I shot this leopard while hunting with HHK Safaris (guided by Ivan Carter) in Zimbabwe (2002).



For a variety of reasons, I did not send it off to the taxidermist until recently.

I am posting this here as the base chosen was different than is typically seen for a leopard. I can not believe how good it came out after having been wet tanned in my freezer for the last 7 years!














The work was done by

Dan Catlin
http://www.thewildlifegallery.com/taxidermy.htm
The Wildlife Gallery

Here is a link to the story about hunting this cat

http://forums.accuratereloadin...271028701#4271028701

Stunning !!!!!!!

Ron,

Absolutely magnificent! You must be very satisfied.

Dave

Ron,

That's very nice and definitely one of the best I've seen.

Congrats,

Mark

Incredibly stunning pose, and beautiful beyond belief. Congratulations! I still sit down in front of mine, and remember the hunt like it was yesterday.

Ron,

FANTASTIC !!!! Excellent work and pose.

In which HHK Concession did you get the leopard?

From the looks of your mount, we should all keep them in our freezer for 7 years.
Another vote for stunning!

Very beautiful!

WOW Inredible work on a BIG TOM. Sure one of the best Taxidermy work i ever have seen.

Seloushunter

WOW. That is possibly the nicest leopard mount I have ever seen. I am usually very disappointed in how the face turns out in most mounts I have seen. I really like that one. Congrats and kudos to your taxi for a great job.

Cheers
Canuck

Kathi

I hunted Chete in Zimbabwe for the leopard.

I couldn't believe how life-like the cat was when I first saw it. Part of my delay in getting it mounted was that I understood the difficulty in getting the cats face and eyes to look alive. Ivan Carter recently sent me several photos of another cat the Dan Catlin did which also came out stunning. Go to his website and you will see more of his work with cats.

This cat was entered into competition this last March at the Michigan State Taxidermy Competition. I am told that it took first place in the large life sized mammals division and there were over 300 entered. Dan claims to have three World Champion Taxidermist working in his shop and one of them mounted my cat.



The other interesting thing it only took less 3 months to get the work done. Now granted, I had the hide already wet-tanned before I sent it to Dan but the turn around time on this project was exceptional.

Your leopard mount is among the very best I have ever seen.

Excellent cat and excellent taxidermy.

Congrats, Ron!

Nice mount.

Beautiful mount, nicely done.

Ron, do you have any idea how much the leopard weighed? Estimate from Ivan or others? It's a fine cat for anywhere, but a truly fantastic one for the Valley - it looks like a lowveld leopard. My guess is 150+ pounds, 7 foot 4 inches.....

Dave

Amazing, but for God's sake man, get that goblet of red wine the hell away from that cat. That stuff stains!

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Amazing, but for God's sake man, get that goblet of red wine the hell away from that cat. That stuff stains!

If it's the first goblet it should be okay

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Amazing, but for God's sake man, get that goblet of red wine the hell away from that cat. That stuff stains!

If it's the first goblet it should be okay

Not if his friends are anything like mine. They're a clumsy lot of sods!

David

You were right on the money! My journal says that it was 7 foot 4 inches and 150 pounds.

We were just having a glass of red wine to welcome the leopard. Nothing was spilled.

The leopard is presently sitting in the middle of our dining room table. I have told my wife that it is her new center piece. As you can see, she is forcing herself to smile.



The leopard will be here for a couple of days and then up out of the way of people.

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:
Ron, do you have any idea how much the leopard weighed? Estimate from Ivan or others? It's a fine cat for anywhere, but a truly fantastic one for the Valley - it looks like a lowveld leopard. My guess is 150+ pounds, 7 foot 4 inches.....

Dave

What an outstanding mount, as others have said, the best facial expression that I have ever seen. A true work of art!

Bill

I had asked the Dan Catlin to have his ears forward in an inquisitive look. Dan also suggested that we have his mouth open as if he was panting. It was the perfect combination!

That is a very nice mount! Congrats!

Can someone explain what "wet tanning" is? That is a beautiful mount BTW.
Thanks, Peter.

Awesome! WOW!

WOW, and I thought I had a nice leopard! I think yours beats mine out. Maybe I should have let mine sit in the freezer awhile...unfortunately I couldn't wait!



You have a wonderful trophy and an awesome mount. I tip my glass to you and congratulations are in order!

Dr. Tim

Ah, Dr Tim, your cat is mighty fine too. Also 150+ pounds?

Dave

Those guys friggin nailed it. That is by far the best Leopard mount I have seen. Am saving the link to the shop...

Absolutely beautiful. The hardest part of a cat is the face and that is perfect!

quote:

Originally posted by Ron L:
David

You were right on the money! My journal says that it was 7 foot 4 inches and 150 pounds.

We were just having a glass of red wine to welcome the leopard. Nothing was spilled.

The leopard is presently sitting in the middle of our dining room table. I have told my wife that it is her new center piece. As you can see, she is forcing herself to smile.



The leopard will be here for a couple of days and then up out of the way of people.

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:
Ron, do you have any idea how much the leopard weighed? Estimate from Ivan or others? It's a fine cat for anywhere, but a truly fantastic one for the Valley - it looks like a lowveld leopard. My guess is 150+ pounds, 7 foot 4 inches.....

Dave

The more I look at it the more impressed I am. It looks alive in the photo with you and your wife.

Most true-to-life leopard mount I have ever seen...no doubt about it.

Cheers
Canuck

Great mount indeed, congratulations.

I am also expecting mine to be delivered next week it was also shot with HHK but in Omay area.

Looks great !!!

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Ron,

That's very nice and definitely one of the best I've seen.

Congrats,

Mark

x2

But Ron:

How did You survived this: If I would keep aleopard 7 years in my freezer, my wife is going and kill me... !!!

Great work!

Leopards are tough to get right. Yours is a beauty.

The minute I saw it I said 'That looks like a Wildlife Gallery mount ! '' Nobody does a better job on their stuff than Dan, Brad and their team.
Dan is doing a 14 foot croc lifesize for me and I can't wait till I get it home. Really a fantastic cat , a great memory forever captured in your trophy room. When Ivan gets back from Zim I will tell him to look it up as I know he will want to see it. Great job all around !

Don't know what to say that has not been said,but...WOW that is a work of art
congratulations on the Leapard

Absolutely beautiful!

That Sir is one magnificent cat.

Well done

As noted -- the eyes and face of a cat is truly one of the most difficult items in the world of taxidermy to get right -- and this mount has achieved that in spades!!---
Awsome!!-- I may irritate him but am sending these picturs to my taxidermist
G