Given Fulvio's comments on shot distances on leopard, I was just curious what your average shot distances were on leopard. Just curious.

Also, I've never hunted croc, but likely will soon and have the same question on them.

Leopard, closest was 20 yards on an island in the Kafue River and farthest was 93 yards in NW Namibia.

Average is probably about 60-70 yards.

Never shot a lizard.

quote:

Also, I've never hunted croc, but likely will soon and have the same question on them.

Same setup, i.e. blind upwind and depending on riverbank brush cover, 30 to 70 yds.

Crocs have incredible eyesight and also consider the angle of elevation if you are shooting downwards from a high bank at a distance as that 1" can make a difference.

You can follow a wounded cat but not a croc.

Most shots (that I have experienced) are at a croc in the water waiting his turn for a go at the bait which has been pegged in shallow water.

I have shot many leopards and many crocs.

Leopards 25 yards to 120 yards.

Crocs 80 yards to 220 yards.

I misjudged the long distance on the croc.

I shot low, and hit him in the throat.

He ran into the water, but couldn’t stay under because water was going into his lungs.

He was on the other side of the river, and came to ours and started getting his head out to breathe.

One more shot put an end to him.

Hunted leopard 5 times,3 were successful. 1 inch to 50 yards

Lavaca,

Any blind/bait set up that the crew created for me was close for leopard. Under 50 yards and as close as 35 yards is what I remember. Croc on bait was about 75 yards and we stalked one shooting down on him from a high cutbank. That one was 20 yards.

Mark

The baited croc was maybe 75 yards. The spot and shoot was 125 maybe.

Leopard- 50-80 yards for the three.

Lion about the same.

Only shot 1 leopard. 8:30 in the morning on the way to check baits. 170 yards.

Gators and you can shoot them for fraction of African cost and then use trophy fees for other animals we don’t have here

I have shot only one leopard, but have sat in blinds for many more. They are so damned smart.

I shot my leopard in the southernmost block of the Selous Game Reserve on the Mbarangandu River at 40 yards. Light was just about gone when I broke the shot.

He was happily (for us) dead right where he fell under the tree.

We picked the right spot(s).

Others I have sat for in blinds no more than 50 yards from the tree. They have sadly (for us) not cooperated.

Leopards being so damned smart, as I have noted above.

For leopards, 40-50 yards is about right, I think.

I have sat in a blind on the Kafue River for a big old toothy croc at about 50 yards or so.

Neither he nor any of his antediluvian confrères ever showed up.

The only croc I ever shot was later on the same river.

He was a target of opportunity.

He had beached himself across the river, on the opposite bank.

125 yards away.

I broke his spine with a well-placed .375 caliber expanding bullet, and he never moved after that, although I immediately put another round through his shoulder.

It took all of my high black Ninja sniper ability to do that.

I would not want to shoot one any farther.

The croc's brain and spine present a very hard, fine target.

Thanks for the comments. About what I figured. I've only shot one leopard in a tree at about 100 yards and while it worked out ok in that the leopard was recovered and no one got hurt, it wasn't seamless. I've only shot two others, both on the ground, one at about 120 and one at about 75. No issues there. Guess I don't like leopards in trees.

Figured the shot on a croc would be about 100. Just hadn't done it.

This is a timely thread, as I just returned home last evening from my hunt with Alan Vincent on Madaba, his new area in the Selous. I shot both leopard and crocodile.

The leopard I shot was at 47 yards. 8:02 AM and the best part is my son was in the blind with us. We have over 5 minutes of video of the cat feeding before I shot him. Other leopards I’ve shot were at 40 yards from a blind and 20 yards on the ground.

The crocodile was shot at 71 yards from a walk-in blind while he was alone at the bait. There were half a dozen 10-12 footers around the bait and when this guy swam up they all vacated and left him alone at the bait. He ended up going 13’2”. The day before I nearly shot a much bigger croc that was laying in in heavy cover and very shallow water in a small cove. My son spotted the top of its back among some shoreline brush, Alan and I snuck in to 38 yards. It was laying in such thick cover that I couldn’t see enough to brain shoot him and eventually swam away without me shooting. I thought he’d go 15’ but Alan only committed to him being “at least 14’ something”. He was a massive croc, a fair bit bigger than the one I shot.

I would say 30-80yards is probably the most common setup.
You want be close and limit your room for error as much as possible.

80 yards only because the wind always swirled in the Canyon and no way to get closer.

Leopard: 65-70yd, natural light in a Zim lowveld area.

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
Hunted leopard 5 times,3 were successful. 1 inch to 50 yards

Would like the story on the "1" " cat. A bit close it seems...

Joyce killed hers at 17 yards, mine was at 19 yards. My croc was about 90 yards.

Details in the His and Hers hunt report. Link below in the signature.

Two leopards:

One with Fulvio; maybe 35 yards?

Other one was about 60.

109 yards at dusk in Zim.

I've shot leopard from 75 yards out to 120 yards. I've only shot one croc and he was about 50 yards.

Most leopard I have guided has been around 50 yards and Croc on average 100 yards and it is wise to know what your rifle will do at those distances and I would sight in again before sitting for Leopard

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Most leopard I have guided has been around 50 yards and Croc on average 100 yards and it is wise to know what your rifle will do at those distances and I would sight in again before sitting for Leopard

Yup, once the blind is made I range to the bait and then check that exact distance.