ZIMBABWE: Zim Isn't For Sissies! Leopard

[mark-hunter]

EVERY one of my friends gets this same advice. NEVER go on a leopard hunt. ALWAYS go on another dangerous game hunt (Buffalo, Hippo, Elephant) and ALWAYS have an emergency fund to cover a leopard trophy fee. The reason being is that leopard hunting causes grown men to cry, if that was your ultimate goal you're statistically likely to fail several times. I got my leopard on the 4th trip to Zim. It was a wonderful gold medal animal, but the journey to get that success truly sucked. The only solace I had is that my failed leopard hunts were actually bolt-ons to successful elephant hunts.

I will confirm what Rookhawk is saying, and I am one of those who got his advice.

My first encounter with a leopard in the rifle scope was last year (after the buffalo hunt), and it was a female. No shoot.

This year, after the elephant hunt, I had a leopard in scope again, but we did not manage to identify was it male or female. The days were running short, close to my return flight home, and I did not get him the next day. and after that, I flew home.

From literature: Craig Boddington hunted a leopard three times, till he got one on third attempt.

At this stage, I am not sure I will go exclusively to hunt leopard. It is unpredictable, to all that I know.
I am still in the research phase on this. Most likely, it will be to go on a buffalo hunt again and add a leopard, hoping for luck. In that way, dangerous game day rates will not be wasted for nothing. Some say, hunting a leopard with dogs will get a better chance, a higher success rate. But as stated, I am still researching.

 

[buck wild]

Your report reads like 80%+ of other leopard hunts do. I don't think you did anything wrong or the operator based upon your report. That sadly is the nature of leopard hunting.

EVERY one of my friends gets this same advice. NEVER go on a leopard hunt. ALWAYS go on another dangerous game hunt (Buffalo, Hippo, Elephant) and ALWAYS have an emergency fund to cover a leopard trophy fee. The reason being is that leopard hunting causes grown men to cry, if that was your ultimate goal you're statistically likely to fail several times. I got my leopard on the 4th trip to Zim. It was a wonderful gold medal animal, but the journey to get that success truly sucked. The only solace I had is that my failed leopard hunts were actually bolt-ons to successful elephant hunts.

I will never hunt another leopard, I've been up through the night in freezing temperatures way to many nights to have any further interest.

I recommend you go back to Zim and enjoy a successful DG hunt. Always try for leopard half-ass as a side plot and it will eventually come together.

I hear what you’re saying. Alrhough not exactly the same, I already had a South Africa vacation and light hunting trip booked when this offer popped up. I decided to take a chance since I was already over there and the dates fit perfectly with my already scheduled trip. Had this been my only endeavor, maybe it was have stung a little harder

 

[Green Chile]

Here we had a large female...but females in heat bring in males

Here we passed on an immature male as we knew what the large male looked like...

Here is the target that we ran out of time on...

 

[Green Chile]

From literature: Craig Boddington hunted a leopard three times, till he got one on third attempt.

Craig told me it was over 60 days hunting before he got his first leopard...62 or 67 days...something like that. He has NO patience for sitting so I'm sure it was quite the ordeal. I'm switching to dogs and no ranch cats on the next attempt. Also switching countries to Moz.

 

[mark-hunter]

60 days hunting

60 days... of day rate... nightmare... I can sit in a blind, when needed, but it is the last of my favourite ways to hunt.
If there is anything in hunting about luck, it is about the leopard.

Thanks for the comment!

 

[Rare Breed]

I do have to say and I knew it would leopard on my first try with one of the best leopard man in Africa was very frustrating. Lou Hallamore was awesome and he taught me a masters course in leopard hunting but so many things go into leopard hunting you just do not face with other DG animals

 

[Gemsbok45]

I will confirm what Rookhawk is saying, and I am one of those who got his advice.

My first encounter with a leopard in the rifle scope was last year (after the buffalo hunt), and it was a female. No shoot.

This year, after the elephant hunt, I had a leopard in scope again, but we did not manage to identify was it male or female. The days were running short, close to my return flight home, and I did not get him the next day. and after that, I flew home.

From literature: Craig Boddington hunted a leopard three times, till he got one on third attempt.

At this stage, I am not sure I will go exclusively to hunt leopard. It is unpredictable, to all that I know.
I am still in the research phase on this. Most likely, it will be to go on a buffalo hunt again and add a leopard, hoping for luck. In that way, dangerous game day rates will not be wasted for nothing. Some say, hunting a leopard with dogs will get a better chance, a higher success rate. But as stated, I am still researching.

Call up Richie Schultz. Go to Nuanetsi. Book a 14 day Leopard/Buff plainsgame. Enjoy!

 

[MarkB]

Even the best PH and outfitter still needs some "luck". My Namibian success was luck, trackers radioed that they have found a hrs old kudu kill with large tracks and only 5 lbs of rump eaten. Stop climbing mnts for zebra, race there, set up pop up blind and 45 mins after sunset double tap on leg. Bang flop. We had already sat 3 nights on other baits with female visitors and no males. That's not including my Zim hunts, buff were also on menu so as @rookhawk stated less sting, the pain was coming home with the $6K TF in pocket. Hunted cats till last day so no time for other add on game in salt.

Luck worked.

MB

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Still laughing #DickBreaker!! lol

Thank you for the candid report. I get not taking a leopard as that is part of hunting in general (nothing is guaranteed) and more specifically the challenge of leopard hunting. The overall experience of the hunt sounds like the outfitter could have been more thoughtful, ie lodging, rod and reels for fishing to break up the time, after dinner around the fire, etc. Those simple things you shared are great feedback for the outfitter / PH and could have made the overall experience more palatable, enjoyable, and created a better atmosphere to create memories.

Also, would have liked for you to experience for at least a day/night or two of sitting in the blind and listening for the chur of a leopard (male or female) feeding on bait. I loved Green Chile’s report previously where he didn’t get a leopard but shared the entire experience of building and sitting in a blind at night. That was an amazing experience!!

I was praying you would get a leopard but more importantly for great memories to be shared when you returned home. Glad you made it back safely and have some memories that will forever been ingrained in your dreams.

Thank you for letting me look through your eyes, walk in your shoes, and learn from your experience. I appreciate and value our friendship and brotherhood.

Dreaming of Nights in Africa in a Leopard Blind,

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