Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to solicit your comments and advice on whether to include a leopard or a tuskless cow on my first safari. I am going to be hunting in both Chewore South and the Save next July-August for 18 days with the Duckworths. Buffalo, sable, and the rest of the plainsgame usual suspects will be on the menu. I have the option to add tuskless cow and leopard, but I fear that I won't have time to do both. Which would you choose, and why?

Which do you like, blondes or brunettes?



You have to pick the one that makes your pulse race.

analog_peninsula

Leopard hunts often require more of a time investment. Be prepaired to spend long nights in a blind. Having said that they are a great trophy. Depending on the area, cow elephant hunts can be done in a relatively few days. My vote would be to focus on the Leopard since you will be there for 18 days...but I would guess that you will have time for both.

If you are not hunting Leopard with dogs you usually just check baits and build blinds during day. That can be done by an Appy or camp help while you hunt Elephant. If you get a Leopard on bait you sit the night. Can't see why it won't work. You never sleep late or during the day on any safari I've been on no matter how late you are up.

I would recommend the elephant.
It certainly is more of a hunt than a leopard can ever be.

CWW

I've hunted Chewore South with the Duckworth's and if you are hunting your leopard there you will have no long nights in the blind as hunting is not allowed after dark there.

If you are interested in both tuskless and leopard tell them you want both. If you run out of time that's fine. You just don't get everything but if you kill your buffalo and leopard early on which is completely possible you'll have time to hunt the elephant but only if you ask for one.

Just tell them you want one of everything, let it play out as it will and you'll be happy.

BTW You are in excellent hands and will be hunting some great areas.

Mark

I have hunted in Chewore South with Roger Whittall et al. I killed a tuskless, three buff, a hyhena, and a bushbuck and hunted leopard there as well as gave a short effort at a lion when we found out that one was available. Then we moved to the Save for another elephant and to continue leopard hunting and for plains game. My hunt was also for eighteen days.

Rounding up a second elephant at Humani in the Save and the Chewore try for lion put an effort at sable on the back burner. Without the second elephant and the lion effort and maybe one of the buff there would have been time for all.

BTW, I'll be back in Chewore again this late Sept for a bull elephant and two tuskless, as well as a buff and a try for a leopard.

If you feel you need to choose I'd choose the elephant. Obviously I choose both. Leopard hunting can be time consuming and tedius. If you want to expand your time, follow the sugestion of arranging for an Appy to do the leopard baiting, or at least the bait checking and rebaiting. There seems to be no shortage of tuskless in Chewore, and its a great hunt.

JPK

Editted: I just read Mark's post and he has it right. I'd follow his advice and arrange for all possibilities and then just let it flow.

Which do you like, sitting on your butt or walking? I've spent too many evenings in blind and unless something happends I'm done with leopard hunting.

When are you leaving and have you told your wife yet?

quote:

Originally posted by analog_peninsula:
Which do you like, blondes or brunettes?



You have to pick the one that makes your pulse race.

analog_peninsula

Good point. Go for both!

A leopard with dogs can be exciting, especially if your first shot only wounds him.

Ele hunting is intense...You will stalk up to 25 yds..Look at him her and stalk up another 10 to 15yds closer... When the ele looks as big as a mountain then your ph will say take him...

You will be hooked forever..

Mike

3 days till the Selous

You should have time to do both.

I agree with the take one of everything approach. Keep your options open, that way you can take whatever opportunites come. You can always decline later but you will not be able to add it at the last minute.

Just put up the baits and see what develops. If the tracks are huge build a blind and give it a go. Try not to think of the taxidermy bill as a lifesize leopard with a good taxidermist is very expensive.

tuskless cow

Thanks for all the input. I'm going to book both and keep my options open for whatever comes along.

Unless you have hounds out for the leopard, I would go with the tuskless. All the excitement you could ever want in that chewore jess.

...there is a nice 4 part video on hunting leopard with hounds, recorded in Zimbabwe with Garry Miles`s hounds I guess, first third of first vid is comercial, but then you can get a good peek in to how it is done) - great hunting - worth to see:

- on video category go to "Walker`s gameear.Inc" and choose sub category "African leopard hunt"

Live hunt

Since you asked....
Elephant...no question. If they offer the leopoard hunt w/ dogs, it might be worth considering if a fellow had already taken several Elephant. If it's to be shooting a Leopard over bait..don't bother.

Do both. 18 days is quite a bit of time and tuskless aren't "that" difficult to find. You can still hunt leopard in the evenings until you get your ele.

465H&H

I agree... 18 days is more than enough time to do both in the area you are hunting!

I'd hunt the leopard and just chase the cow as an animal of opportunity. Who knows, maybe one will charge you and you'll get one you didn't expect in self defense - I did!