I have a problem with a cattle killing leopard on my farm, it has already killed more than 20 calf’s from my brothers herd of 45 animals since beginning of the the year. I want to try and bait it, preferring not to use traps because of humanitarian reasons, any advise will be appreciated

Sounds like it could be more than one Leopard...

I admire your determination.

Nevertheless, I would suggest getting someone who is very knowledgeble to help you in person.

My limited experience is that leopard baiting is a mixture of art and science. It cannot be summarized in a couple paragraphs on the internet.

If the whole setup is done wrong someone could get hurt.

Flip,

Boet it sounds like you have a real problem with Mr Spots.

Have you tried baiting him before?

Here is a couple of guys that hunts leopard with clients every year.

Guys like Shakari will give you very good advise.

I have heard that when leopard are hunted in areas were they are stock killers that they are very difficult to kill as they are realy "skelm" or educated.

Good luck and I hope you get him quick to stop the loss of calf's.

Flip

You might like to take a look at the current African Sporting Gazette where you'll find a piece about Leopard hunting I contributed and feel free to e-mail me at my personal address at shakari3@mweb.co.za if he still gives you trouble.........

Jakkals,

Thanks for the kind words.

Flip and Jakkals,

Steve hunts only dumb leopards in Botswana and Tanzania...........

A big Tom can easily kill 20 calfs in 6 months........That is nearly one a week, and they later start doing it just for fun......

We have had good success with cattle raiders by doing the following. You must "sit" on a fresh kill. Disturb the kill as little as possible, and just tie it with paracord or thin cable to a strong bush or tree nearby, so that he stays put in one place. Make sure you secure it by tying the bone down and not the meat, as he will easily rip that apart.....

I am willing to bet that he does not "tree" the kills, if there are any in the area, but leave them on the ground, or pull them under a bush? Then leave the bait on the ground as well........and again, disturb it as little as possible.

Set your blind up about 60 yards down wind from the bait, using only natural material from the area. Make sure that it is set up so that there are no back ground "clutter" in which the leopard can "dissapear" when looking through the scope.

Also tie some fishing line onto the bait and "lead" it to your blind. When he starts feeding you might hear him, but you will for sure feel the tug on the line. We always say you get a "bite".....

Go in well before dark, and then.....the most important thing, you must sit still, and not move or smoke or anything........dead still as you can be.

You must build the blind on the day you find the calf and sit the first night.....he will probably not come back if he did not visit the first night....

If all else fails, get some dogs, and get your running shoes....!

I hope this helps, but it is a very basic approach to baiting old spots, and there are a lot of things one have to consider when on the ground. The spot where you put the blind is crucial.....!

Sterkte, en laat weet hoe dit afgeloop het.

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
Flip and Jakkals,

Steve hunts only dumb leopards in Botswana and Tanzania...........

Hey, I'm intelligent enough to know where it's easiest and where I don't lose my 100% track record!

Infinito's right in what he says about how much they'll kill etc....... although, I'll have to say, we all hunt Mr Spots our own way. Personally, I don't like the old fishing line trick as I think it can go wrong too easily and I don't like the 'listening' methods because I'm a deaf old bugger........ My preferred method is to use a movement detector that lights up when something comes to the bait.

I note the Leopard is being referred to as he.... it wouldn't suprise me too much if he turned out to be a biggish female who could well be feeding cubs.

Here's one of my dumb Botswana Leopards:

Nice one Steve, any more pictures from Botswana?

Just on my way out the door - but here's a couple that might raise a few smiles!

I wanted to ask you about this long ago......

Is this not an illegal activity? Just curious, because I know the legal definition of "to hunt" is the same in Botswana as SA....???

But thanks for posting......why realy I don't know, as I wanted to know about LEOPARDS....Sorry for not making myslef clear, I thought it was obvious....

Stop buggering about and bring in a good houndsman and his pack. Come to think of it- the Nearest Ovambo village can probably supply you with some "canis Africanis" type muts that will soon track down Mr Spots

Dear Flip,
Happy to have your news. Fix that spotted bloody big cat quickly.
Hope to be back next year and I hope to meet you.

Thanks Everybody for your advice
Got a local PH who will look into it, meeting him on Saturday, looks like we will be able to sort it out.

Stefano Hi good to hear from you, yes it will be great to see you again, we must do some hunting when you come again see you

Flip,

Keep us posted on what happened with this Mr Spots.

Hope you get him sorted quickley