The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Anyone hunted leopard with open sights?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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What do you think? Is there enough light at the time your most likely to see one, that would allow a shot out to 100yds? | ||
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My guess is that it might be possible to do if they are run by dogs. Over bait, I would think that the extra shooting time given by a scope would be appreciated and needed 95% of the time. | |||
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Leopard at 100 yards at dusk/dawn with open sights? Rather not...... | |||
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Not to  on anyone's dreams, but this sounds like the start to a PH's campfire story about how he got mauled! "I tried to talk him out of it. I even offered to let him use the camp rifle free of charge! So anyway were was I...oh leopard was on top of me....."Brett DRSS Life Member SCI Life Member NRA Life Member WSF Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick. And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too. May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep. May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip. -Seth Peterson | |||
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I do not think you will be more then 40yds from your bait tree... You could get some tridium sights on your rifle and see how long you can shoot accurately... Mike | |||
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+1  | |||
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Sounds like an unnecessary risk to me. 465H&H | |||
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Wouldnt be my first choice, but 100s of leopards have been shot with open sights in India and Africa. BUT those were different days. | |||
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Maybe, just maybe on a hound hunt, but at much closer than 100 yds. On a baited hunt I'd much prefer to use a scope. Caleb | |||
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Whether a bad or good practice, this man shot this Leopard this past May with an 1886 .45-90 with open sights. As you can see, it was daylight and as it happens, the cat was eating a farmers goat at the time. One 300 grain Nosler Protected Point at 2200 fps and the cat was DRT.  NRA Life Benefactor Member, DRSS, DWWC, Whittington Center,Android Reloading Ballistics App at http://www.xplat.net/ | |||
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I shot my leopard in Namibia 30 minutes after official sunset. I could barely see the leopard in the scope and open sights would have been impossible. BUTCH C'est Tout Bon (It is all good) | |||
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I guess I can always leave the blind, if it gets to dark, and I cannot see much with open sights.Are most leopards shot on bait when the light is low? Do I stand a good chance of seeing one when there is enough light? If most blinds are at 40 yds from the bait,I don't think there should be a issue or a need for a scope-forty yards is really close. | |||
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But there will be a $100.00 tip at the end of the hunt. | |||
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No better way to shoot one,IMO. | |||
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............And plus another one!  I'm sure, however, any number of leopard have been taken with iorn sights over the last 100 years! I'd much rather have a good light gathereing scope with a lighted retical,like the 3-9X40mm Trijicon scope! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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My imression is the more remote/wild the area is the more likely the leopard is to come in during day light. In populated areas leopards are well educated and very likely to be highly nocturnal as that's their natural tendancy anyway. Most leopards are probably shot at night or at very last light depending on area and regulations. This does NOT lend well to open sights!! It just seems like you're completely removing your ability to shoot during the most likely and productive time last light! I'd be prepared for multiple trips or to pay up to hunt some truely remote and wild areas if you're serious about being successful. Brett PS. If I was serious about said "stunt" I would damn well know my limitations and not push it as someone could very likely get mauled!!!!! DRSS Life Member SCI Life Member NRA Life Member WSF Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick. And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too. May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep. May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip. -Seth Peterson | |||
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Open sights + Leopard = trouble Mike ______________ DSC DRSS (again) SCI Life NRA Life Sables Life Mzuri IPHA "To be a Marine is enough." | |||
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Dogged leopard, no problem but prefer an aimpoint on the rifle  Leopard over bait? You'l be lucky. I would gues in zim average distance to bait is 80m and average shot is after last light or before first light - ie after you no longer see colour. During the main hunting season last light is usually 10-15 minuts before last legal shooting time. Sa,e goes for the morning wait. By the time you can see colour, spots has gone. Also inside the blind is Alot darker than outside....no, you will not be able to see you sights for the 'average' baited leopard. | |||
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I am by no means an expert on this, but having shot two leopard, I would not shoot one with open sights. I agree with LionHunter's assessment.+1 | |||
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+1 (although I haven't personally tried the Aimpoint). A ghost ring rear and good hi-vis front made for a fast combo on the Zim spottie that I took with dogs in 2002. Spotties in poor light with irons seems to be a recipe for someone getting scratched (and it isn't likely to be the client who dreamed up the idea). Read Patterson's "Maneaters of Tsavo"; very instructive regarding cats/irons/dim or no light. Simple equation, really. Spottie over bait equals scope. Mark DRSS "I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness." - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson | |||
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From what I gather here,since I want to hunt with open sights,hunting baited leopard may not be the best idea.I'll probably do another buff hunt instead.I would really like to do a lion hunt but I am not willing to spend that money and stand a big chance of coming back empty. | |||
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i used open sights for my leopard- but it was just the front bead on a Ruger O/U 12 gauge with SSG stuffed in the tubes. of course at the 10 feet i shot him, a rear sight wasn't really necessary. Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… | |||
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I wonder if any cats were killed before the advent of the scope? | |||
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No!!  Larry Sellers SCI Life Member
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I, of course, hunt Leopard with a handgun, so hunting them with open sights -- particularly at typical bait situation ranges, shouldn't be much more difficult. That said, I have a VERY healthy respect for the Leopard and want never to have to - or have anyone else have to - dig one that I've wounded out of heavy undergrowth in the dark. Accordingly, I won't take the shot until I am absolutely certain, in my own mind, that I can hit a specific individual spot on the cat -- the aim small, miss small mentality. I can't do that with open sights in bright light, let alone with a torch, so I've never tried it and never will. The Leopard is not to be trifled with. When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun. | |||
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Shootaway - Unless you absolutely insist on open sights, I would use a scope! Including both lion & leopard, I have shot 14 of them. I have seen blinds from 30 yards out to exactly 100. Range of the blind can vary greatly, depending on multiple factors. Brett makes a good point, that your destination of choice could also play a big factor in the use of open sights when hunting leopard. Often times in much more remote areas, places like much of Tanzania and Zambia, for example. Leopards are not as wary, and will come to bait a bit earlier in the day, but not always. Still though, last light is CAT TIME, and I would highly recommend a quality scope to help ensure greater success. If you insist on open sights, if possible take two guns to the blind and use the appropriate one based on the conditions. JMO. Aaron Neilson Global Hunting Resources | |||
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Thanks Aaron,I didn't think of taking two rifles.I guess I could also take one rifle with a quick release scope. | |||
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Shootaway - Two guns or removable scope, neither are ideal options, but doable if you move slowly, and keep quiet. I always keep my gun leaned up against the blind directly in front of me. No doubt I could easily grab one gun or the other, depending on which one I wanted to use. I have never done it, but it certainly would work. Aaron Neilson Global Hunting Resources | |||
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I used a scoped '06 on my leopard, behind dogs in daylight. When he charged, I looked around the scope and shot him at 5 yards. Irons would have been better in this situation. however, I will use a scoped rifle next time. Dave | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Anyone hunted leopard with open sights?
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