Cats are funny. They can be ridiculously easy or impossibly hard. That's why I love hunting them. It's a chess game.

In 2021, we worked very hard for a lion, but couldn't quite get him on bait. I extended my trip a couple of days, still no luck. Finally had to fly out. Nice lion was on one of our baits midday the day after I flew out and the next hunter got an easy lion his first time to Africa.

There are areas where you have a higher success rate because there are more leopards but you still have to go with the knowledge and understanding that you may come home without one.

Forget leopards how many times have you hunted deer or turkey or rabbits locally yourself and come home empty handed.

Folks,

I don't agree as others have stated that you have to be prepared to come home empty handed if you hunt leopard.

There are areas where I fully expect every hunter will have an opportunity to kill a Tom leopard every time.

Good planning also helps. Early season, on the dark of the moon and allowing sufficient time can also increase your chances of success.

If you are going to hunt leopard make sure it is the focus of your safari. Getting distracted by other game and not checking baits/refreshing baits can cause you to miss an opportunity.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Folks,

I don't agree as others have stated that you have to be prepared to come home empty handed if you hunt leopard.

There are areas where I fully expect every hunter will have an opportunity to kill a Tom leopard every time.

Good planning also helps. Early season, on the dark of the moon and allowing sufficient time can also increase your chances of success.

If you are going to hunt leopard make sure it is the focus of your safari. Getting distracted by other game and not checking baits/refreshing baits can cause you to miss an opportunity.

Mark

Dead---Solid---Perfect.

A cat hunt, is exactly that. You need to keep the goal in mind.

quote:

If you are going to hunt leopard make sure it is the focus of your safari. Getting distracted by other game and not checking baits/refreshing baits can cause you to miss an opportunity.

It is entirely up to the PH to know how to set the baits in varying directions which will also offer the possibility of shooting game which is always handy to have fresh while checking the "trap line".

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

If you are going to hunt leopard make sure it is the focus of your safari. Getting distracted by other game and not checking baits/refreshing baits can cause you to miss an opportunity.

It is entirely up to the PH to know how to set the baits in varying directions which will also offer the possibility of shooting game which is always handy to have fresh while checking the "trap line".

I don't know, nor pretend to know the baiting laws in Tanzania. But in Zambia, if you adhere to the baiting laws, its not a huge long day to check baits.

https://phazambia.com/members-code-of-conduct/

Mark's right. Everytime you hunt cats, that's the focus of the safari. Everything else takes a backseat. You shoot bait animals you otherwise wouldn't shoot. You break off tracking an animal to get to a blind a couple of hours away because you got a hit. I've been 100% successful on leopard, which is consistent with what Mark says, but i've sat between two and 13 times to do it.

And I haven't connected on lion yet. Hopefully this year. But if you are hunting cats, it has to be the priority.

Steve,

That's interesting. Haven't hunted Zambia yet, but limiting the number of baits is interesting. And that the pH has to drink his own liquor.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Steve,

That's interesting. Haven't hunted Zambia yet, but limiting the number of baits is interesting. And that the pH has to drink his own liquor.

I'm not saying that I've seen it observed, but that is the law.

I don't understand the "drink their own liquor" Comment? Is that in there as well?

quote:

I'm not saying that I've seen it observed, but that is the law.

No limitation on numbers of baits in TZ for both Leopard and Lion as far as I am aware.

However it doesn't make sense to overdo it as you will unlikely be able to visit them all on a daily basis unless there is an extra vehicle assigned those duties.

Not law but considered unethical to hang baits roadside even though some unethical PHs do so due to laziness of getting off the track and driving 150/200m to the bait.

All baits and traces thereof to be removed and disposed of at END of season but not necessarily at the end of that particular hunt.

TZ has not NOT shared hunting areas with residents for the past 3/4 years and to-date, there is NO resident hunting allowed, for citizens or otherwise.

Lastly, our TPHA or TAHOA have no jurisdiction over PH licensing and/or control of any code of conduct of both PH and/or Outfitter. This may apply if you are a member of said organizations or if TAWA receives any adverse reports of misconduct or breach of the Wildlife Conservation Act.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

I'm not saying that I've seen it observed, but that is the law.

...TZ has not NOT shared hunting areas with residents for the past 3/4 years and to-date, there is NO resident hunting allowed, for citizens or otherwise....

.

Fulvio,

Agree with you as it relates to the old "resident hunting rules".

Correct me if I am wrong but can't a resident get a hunting license and hunt with an outfitter just like a nonresident?

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

I'm not saying that I've seen it observed, but that is the law.

No limitation on numbers of baits in TZ for both Leopard and Lion as far as I am aware.

However it doesn't make sense to overdo it as you will unlikely be able to visit them all on a daily basis unless there is an extra vehicle assigned those duties.

+1

A year and a half ago we had three hunters and three ph's with at least 45 baits hung. Possibly over fifty before the end of the first week. Five shootable lions on bait and probably at least 20 leopards on bait. Possibly more. We only had 20-25 trailcams.

I will defer to you regarding the number of baits a ph should use. IMO, the more, the better chance at selecting the best cat available.

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
[QUOTE]I'm not saying that I've seen it observed, but that is the law.

...TZ has not NOT shared hunting areas with residents for the past 3/4 years and to-date, there is NO resident hunting allowed, for citizens or otherwise....

.

Fulvio,

Agree with you as it relates to the old "resident hunting rules".

Correct me if I am wrong but can't a resident get a hunting license and hunt with an outfitter just like a nonresident?[/QUOTE

That is true up to a point in that the resident cannot obtain a hunting license per se, but would get one issued through an outfitter in the form of a GHP (Game Hunting Permit), pay all the due royalties and of course pay the same trophy fees as would a normal hunting client from abroad for the duration of that one specific hunt.

Organizing a hunt in this manner would entitle the hunter (resident) to the same privileges as a foreign client ... at a price.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
[QUOTE]I'm not saying that I've seen it observed, but that is the law.

...TZ has not NOT shared hunting areas with residents for the past 3/4 years and to-date, there is NO resident hunting allowed, for citizens or otherwise....

.

Fulvio,

Agree with you as it relates to the old "resident hunting rules".

Correct me if I am wrong but can't a resident get a hunting license and hunt with an outfitter just like a nonresident?[/QUOTE

That is true up to a point in that the resident cannot obtain a hunting license per se, but would get one issued through an outfitter in the form of a GHP (Game Hunting Permit), pay all the due royalties and of course pay the same trophy fees as would a normal hunting client from abroad for the duration of that one specific hunt.

Organizing a hunt in this manner would entitle the hunter (resident) to the same privileges as a foreign client ... at a price.

That's what I was thinking. Thanks for the input.