Hi Chaps
Thought you might enjoy this.
Since Leopard hunting has become so restricted our primary pack of Leopard hounds sees very little of the work it was bred for.
Here is a PAC leopard that was wounded with a .222 that we were called in to clean up yesterday.
We got the call in the morning and the Leopard was in the salt by 4pm.


This cat weighed 60kg and had been shot through the top of the shoulders missing bone and spine. Basically a light flesh wound. He managed to tag a few of our hounds in the process but all came home in one piece

Nice cat. Why would someone shoot it with a .22 cal. in the first place?

Not sure of the circumstances surrounding the wounding, but this sort of thing happens from time to time. We also often get called in to sort out wounded bushpig too.

These are almost always the most dangerous animals we kill as they are well pissed off and have suffered enough to make them go beyond the fight or flight, they are now all fight and will try and kill whatever they lay claw or tusk on.

This one was a dedicated calf killer though and was though to have taken 17 calves to date.

A very pretty cat!

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Nice cat. Why would someone shoot it with a .22 cal. in the first place?

.222 an .243 are very common amongst the ranchers for hunting culling , baboons etc and would have done the trick had it been lower.

Good job on getting him down, hope the dogs are ok

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
A very pretty cat!

My comment exactly.

Y'know Ruark was right when he said a dead leopard still looks majestic, beautiful, etc. A dead lion on the other hand looks just , ummm dead.

quote:

Originally posted by Bren7X64:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
A very pretty cat!

My comment exactly.

Y'know Ruark was right when he said a dead leopard still looks majestic, beautiful, etc. A dead lion on the other hand looks just , ummm dead.

Ain't that the truth!

Ian

Nice to see such a great pic. Congratulations on both the photography & a job well done.

quote:

Originally posted by Bren7X64:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by lavaca:

Y'know Ruark was right when he said a dead leopard still looks majestic, beautiful, etc. A dead lion on the other hand looks just , ummm dead.

I've never heard this quote before ,but it sure is true.
Really a Mooi cat

Hounds are fine thanks. They are all highly experieced and hunted a lot in Namibia before the close and Zim.
Loafer standing is a veteran with over 100 leopards under his belt, lynx is not as experienced but is right up there. The hounds also hunt Caracal to keep in shape now that most of the Leopard over hounds are outlawed.

quote:

Y'know Ruark was right when he said a dead leopard still looks majestic, beautiful, etc. A dead lion on the other hand looks just , ummm dead.



Ain't that the truth!

Ian

Nice to see such a great pic. Congratulations on both the photography & a job well done. tu2

I have to agree with Ruark, they sure are majestic

Thanks Steve, how things your side?

Great Cat! Thanks for sharing.

Which countries do still allow leopard over hounds? Only Zim?

Dennis

Great looking cat and glad you all made it out safe.

I belive that is a Capstick quote regarding the beauty of a live and dead leopard. Or perhaps he was paraphrasing Ruark, either way I find it to be true as well.

Ian

Things are brilliant over here thanks buddy.

We still miss Africa & our friends there & always will but we sure as hell wouldn't go back........ & you know you'll always find a clean bed, a cold beer, a hot braii & a warm welcome should you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods!

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Ian

Things are brilliant over here thanks buddy.

We still miss Africa & our friends there & always will but we sure as hell wouldn't go back........ & you know you'll always find a clean bed, a cold beer, a hot braii & a warm welcome should you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods!

Only 1 cold beer ?
Seems awfully FAR for just 1 beer

No worries Dave..... I meant one at a time!

Thanks Steve
I am going to take you up on that offer and you know you always have a bed, beer and braai here too.
All the best for 2014
Ian

Ian

You'd better come in our summer though because the winters here are helluva cold by African standards!

Very Cool!

Beautiful cat! That said, it always amazes me how many US hunters think Leopards require larger calibres and extra velocity. Legalities aside, I wonder how many PHs would prefer to see clients take cats with a guaranteed poke through both lungs using a .222 rather than facing 50/50 odds of a marginally placed .300 win mag or .338. On a related note, I also wonder how many mountain lions are shot out of trees in the US with a Hornet or other .22 calibre weapon.

quote:

Ian

You'd better come in our summer though because the winters here are helluva cold by African standards! Wink

Absolutely, I was over there in Summer last time and found the weather very conducive to drinking large quantities of ice cold beer. Superbok I think it was called. There was another one I cant remember but they went down a treat with bucket fulls of snails.

Very beautiful place really, enjoyed the castles immensely.

Keep well, we will chat again soon
Ian