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338 IS READY FOR LEOPARD!
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AKA
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quote:
Originally posted by AKA:
quote:
Originally posted by HunterJim:
Aka,

The PH used a white light, which did not startle the leopards.

I say leopards because we had two big males come in and get "lit up". The first one I tried to shoot with a .308 Win with the Trijicon 1.25-4X24 scope. I could not get the leopard in that scope. The second leopard at another bait four nights later I could see in the 3-9X40 set at 6X.

I did some research with people who shoot at night and they pretty much like the 3-9X40 format with lights, and the Europeans go for the bigger objectives for night shooting. It isn't just the exit pupil, you need to gather the available light too and present that to your visual system.

I took several low-power variable scopes into an unlighted warehouse, and tried them with a 15 lumen light source at about 25 yards. All of them "worked", but that small building was not a good model for sitting in a leopard blind at night with no moon. That seems to suck up the light in a way that testing inside a building does not.

Anyway, I moved up to the Leupold 32 mm objective scopes from the 20 mm units (these are plenty good for daylight in Africa).

jim
I know what you are talking about when you say getting that leopard in the scope. I had originally
planned on using my leopold 1.75 x 6.5 32mm heavy duplex scope. John was using a red light (total darkness with no moon) at about 100 yards.
John recommended that i use his Leopold 50 mm illuminated reticle. My setting was at 4X. I did have a problem
getting my leopard into the scope. However I saw a very faint redish glow off to the left of my view in the scope. I followed that glow until the leopard appeared. The illuminated reticle did help me get onto the leopard very fast. We went back the next night and tried my 1.75 x 6.5 32mm focusing on the bait(everthing was still setup). Starting at 1.75 and working up to 4X seemed to help capture the target faster..The image produced by both scopes was pretty much the same except i did have to take a little more time focusing
with the heavy duplex crosshairs. Just my thoughts.
 
Posts: 297 | Location: california | Registered: 20 January 2004Reply With Quote
AEI
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Very nice shooting. Do we get to see a pic of that 338? What happened to the Weatherby????
 
Posts: 91 | Location: USA | Registered: 09 August 2005Reply With Quote
Pete E
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Gents,

How does the PH use the light in these situations?

On one video I have seen, the PH had a red light rigged up over the bait and turned it on via a remote controlled dimmer switch once he heard crunching coming from the bait...I've no idea if that is a common practice or not though...

regards,

Pete



Men of Harlech
 
Posts: 5684 | Location: North Wales UK | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
dougaboy
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Once the light comes on how does the cat react? How much time do you have for the shot?

Doug
 
Posts: 280 | Location: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: 20 April 2005Reply With Quote
jorge
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Wow, great discussions and they are appreciated. Yes the scope does have an illuminated reticle. Although I beleive Allen to be correct that one does not need a "leopard specific" scope, I bought the Illuminated reticle at the recommendation of the PH. He VERY meticulous! As to the cat's reaction to the light, it's not much, but eventually he catches on, but it gives you plenty of time to get on target and shoot. As to the reason I'm not using my 340 Weatherby, my WIFE gave me the rifle. Any questions Smiler jorge


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Posts: 7149 | Location: Orange Park, Florida. USA | Registered: 22 March 2001Reply With Quote
<allen day>
posted
Sometimes the leopard takes off just as soon as the light goes on. In any event, you usually don't have long to shoot, just a few seconds, tops, and the light is poor no matter what!

Quite candidly, I think the way they hunt leopards in Zimbabwe (lights, microphones, etc.) really sucks. I hate all of the artificial apparatus, which sometimes totally works against you, and for a lot of not-so-obvious reasons.

One time I was with my Zimbabwe PH in a blind just before nightfall, and we heard a duiker bark his warning. Knowing that the leopard must be near, we kept our eyes and ears wide open. A few minutes later, we spotted the leopard sitting still in a wide, dry riverbed, not fifty yards from the blind, and I wanted to kill him right there. It would have been easy, but my PH was so insistant on following protocol that he insisted that we wait until the leopard was in the tree, which I thought was absolutely ludicrous, and I knew the opportunity we passed up was the very best and safest plan we'd ever have against that cat.

Later, after full-dark, this same leopard did go up into the bait tree, then the light (on a remote dimmer switch) was activated and gradually turned up. As soon as it went on, he got out of there instantly, and he didn't come back. That was all we ever saw of him ever again, and the next night he didn't show up at all.

I like the way they hunt leopard in Tanzania best. They hang a bait, go into the blind late in the afternoon, stay all night if need be, and shoot the leopard at last or first light. No gimmicks, no lights, no audio systems -- no bullshit.

If that method works in Tanzania, it can work anywhere else.............

AD
 
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dougaboy
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jorge,

In your conversations with John Sharp has he given you an idea as to how often the light is needed? I guess what I am asking is did he give you any idea as to how often, in his area, a leopard comes to the bait under normal light conditions and how often he needs to use a light?

Doug
 
Posts: 280 | Location: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: 20 April 2005Reply With Quote
dougaboy
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Allen,

I didn't see your post until my last one was already up. In Boddington's new leopard video they have a good discussion about the use and need for lights. Their basic point is that in areas with human population and ranching the cats are almost totally nocturnal and very difficult to hunt without the light. In more remote areas they will come to the bait during natural light conditions. His PH, Dawson does not use a light. I have no idea, but that was their general opinion

Doug
 
Posts: 280 | Location: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: 20 April 2005Reply With Quote
jorge
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dougaboy: Unfortunately, that is the only way leopards are hunted in Zimbabwe, the light is used all the time. Maybe AKA, who just shot one with John Sharp, can tell you how long he had to make the shot. I think if I had my druthers, I would love to shoot one like Allen did, but that's the way it's done in Zimbabwe. THe light used is not white nowadays but red and it's attached to a reostat. That way the red light and the slow intensification of light makes the cat less wary. jorge


USN (ret)
DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE
Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE
Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE
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Posts: 7149 | Location: Orange Park, Florida. USA | Registered: 22 March 2001Reply With Quote
dougaboy
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I am also headed to Zimbabwe next year with the plan to hunt a buffalo or two and hoping that we will also hunt leopard if things work out. I have been told the same thing as you about lights.

Doug
 
Posts: 280 | Location: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: 20 April 2005Reply With Quote
Pete E
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jorge, AD,

I've never hunted leopard but I would bet my bottom dollar that these ultra wary lamp/bait shy leopards are leopards that have been shot over a lamp/bait and missed...while I agree with AD in principle about not wanting to use all the gadgets ect, with the time contraints most people hunt under to day, coupled with these "educated" cats, I can see why PH's resort to such means...

Regards,

Pete



Men of Harlech
 
Posts: 5684 | Location: North Wales UK | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
AEI
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Your wife bought you the rifle and she is planning for the hunt. I think that cats in the bag. Best of luck tagging that Tom. thumb
 
Posts: 91 | Location: USA | Registered: 09 August 2005Reply With Quote
bwanamrm
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Gentlemen,
I believe lights at night are only allowed on private ranches in Zimbabwe. Any cat taken on National Parks lands have to be hunted without any artificial light. When hunting the Lemco in 1994, we were allowed to use "spotlights" or lights on rheostats. I did not care for it at all! Late nights, freezing in a leopard blind are no fun, especially on your first safari.

I am hunting with Andrew Dawson of Chifuti Safaris in the Sapi area next year (2006). Not wanting to repeat my earlier leopard experience we had an in-depth discussion of his leopard hunting techniques. No leopards at night with lights in Zim in Park lands. They are hunted in early morning and late afternoon from blinds over bait. My friend Buzz Charlton verified this as well on our hunt together this year.

I agree with Allen about Tanzania for leopard but they are expensive (daily rate) and require more hunting days there. However, when I was in Masailand in 2003, I saw two leopard out and about in broad daylight! Hunting them there must be great!


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
 
Posts: 7568 | Location: Victoria, Texas | Registered: 30 March 2003Reply With Quote
Pete E
Moderator
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by AKA:

That was a 300 weatherby cartridge by his print.


My Speer manual gives the 300 Weatherby a max COL of 3.56" which is approx 9cm...As the print looks quite a bit longer than the cartridge, I m guessing that is a very big cat indeed!

Regards,

Pete



Men of Harlech
 
Posts: 5684 | Location: North Wales UK | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
budman5
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Jorge
I hunted Zim (Chowore) in 1995. My leopard was shot at 10 am over a bait we set 2 days earlier. The PH discussed using a light but it wasn't nessary...I hope you'll have as much luck !
 
Posts: 47 | Location: North Pole Alaska | Registered: 05 April 2005Reply With Quote
dougaboy
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bwanamrm,

I believe that lights can also be used in the Campfire areas of Zimbabwe as well.

Doug
 
Posts: 280 | Location: Ft. Worth, TX | Registered: 20 April 2005Reply With Quote
AKA
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posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by dougaboy:
jorge,

In your conversations with John Sharp has he given you an idea as to how often the light is needed? I guess what I am asking is did he give you any idea as to how often, in his area, a leopard comes to the bait under normal light conditions and how often he needs to use a light?

Doug


dougaboy..when I hunted with John Sharp we spent most of the daylight hours checking the 4 baits and going after plainsgame. We hit the blind about an hour before sunset. It did take 3 zebras to use as baits.
 
Posts: 297 | Location: california | Registered: 20 January 2004Reply With Quote
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