Im of to Zimbabwae in july, and leopard is on my list also, and i was wondering how common is it for the P H to use a spotlight....i have spoken to quite a number of booking agents and PH S and thats the most common way im told
Daniel

The only time I've hunted leapord in Zim I was in an area that required daylight hunting only. I shot mine right at dark, in fact I was just leaning forward to stand up when I heard the claws as he climbed the tree.
In a lot of areas in Zim spot light hunting is normal. I've even heard of PH's wiring lights into the tree with a reostat in the blind. They'll also install a mic up the tree so, as they're sleeping, they can hear the cat and then slowly turn the lights up, the cat just thinks its moon light.
Other countries and different area's allow different methods of hunting. Some no baitng, others dogs, you need to decide what method rocks your boat, do the research and have a blast.

FWIW, I like to use a red spotlight and a few red LED headlamps placed in suitable spots in the bait tree if there's little or no moon.

Spotlight can be used in Zimbabwe in Communal hunting land and private land but not in Parks Safari Areas.

We shot two leopards one in Omay north and the other in Omay south both with the aid of spotlight, it does increase your chances of success. The first leopard came at 1 hour after dark and the second came at 9:00 p.m., both would still be living had it been a safari area where night hunting is prohibited.

Daniel,

Are you hunting with Charlie Stanton?

Mike

MIKE
no im hunting with Danny Friend, NENGASHA SAFARISi spoke with charlie at length ,but a proportion of his hunting is behind wire and that really puts me off, the rest is on ranches with cattle fences which is okay, charlie has got an unreal block for waterbuck and nyalla
im hunting waterbuck and nyalla in the LOWVELDwith Danny
the rest namley leopard, sable kudu eland zebra impala and waterhog on his other concession, im doing a 21 day hunt so i give my self a chance of getting spots , and a real good sable, something over 40 inches, see how i go...taking the 06 with the same load that i used in Kampchtka , so i think that should be more than adeqate
Daniel

If you haven't booked a date yet then you should try to work out the best moon phase to increase your chances at scoring without the use of a spot light.
What scope are you using?

with nengasha you'll probably hunt spots at night with a light setting up a bit away from the bait using a listening device - at least thats the way he hunted when we were next to him

OZ
im useing my zeiss 3-9x36 THE WEST GERMAN made model from the late 1990 s ,i was thinking the same in useing the light from the moon, and hammering spots that way...will be intresting
im there from the july 6 th to the 28 th so im going to have to see what phase the moon is in
do you know where you can get a chart of the moon phases
Daniel

Hi

Follow this link

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/moonphases.html?year=2008&n=96

july 18 full moon

cheers

According to my new GPS (which is a WONDERFUL toy, oops sorry, tool!), July 6th will have virtually no moon, sunset is about 1818 hrs, sunrise 0742 hrs, moonrise 1018 and moonset 2203 hrs. By the 9th, you have a half moon, by the 18th, it's a fullmoon and by the 26th, it's a halfmoon......Sooooo a bit of prebaiting might be in order and might I suggest, you don't forget to put a good thick roof on the blind. - If you shoot the cat when there's a biggish moon, you can probably expect him to come fairly early before the moon gets up and makes things too bright for him.

Success is best with a spot light and since time is usually involved on Safari, I would opt for it..In some areas its illegal, so check that out. However, I am sure the choice is yours to make, one can hunt at noon if you like.

The Leopard is difficult to achieve at best, I would give myself every edge I could.

Dan

When are going to learn?..........chuck that German rubbish away and bung a Tasco or Nikko Sterling 4-12x50 on in a set of cheap alloy mounts and your all set. That combo on the '06 and a mag full of 130 gn TSX's should do the trick I reckon.

GG

Just spoke to a mate in Zim who happens to be a good Leopard PH. He tends to feel a moon in its late sages of being full is good for hunting them. I find at this stage the moon comes up quite late and maybe it would be worth starting the hunt when the moon is full earlier in the evening and if you are lucky you might connect early without spotlight but if not proceed hunting into the better moon phase .

GG
i will leave that set up for you just as requested when you come down on the SAMBAR!!...WITH THE FRONT RING LOOSENED!!!

GUYS
thanks for the info, more food for thought