Hi Folks - Last month I contributed to the efforts to help PH John Greff after he was mauled by a Leopard. Now I see that John Abraham was injured in a Leoprd attack as well.

I am sure that shot placement was the issue but I do not know that for sure. Those hunters most be mortified by what happened after they made a bad shot.

I am about to leave for a full bag safari and this will be my first time hunting Leopard. Any advice? I am a seasoned hunter and have already taken a Lion so I am not so worried about my nerves as what other factors might come in to play that are unique to Leopard hunting?

Given that I have no experience with Leopard hunting (that is always the case until you have done it the first time), I would really apprciate some insight. No one would want to see something like this happen and for my little part of helping out, I guess what I am asking for is that little extra piece of information that might have prevented these recents incidents, and more important than that, preventing it from happening when I am behind the trigger.

My best to both men - may they recover quickly.

What I have done on my two cats. My rifle is a 375 H&H. With 300gr TSX or a 300gr Hornady round nose. Both cats were DRT dead right there. The cats are mesmorizing, talk yourself thru the shot. From getting up on the rifle and remembering the safety is off , dont touch the trigger and squeeze the shot off. Most importantly pass the bullet thru the center of the cats chest. This is what happens.


Mike

I have only taken 1 leopard, so that hardly makes me an expert. My hunt was in South Africa, and the shot was well after sunset so that addad to the difficulty. I was lucky thou, and my cat was dead at thr base of the tree.

Long before the hunt I watched a lot of vedios on leopard hunting. I worked out the shot placement from different angles. Then I visualized thease shots over, and over. When the shot came, my heart was pounding up in my throat, and my stomach was churning but I was able to make the shot ( at least this time).

We discussed what we would do if the cat wasn"t dead at the base of the tree. My decision was, we would track for about 30 yards.If we didn"t find the leopard by then, we would come back in daylight. This means you will undoubtedly lose the pelt, but better lose the trophy, than someone get mauled. I guess thats the price I would pay for making a bad shot.

every thing i have read says pick out a specific rosette and put the cross hairs in that. forget about the rest of the body. i wouldn't know. killed mine with a 12g. and SSG during a charge 10 feet off the muzzle. momentum carried him to my feet( one of those shameful hunts with dogs)..

Cleathorn: Here are 13 do's and don't that will lead to a perfect leopard shot.

1) If you get a broadside shot with cat facing left aim for a rosette on the shoulder. If the cat is facing to your right aim three inches to the left (behind) of the shoulder. (I'm presuming you're a right handed shooter.)

2) Don't drink any caffeine drinks prior to getting in the leopard blind.

3) If you're a fidgety type person, take an Advil prior to climbing in leopard blind.

4) When he's in the tree don't look at him through the scope for longer than 60 seconds. Take your eye off the scope, blink rapidly for three seconds and then resume your aim.

5) When you sit for the cat, wear the most comfortable clothing you've brought. Even loosen your belt buckle from the eyelet to make sitting more comfortable, and if you'd like wear your sneakers, but not white ones. And avoid the ones with the blinking lights.

6) Don't move your body forward to the edge of your seat constantly to look out the peephole or through an opening in the thatch. Your PH will tell you when the leopard arrives.

7) When he arrives in the tree begin deep breathing, quietly exhaling through your nose, not your mouth.

8) If you have a tendency to cough take some throat lozenges with you in the leopard blind. Avoid fruity smelling lozenges, and take the paper wrappers off them before you get in the blind.

9) Prior to climbing in the blind, back at camp, take a practice shot with your rifle at a paper plate the exact distance your blind is from the actual tree where you're gonna kill your leopard. Do not let anyone touch your rifle after you take that shot. Tell the tracker kindly you prefer to carry your rifle with you in the front seat on the ride to the blind. Do not let him place it in the gun rack on the vehicle.

10) Remember your bullet will be traveling on the trajectory of a slight incline. Factor that into the shot.

11) Don't shoot for the back-side vitals. Shoot at the vitals from the side that's exposed to you. Because of the leopard's anatomy and his contorted body the bullet almost never exits from the same angle of which it entered.

12) Don't shoot him while he's actually feeding. Wait till he takes his mouth off the bait. It's just more polite that way.

13) And finally, don't think about missing or making a bad shot. If you think negative, you could end up with negative results. Only visualize making a perfect shot. Only visualize the leopard falling dead from the tree.

I have no idea when I may shoot a leopard, but this is one of those posts that I need to remember. Right or wrong, I like it...

BM, I am curious why you shoot 3 inches behind the shoulder on a right facing shot and on the shoulder on a left facing shot. since the bullet will undoubtedly go all the way through and exit, what difference does it make? and how does Advil( or any other NSAID) lessen the fidgets? overall, seems like DAMN good advice.

The leopard shot should be the easiest of the safari but is the one that's most often stuffed up. I think the reasons for this are partly nerves and partly because the environment of the blind is so alien to most shooters.

The thing to remember is that you'll probably be shooting uphill at the target and he may possibly be at an angle to you. It's imperative to get yout shot placement right.

You might like to read the para on shot placement (12th para down?) here: http://www.shakariconnection.c...unting-mr-spots.html to see how I rehearse the shot.

I'm not suggesting everyone should do it my way. Just that this is how I do it and it works for me.

I really do not know why all the fuss is all about.

Leopards are not bullet proof.
All you have to do is place your shot properly.
That is the end of it.
And as you have hunted before, you should know where that bullet should go.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I really do not know why all the fuss is all about.

Leopards are not bullet proof.
All you have to do is place your shot properly.
That is the end of it.
And as you have hunted before, you should know where that bullet should go.

Saeed,

You're dead right buddy. They're thin skinned, light boned and die very easily if the bullet is placed correctly.

As I said, it should be the easiest shot of the safari. The hunter has a dead rest at a known and relatively short distance and usually plenty of time to take the shot........ but there's no doubt that it's the most commonly stuffed up shot of all.

I think the reason it's the most commonly stuffed up shot is a combination of nerves, (made worse by) the alien environment of sitting in a dark blind and excitement causing the hunter to aim at a spot on the outside of the animal and not allowing for the fact that he's shooting upwards.

Most hunters, especially first timers on Leopard tend to get over-excited when Mr. Spots shows up. I guess a combination of the events leading up to his appearance: monkeys chattering, alarmed francolin, a grunt and any other nocturnal noises will have his nerves as taught as a banjo string.

My style is to let the hunter get used to the idea of just watching Spots doing his thing on the branch until he feels sufficiently cool, calm and collected to take the shot.
I have found this routine to be pretty effective.

Regrettably though, there are a small percentage of hunters out there who are bad shots, whether it is on an Impala or Leopard - period.

quote:

My style is to let the hunter get used to the idea of just watching Spots doing his thing on the branch until he feels sufficiently cool, calm and collected to take the shot.
I have found this routine to be pretty effective.

Very good idea.
But, I have seen some leopards that climb up turn and go down.

Shooting a leoprad should really be no different than shooting any animal.

One has to be prepared - and I suppose one can hardly be UNprepared sitting there waiting in the blind.

I set up my rifle so that I have very little movement to get it on the bait. As soon as we know coming or on the tree, I take aim. As soon as my PH says it OK to shoot I fire.

As Steve has mentioned, there is really no reason why a leoprad shot should not be perfectly placed.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

My style is to let the hunter get used to the idea of just watching Spots doing his thing on the branch until he feels sufficiently cool, calm and collected to take the shot.
I have found this routine to be pretty effective.

Very good idea.
But, I have seen some leopards that climb up turn and go down.

Shooting a leoprad should really be no different than shooting any animal.

One has to be prepared - and I suppose one can hardly be UNprepared sitting there waiting in the blind.

I set up my rifle so that I have very little movement to get it on the bait. As soon as we know coming or on the tree, I take aim. As soon as my PH says it OK to shoot I fire.

As Steve has mentioned, there is really no reason why a leoprad shot should not be perfectly placed.

The shot is indeed quite simple, with the target zone being a square of 4" and at a distance of 30 meters the angle is not so acute where compensation becomes a critical factor - if one cannot place a shot in a 4" disc at that distance the shooter needs some serious practice or has to release tension and calm down - and You, Effendi are not part of this class

It is also true that they sometimes go up and straight down but it is also true that they will go back up - if not in the same sitting then it will be the next day.
My belief in achieving success lies in allowing the Leopard to get used to the idea that the "restaurant" is open at all times and in the end he will "foot the bill".

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:

My belief in achieving success lies in allowing the Leopard to get used to the idea that the "restaurant" is open at all times and in the end he will "foot the bill".

I'll agree with that. I reckon a lot of people are in too much of a hurry to actually get in the blind and shoot.

I personally like to give 'em plenty of time so they feel nice and comfortable with their restaurant and only then do we go sit in the blind.

jdollar: If a first timer lines up the shot three inches behind the shoulder (on a broadside leopard facing right), he'll still hopefully place the shot in the vitals IF he pulls the shot. If you line up on the shoulder and pull it to the right, then you'll miss the vitals.

One tablet of Advil has worked with me in that it relaxes my body. It slows my body down and helps relieve some of the hyper tension, True, it may not work on some, depending on body chemistry. It does work for me.

What's Advil..... I thought it was a pain killer?

I would recommend taking the shot as soon as a good one is offered. I know of two instances where a cat was watched and videoed for too long. The cat started to leave and a hasty shot resulted in a miss on one and a wounded cat that was lost to the scavengers that night on the other. Sighting your gun in for the distance of your shot is good advice. Leopards are not hard to kill. Do not use a bullet that is too tough. I would prefer an Accubond over a Swift A Frame for example. A good quality scope with a bold reticle will also help. Good luck!

BM's advice should be printed out and be required reading for all Leopard hunters on their first from a blind.
Oh, and Your blind reading material shud be something nice and relaxing not sumthing full of spys, bombs, plots , gore, sex or charging Big Five!

Lots of good advice here. I place my shot slightly behind the shoulder rather than on it. The reason for this is that the physiology of the cats is different than most other African game, in that the heart sits to the rear of the shoulder point. I also like to find the target angle and then select a specific rosette as the POI. Once that is done I concentrate on the rosette and do not watch what Chui is doing. I never take my crosshair off the aiming point until after the shot breaks. I stay on target and can actually watch what happens to the Leopard.

All this is done with a .300WM using Swift A-Frames and has never failed me. DRT.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
every thing i have read says pick out a specific rosette and put the cross hairs in that. forget about the rest of the body. i wouldn't know. killed mine with a 12g. and SSG during a charge 10 feet off the muzzle. momentum carried him to my feet( one of those shameful hunts with dogs)..

Right on!

My view has always been that I should pick out a specific rosette and never, ever even put my finger on the trigger until I am 100% "settled into the shot" and certain, in my own mind, that I can and will put the shot precisely on that spot.

My worst nightmare when Leopard hunting is making a bad shot and forcing the PH and the unarmed trackers into heavy underbrush, in the dark, to clean up my mess. I'd much prefer just to pass on the shot, if I'm not certain of the outcome.

It's one of those shots in hunting where you owe yourself, and everyone with you, the very best you've got, each and every time. The potential cost of a muffed shot is simply too high.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
What's Advil..... I thought it was a pain killer?

Advil is ibuprofen which is an NSAID or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug.

Does kill pain but through alleviation of inflammation.

Can't imagine it would help with sitting in a leopard blind unless you had a sore back or hip arthritis. No offense Marc.

Thanks Lane. It's similar to the muti I take for the arthritis in my hands then..... probably the biggest difference is the name!

Thank you gentleman. About 22 replies and no name calling - I think I like that the best.

BM - very good advice for any hunter in any situation with any animal as the objective target. I think that women and young hunters often take nice game because they do not have the built in bad habits of us "regulars" and frankly, they listen better.

As I thought, nothing unique. Just calm yourself and squeeze the trigger. I feel pretty good about my hunt. I will be shooting a 375 H&H that has seen some action and is very accurate and very reliable - if its not a perfect shot - only I am to blame.

Won't let that happen.

Thanks again - mostly for the reassurance and confidence boost.

I will let you know how the hunt goes.

I have enjoyed this thread. I have my first leopard hunt booked May, 2011, with Chapangu in Charara.