Leopard Hunt Recommendations

20 January 2008, 15:13

Arrow Slinger

Well, I've finally decided to take the plunge, and I'm going to do it either late this year or 2009. Probably looking to either Zim or Mozambique. Any recommendations for outfitters or areas? Thanks.

20 January 2008, 15:21

mboga biga bwana

Go to the Selous and search for an an reputable outfitter like Luke Samaras and you will not be disapointed.

Seloushunter

20 January 2008, 15:44

Ahmed Sultan

For Leopard I would recommend Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe with one of the quality outfits that operate there: Chifuti, HHK or Buzz Charlton comes to mind straight away. Luangwa valley of Zambia is also very good for Leopard.

20 January 2008, 16:13

shakari

Leopards occur pretty much throughout Africa, so you really just need to decide what part of Africa you want to hunt and then find yourself a good catman. - I'd recommend you probably avoid RSA for this species as the Leopards there are some of the most educated anywhere in Africa and consequently have a lower success rate than many/most African countries.

20 January 2008, 16:20

Die Ou Jagter

My vote goes to Norm Crooks (Mr. Cat), Pro Safari Africa. He hunts Zim and Namabia with dogs or out of blinds which ever is your choice. I sat in blinds for a couple of years and last year used Norm and a pack of hounds. I had hunted my Mt Lon with dogs and enjoyed it so I thought I would give Leopard a try with them. If you like the cry of hounds it is your game, if you like setting in a blind trying to stay awake then that is your route.

20 January 2008, 17:35

Spring

quote:
Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
Go to the Selous and search for an an reputable outfitter like Luke Samaras and you will not be disapointed.

Seloushunter

Have you hunted with Luke? Aside from his solid reputation, is he a fun guy to hunt with?

20 January 2008, 20:08

mboga biga bwana

quote:
quote:
Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
Go to the Selous and search for an an reputable outfitter like Luke Samaras and you will not be disapointed.

Seloushunter

Have you hunted with Luke? Aside from his solid reputation, is he a fun guy to hunt with?

Vic

PM sent

Seloushunter

20 January 2008, 21:01

Leopardtrack

Arrow...I sent you a PM!!

20 January 2008, 21:25

David Hulme

Arrow,

Here are a few leopards taken by Roger Whittall Safaris clients in 2007, for your interest.

Dave

20 January 2008, 21:43

mboga biga bwana

Really nice Tom Pics

Seloushunter

20 January 2008, 21:54

infinito

quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
Leopards occur pretty much throughout Africa, so you really just need to decide what part of Africa you want to hunt and then find yourself a good catman. - I'd recommend you probably avoid RSA for this species as the Leopards there are some of the most educated anywhere in Africa and consequently have a lower success rate than many/most African countries.

Steve, sorry if you feel I am picking on you, but I can for the life of me NOT understand why you make this statement, and the one about the lions as well......Leopards EVERYWHERE are used to man....Africa is populated EVERYWHERE. They are clever EVERYWHERE. I have hunted them in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and some were difficult and others not....There is lot riding on it...I know for a fact that Leopard in Mozambique is VERY difficult because of the dense vegitation....

Have you hunted Leopard in South Africa, and if so where? If not, on what basis do you maek this statement.....I cannot help to feel that you "knock" cat hunting in South Africa when you get a chance...

Arrow Slinger....by the nature of the beast you will not encounter any "caged Leopard hunts" in S.A. There is enough to hunt them the good old hard, tradtional way. We have 1 Tag for a male Leopard in the Limpopo Province in South Africa for 2008 left. Pre-baiting can cut the time for a succesfull hunt short from 21 days to 14 or even 10 days if he feeds on a regular basis....

All incl. price, pre-baiting all included is $13.5k

Hope you get booked what you dream of!

Good hunting.

20 January 2008, 21:54

butchloc

as you see in davids pictures, the lowveld in zim has historically been the place to take big cats. After hunting them for several trips, I have to say that it is the place. That aid i did that already and am going to zambia for the next one. up in the valley they have lots, not as big, but hunting spotted cats is my thing and i'll do it as long as i can

20 January 2008, 21:59

infinito

quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
Leopards occur pretty much throughout Africa, so you really just need to decide what part of Africa you want to hunt and then find yourself a good catman. - I'd recommend you probably avoid RSA for this species as the Leopards there are some of the most educated anywhere in Africa and consequently have a lower success rate than many/most African countries.

Steve, sorry if you feel I am picking on you, but I can for the life of me NOT understand why you make this statement, and the one about the lions as well......Leopards EVERYWHERE are used to man....Africa is populated EVERYWHERE. They are clever EVERYWHERE. I have hunted them in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and some were difficult and others not....There is lot riding on it...I know for a fact that Leopard in Mozambique is VERY difficult because of the dense vegitation....

Have you hunted Leopard in South Africa, and if so where? If not, on what basis do you maek this statement.....I cannot help to feel that you "knock" cat hunting in South Africa when you get a chance...

Arrow Slinger....by the nature of the beast you will not encounter any "caged Leopard hunts" in S.A. There is enough to hunt them the good old hard, tradtional way. We have 1 Tag for a male Leopard in the Limpopo Province in South Africa for 2008 left. Pre-baiting can cut the time for a succesfull hunt short from 21 days to 14 or even days if he feeds on a regular basis....

All incl. price, pre-baiting all included is $13.5k

Hope you get booked what you dream of!

Good hunting.
----------------

20 January 2008, 22:00

MARK H. YOUNG

Butch,

With your S--- luck you'll shoot the first 200 pound leopard DuPlooy has ever taken. God! We'll never hear the end of that one.

Mark

20 January 2008, 22:24

shakari

Infinito,

Sorry you feel my comments trod on your toes a bit. - They weren't meant to. The intention was to give my opinion, and I stand by that opinion.

I personally believe that as Saeed is gracious enough to allow us pHs/Outfitters/Agents/Safari Companies etc to market our services here free of charge, that we owe it to him to be completely truthful, open and honest in our posts and not give the hard sell to other forum members........

If you're suggesting that RSA Leopards are no more educated than most other places in Africa, I have to say that I think you're being very naive at best........ the reason the Leopards in RSA are so educated is that the SA farmers have been persecuting them for about the last 200 and odd years by any and all means possible in an attempt to stop them nailing their livestock.

As to their being clever everywhere, yes, I agree with that, but education and intelligence are two different things. For example, a lot of RSA Leopards are hit and run merchants that will hit once and never come back...... unless perhaps you resort to a few sneaky tricks.

Have I hunted Leopard in RSA, yes I have, but not for some years, as I prefer to hunt them in other places, and FWIW, I've been 100% on Leopards for about the last 8 years or more. - You'll find a few examples on the links below.

http://www.kuduland.com/hunting-in-tanzania.htm

http://www.kuduland.com/hunting-in-botswana.htm

Regarding your comment about Africa being populated everywhere...... perhaps you might like to do a bit more travelling. For example, all areas designated Game Reserves in Tanzania do not allow any permanent human habitation whatsoever. The Selous GR alone is around 5 million acres in extent with absolutely no parmanent human habitation whatsoever.

As to caged Leopard hunts.... I don't know how long you've been in the business, but it wasn't that long ago that RSA had what was probably the worst record of dodgy practices for this sort of thing, anywhere in Africa...... Fortunately, that situation isn't anywhere near as bad as it used to be.........

20 January 2008, 23:39

infinito

quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
Infinito,

Sorry you feel my comments trod on your toes a bit. - They weren't meant to. The intention was to give my opinion, and I stand by that opinion.

If you're suggesting that RSA Leopards are no more educated than most other places in Africa, I have to say that I think you're being very naive at best........ the reason the Leopards in RSA are so educated is that the SA farmers have been persecuting them for about the last 200 and odd years by any and all means possible in an attempt to stop them nailing their livestock.

As to their being clever everywhere, yes, I agree with that, but education and intelligence are two different things. For example, a lot of RSA Leopards are hit and run merchants that will hit once and never come back...... unless perhaps you resort to a few sneaky tricks.

Have I hunted Leopard in RSA, yes I have, but not for some years, as I prefer to hunt them in other places, and FWIW, I've been 100% on Leopards for about the last 8 years or more. - You'll find a few examples on the links below.

http://www.kuduland.com/hunting-in-tanzania.htm

http://www.kuduland.com/hunting-in-botswana.htm

Regarding your comment about Africa being populated everywhere...... perhaps you might like to do a bit more travelling. For example, all areas designated Game Reserves in Tanzania do not allow any permanent human habitation whatsoever. The Selous GR alone is around 5 million acres in extent with absolutely no parmanent human habitation whatsoever.

As to caged Leopard hunts.... I don't know how long you've been in the business, but it wasn't that long ago that RSA had what was probably the worst record of dodgy practices for this sort of thing, anywhere in Africa...... Fortunately, that situation isn't anywhere near as bad as it used to be.........

My toes is hard enough Steve, BUT it is the hunting industry in our country that I'm batting for.....against a fellow PH from the same country....

Steve, as to how long in the business? I have been involved in it since 1987 when my dad started hunting Professionaly...your punch between the lines is not appreciated.....There WAS an uproar about some dodgey leopard hunts, and I know Sandy McDonald was one PH who was accused of these practises in the media in the 1990's..... I hunted my first Leopard when I was 12 in the Waterberg mountains with my dad, this is BEFORE you became a PH, I believe. To suggest that it was on the same level as the Lion fiasco, is taking it a bit far though.....As I said, the very nature of the beast makes it difficult to "stage" a hunt.....

Please do not question my Professional experience. You are welcome to visit my web-site to have a look around at the pictures....like I have done with yours.

If you think these cats EVOLVED over 200 years of being hunted in being more clever, you are of course entitled to it. I just cannot read a post of a person that is a PH, about your chances being slimmer in SA than other countries..., when you admit to not having hunted these cats in SA for some time......

Your statement about livestock in SA......what livestock do they farm with in Zimbabwe, Botswana,Namibia and Zambia????......must be the kind leopards do not eat, and therefore not being hunted........All I am saying is, be consistant with your opinions and statements, Sir.

I just get the impression that you are registered in SA as a PH, but everytime when someone asks something about hunting somewhere in Africa, you take the line of hunting anywhere apart for South Africa....Your opinions of course, but you REFLECT on a hunting industry that you are supposed to be apart of in THIS country ....

I travel enough in Africa to have MY own opinions, and I do it mostly hunting and fishing....I do not do Tanzania however....and cannot speak of your area where you have gained your experience....

For the record, I believe the best Leopard are in the Zim, and would advise most hunters to go there.

All the above is of course said with respect to someone much older and experienced in the hunting industry than myself......I'm out of here!!!!

21 January 2008, 00:07

shakari

First, you obviously feel I was having a pop at you, and I wasn't. I was expressing a truthful opinion which hasn't changed. Secondly, I'm not from the same country as you. I might live in RSA, but I'm British by birth and English by the grace of God.

and damn proud of it, although I have in all honesty, say I wouldn't want to live there nowadays.

Moving on, there wasn't a punch (intended) between the lines at all...... but as I said, ' I personally believe that as Saeed is gracious enough to allow us pHs/Outfitters/Agents/Safari Companies etc to market our services here free of charge, that we owe it to him to be completely truthful, open and honest in our posts and not give the hard sell to other forum members' - Therefore, and obviously for personal beliefs, I am completely honest. Nor was I questioning your experience but I was underlining my point.

As to success rates in RSA compared to many other countries in Africa, I'd bet that if the truth were known, the success rates in RSA would be considerably lower than countries such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Botswana and (incidentally) Mozambique. One of the problems in RSA is the system itself, which in many cases can actually encourage landowners to hope the hunter fails so he can recycle that license. - I'm not for a moment suggesting you do that, but I'm sure you know the system encourages it and that it does happen. Admittedly, not as often as in the past, but it does still happen.

Sure they farm the same livestock in the other countries you mention, but the culture of the landowners is very different as is the density per Km etc. - My opinion is consistant in that I firmly believe, and have believed for many years that RSA Leopards are considerably more educated than in most other African countries.

Hey, I like RSA and it's hunting, in many ways, it's great - but I know it for what it is, and for what it's not and I don't pretend otherwise to anyone. - I believe it's unfair to pretend it's 'wild Africa' - It's not, it's Africa for beginners.

Regarding Leopard size, I'd have to disagree with you there as well. There's absolutely no doubt that Zim has some big Leopards as the pics above show, but so does Botswana and Tanzania and other countries....... BUT the biggest I've seen by a mile is in the east of Tanzania, where a good tom, is as big as some fully grown lionesses.

I don't know if it's true, but I'm told the Leopards in Iran are even bigger, but I have no personal experience of that.

Incidentally, Sandy MacDonald wasn't accused of doing anything with caged Leopards in the media in the 1990's - he was caught red handed shooting canned Lions by the Cook Report.
Byeee

21 January 2008, 04:25

Mike Smith

I might be wrong but if I remember correctly the incident with Sandy Macdonald was a set up job and involved a lion. As I heard the story the "hunter" was a shill and specifically asked for a canned lion hunt. The whole thing was secretly taped and then used in the subsequent uproar in the media to bash lion hunting. It had nothing to do with leopards as far as I know unless there was more than one incident of which I am unaware.

21 January 2008, 07:46

Arrow Slinger

Thanks for the feedback guys. Actually leaning toward Zim later this year. Been very impressed with the Leopards that I've seen taken pretty consistently from Zim. Now just to find the right area and outfitter, as I really want to bag my cat the first time out.

Being a bow hunter, and dead set on taking the Leopard with bow and arrow, that rules out places like Namibia and RSA.

21 January 2008, 08:08

yukon delta

If you're not at least considering the old Lemco area now operated by Mazunga (formerly by HHK I believe) for leopard then you are missing one of the top areas known for producing big leopards.

Also, don't forget about Lou Hallamore as a PH with a very STRONG reputation as a cat man...wrote the book on it in fact.

21 January 2008, 08:35

bwanajcj

Yukon is right on by suggesting lemco it is one of the best places for consistently big leopard. You can't go wrong hunting with Lou, he is hunting matetsi now that HHK is no longer at lemco. For leopard with dogs Norman Crooks, it his specialty. John Sharp is still hunting lemco, his concession which was adjacent to the propety is now part of the conservancy. if you are interested drop me a PM we book John, HHk and Norman, I would be happy to give you pricing.

21 January 2008, 08:44

megsdad

John Sharp, check out his website. Hunted with him in 2007 (PG). You can't beat him on cats.

21 January 2008, 11:44

infinito

I think the pictures above settles the debate. Contact David Hulme, so that he can sort you out.....

Best of luck, we look forward in receiving your report!

Steve, as I would not like to hi jack this thread any further, I will send you a PM........

21 January 2008, 15:48

Die Ou Jagter

If you want this year I doubt Norm could help you as I think he is already booked full, that tels you something

21 January 2008, 15:57

pichon1

quote:
Originally posted by David Hulme:
Arrow,

Here are a few leopards taken by Roger Whittall Safaris clients in 2007, for your interest.

Dave

They are some of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen, surely a couple must top 200lbs easily!

21 January 2008, 20:29

yukon delta

quote:
Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
If you want this year I doubt Norm could help you as I think he is already booked full, that tels you something

Lou is also booked. All of the PHs I correspond with are booked except for odd dates, a buff or two, maybe a sable, etc. If you want to go this year with a good PH, you MIGHT get a cancellation hunt but I would look ahead to get the dates you want with the PH you want and not compromise.