Which one and why if you were going to hunt leopard during the first week of September?

Judge, what about the SAVE?

They have BIG leopards there.

In Zim the lowvelt has most giant leopards, but there is a lot of pressure on them... More desolate areas the cats will be more natural in movements in My opinion...
Chete is up against Kariba and if you have water you have food hence cats...
Deka is between Hwange Nat. Park and Hwange campfire area... Lots of food in Park, sounds promising also... Looks like a toss up...

Mike

Ernest, Mike is right regarding the Lowveldt and many others agree, including Boddington. The biggest leopards (and wary) are indeed in the former cattle rich area of Zim. They are hunted with artificial lights. I've never hunted them but I'd still recommend John Sharp and his areas therein. If that is not an option, Mike's "spot on" jorge

All areas mentioned are good for leopard, with the tradeoffs accurately stated, at least in my opinion. Bigger cats in lowveld, but leopards down there have been educated for a century and are extremely nocturnal. Night hunting is legal on private and communal lands, not legal on Zim Parks and Wildlife land. September is a tough time because: It's hot, which reduces daylight movement. Water is concentrated, which concentrates prey and makes it easier for the cats to make natural kills. On the other hands, the cats will not be as scattered, either! September is still okay, and an experienced PH can make it happen. When it gets really tough is just a bit later, when the warthogs start dropping their young. Then it's like a candy store for the leopards, and it becomes very difficult (never impossible!!!!) to get a cat on bait.

Ernest,

I guess you have a plan already if the choices are Deka or Chete. As Craig said Sept could be tough for leopard anywhere so I guess I'd pick Chete just because it is right on the Lake. Nicer camp setting and being near a larger body of water always makes the whole enviromnet more enjoyable with lots of birds and game on the flood plain.

Good luck,

Mark

The areas (Chete and Deka) are the only options upon which the hunt was offered. I'd not mind a bit going to S.A.V.E., but no one has offered me such a deal as the present one and my dates are very fixed.

If its dry, maybe Deka will be good?

Judge:

I just booked 21 days in the SAVE starting 10/1. I looked at a lot of places before I decided. I have to say that they were the least willing to negotiate. It doesn't seem that they have a shortage of clients either. I would guess there won't be many deals there.

The reason for that is obvious.

I would go for deka. Chete is hard hunting, and although it produces some great cats sucess rate isn't as high.

I have hunted in Chete, it was hot when I hunted there - first week of October, and humid because of the lake.

The road net is limited, which can be a plus and a minus. And there was a boat at HHK's Chete camp, which greatly increases access along the lake.

I was there primarily to hunt tuskless, but was offerred unused quota for other game, including a leopard. We weren't trying hard, but had a leopard feeding on a bushbuck carcass within a day or two. Left the leopard for some additional elephants in Omay though.

There are some pretty springs interspersed though the hills away from the lake.

JPK

JudgeG,

Graham has always been a straight shooter with me. I would ask him and also check with my PH for his recomendation. They will know best the current conditions.

465H&H

I agree about Graham. He has always gone the second mile for me. He originally suggested Deka, but Chete came up when discussing other game/fishing.

At Deka, no long road trip or charter, a tuskless elephant available and a cow buffalo that I want mounted and my umpteenth visit to the Falls, a booze cruise and a visit/dinner with a friend, swing the balance to there.

I just sent an e-mail to confirm.

I thank you all for your comments.

I was browsing through old threads when I found this question about Deka leopards. Here is a big Deka tom I shot with Roy Vincent many years ago. Back then, Deka was leopard heaven, hardly hunted at all, and we had big cats on several baits.

Chete would be my choice over deka , i have hunted both quite extensively and i think you will have a better chance at chete , bait hunting can be tough and its a very very rugged area but thats what leopards like ...

there would be no hesitation from me , i would go with chete

in fact the leopard mount posted by ron l a few weeks ago was kiled in chete.

on a scale of 1 to 10 , chete gets a 9 from me , deka a 6.