweeter.
I hope you find the will to try again and if you do I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Catchaser]

Thanks for sharing the details of the hunt although you were not successful on the leopard this trip. Hopefully you will be able to return at some point, and the stars will align successfully.

I know your disappointment as I went back and forth to Africa 5 times in 18 months before finding success. At one point I looked at the leopard as the nemesis of my hunting career however once taken it became the pinnacle of my hunting career.

Best of luck to you in the future on hunting these spectacular cats.

 

[Manny R]

I got my Leopard a couple years ago with Nick Nolte in Namibia. They run a first class operation. He is not that expensive compared with others. Feel free to give them a call and speak to his wife Isabel and give them my name.
I have been mule deer hunting a few times and still that elusive big mule deer still haunts me. There are no guarantees in hunting ; but one must do their research and try to establish the best guide and outfitter to fit their needs and objective.
Great follow up article to your hunt. I enjoyed reading it with anticipation on your next hunt when you bag a leopard.

 

[Green Chile]

Leopards can be really tricky...educated ranch cats even more so. I know the feeling and wrote about it at length in my Zim hunt report last year. I almost feel sorry for guys who get their cat in 1 sit. It's just not a relatable story for other leopard hunters. All the bait checking, hanging baits, looking for baits, looking for the right tree, etc is missing. If you can go back sometime and finish that hunt, it will be something you always value. The hard earned trophies are the ones we usually appreciate the most and that's why cats have a place of honor in most trophy rooms.

 

[Mort Hill]

Leopards can be really tricky...educated ranch cats even more so. I know the feeling and wrote about it at length in my Zim hunt report last year. I almost feel sorry for guys who get their cat in 1 sit. It's just not a relatable story for other leopard hunters. All the bait checking, hanging baits, looking for baits, looking for the right tree, etc is missing. If you can go back sometime and finish that hunt, it will be something you always value. The hard earned trophies are the ones we usually appreciate the most and that's why cats have a place of honor in most trophy rooms.

Well summarized! Cat hunting is different, but addictive nonetheless!

 

[Scott CWO]

Me too. I am zero for 3 on brown bears in Alaska. I have not seen a boar, just moms with cubs on three trips..
Trying again in 2027...

Where?

 

[MarkB]

Thanks for the report, sorry for not getting a cat but your report is the kind I really like, truth full, honest and full of great real detail. I spent 18 days in Zim with same results, not with Wayne, he came later with my ele. Finally went to Namibia and connected on a great cat. They are the one African game that has no certainty. Honey Badger is my nemesis, 3 safaris, 3 permits and one miss but still no badger for me. YET. Time will again ignite your leopard desire.

Thanks again.

MB

 

[AES]

I understand every comment in your initial post except the aversion to being without your phone. Isn’t that the whole point? Screw the leopard, not having 500 email/points of contact every day is the holy grail.

FWIW, I’ve also made a decision to not hunt with anyone whose name “isn’t on the door.” It makes a big difference imo. Wayne slayed it for me. Ie . . . If you have lots of time and get in the truck with Wayne, there is a 100% chance you get a Leopard.

 

[AES]

My buddy and I hunted Tanzania in 2023. Both got our Leopards on our 1st sit. there were 6 males on bait when we arrived. 4 were mature males. Another mature male showed while we were still there. Ryan Shallom of Untamed Tanzania holds the license for the area . It is against the South end of the Selous.

Small Leops and not exactly the same as a SW Zim monster cat hunt. Point taken, but not apples:apples.

 

[kpoynter]

I’m convinced that cat hunts and other high value hunts should be more carefully considered then we would like to think. Many, if not most, are “marginal” or worse often ( or too often)
Leopard hunts have a few key areas where they are virtually 100%
A number of other areas and outfitters that are excellent but often say 75% (at the same price as the neat 100% or the same)
Many other marginal areas that are about 50/50 ( usually priced relatively…I.e. a lot of Namibia)
Or cat hunts as Dogcat suggested
After 20+ years I’ve come to the conclusion I would either hunt a top area or outfitter or not at all
Perhaps stated differently..if I were advising someone and particularly if they only likely had the means for one cat hunt.. I would ONLY recommend a few areas and I would strongly recommend they avoid “gambling” on a “black or red” roulette area.