Here is a beautiful massive Leopard for you guys. Just had this client (Jim Donarski) return from Namibia where he hunted with dogs and took this huge leopard that taped out at 7'10". He was not sure if the scale was correct at 183 pounds as they thought it was a heavier cat, but regardless of scale it is a huge cat.

Before I get asked the question about the Namibia CITES tag, NO PROBLEM as our outfitter had already purchased all of the tags for our clients this year in advance.

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That's a stunning cat!!

What a massive leopard! He will make a specatular full mount.

What was the distance Adam that he shot him at?

Very nice TOM


Seloushunter

Bill - Jim did not tell me exact distance except that he never wanted to be that close to a live leopard again. The cat was held up in a cave for about an hour. The PH told Jim that they would walk into cave and when cat charged to shoot then fall to the ground and then he would shoot. What are you freaking crazy Jim thought! Jim was not sure if this was fun anymore and while they were talking over what to do (or growing some nuts), the leopard started his growling and came full charge out of the cave with dogs scattering everywhere and Jim got in a quick shot spinning the cat with a quartering frontal and then a second finishing shot which must have been very close range. Don't have exact answer, but was close enough

SO let me see if I got it right? The PH says:

"Let's walk into a dark cave where there's an angry leopard and make him charge us with murderous intent. Then while he is a blur in the half light on his way to try and sharpen his claws on you, I would like you to shoot him, and lie on the floor in that order so I can also shoot him...."

Who said PH's don't have a sense of humour!!!

Fair play to the client for pulling it off!!


Rgds,
FB

BEAUTIFUL!!!

Adam,

I love leopards and that one is a brute. I've been trying to tell Anton and some of the other members here that we have the cat guys in Namibia............

Mark

Wonderful trophy. Congratulations to the hunter!

Wow! I think I may have had some reservations about that game plan! What a pumpkin headed monster!

Brett

That is a fantastic leopard, with an equally amazing story to go with it.

Aziz

What a great Tom! I don't think that Karl could choke that one to death.

That leopard is a brute... congrats!

For sure a "brute' of a leopard.... More importantly client stood his ground and made the shot... Way to go Jim...

Mike

That is a dandy. Nice noggin on him for sure. Thanks for sharing Adam, and congrats to the hunter!

Cheers
Canuck

Beauty of a Leopard!
Technical question???? How in hell did they get the head to stay up for the photo shot? I don't see any of the normal sticks, rocks etc. holding the head up?

Nice cat, MARK: whas this with Pro Safaris ?
TJ: I think he has been in the freezer..

Anton,

This was with old Norman Crooks. I know of at least 4 big leoaprds that he's taken so far on the ranches he hunts this year in Namibia.

Mark

Great cat, maybe someday.

Re the photo, I'll bet he was shot the evening before, posed with a stick and the stick removed after rigor set in.

Mark, shame on you Norm is a young man, it is all age relevant.

TJ: It's alive!

TJ - I will explain the leopard pose. No freezer involved here at all and the cat did not sit overnight.

I do not know the clinical name for it, but when a leopard or any cat for that matter runs a lot and has a lot of stress (dogs chasing) it causes rigamortis (sp?) to set in right away or a lot quicker than normal. This leopard was shot at 12:30 pm and the pictures were taken around 1pm 30 minutes later. Does not happen all the time, but seems to happen more often when a leopard fights the dogs.

That's a beautiful cat. Congrats and thanks for the post.

WOW, What a great leopard.

Congratulations

Adam,

Is that a build up of lactic acid? Good to know...

Tim - Yes you are correct. I am no doctor, but the lactic acid will help the stiffening a lot faster. Same with humans I guess, after a long run if you do not stretch you will feel your body tightening up very quickly and the older you are the more pronounced, and of course we normally shoot older cats.

That's a great tip for photos Adam, thanks. I know animals run with dogs build up lactic acid, and the meat usually tastes pretty strong (like with hogs) - completely makes sense on stiffening up and can be put to use in photos. I hope to try it out soon!