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Booked a Leopard for 2006 with Chifuti
05 February 2005, 02:52
bwanamrmBooked a Leopard for 2006 with Chifuti
It's hard to believe but most all the good outfitters had sold out their leopard quota for 2005 and 2006. In Houston at the HSC Show, I spoke with Andrew Dawson of Chifuti Safaris and he was already booking for 2007. I mentioned my interest for 2006 and he had me sign a quote sheet in case he had a cancellation. Well, he called earlier this week and I am in for June 18th through July 4th, 2006 in the Sapi area of Zim. Our good friend Bill Campbell is booked into the Sapi for ele this July with Buzz Charlton! I look forward to hunting leopard where you don't have to sit in a blind until 2:00 am waiting for ol' spots to show up and blast him under a spotlight. Tried it, didn't care for it. Since the Sapi is government land, no hunting in the dark and the leopard cooperate (I hope) by coming in at late evening or early morning. Hopefully I'll finally settle my score and get payback for cold nights in a leopard blind!
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
05 February 2005, 04:54
Bill CThat's great Russell! All the references I spoke to had excellent things to say about Chifuti, the camps, the concession, etc. Next door (Chewore North) while hunting the tuskless we saw leopard tracks every day.
Are you hunting with Andrew/Paul? What about the Humani hunt, are your friends doing that while you hunt Sapi?
Here's a picture of a leopard that Andy Hunter shot last year in Chewore, end of May/early June:
05 February 2005, 05:26
bwanamrmHey Bill,
We are all hunting the Humani this year. I'm really just hanging out with my Dad and a couple of my buddies who are making their first African hunt. Dad and I are hunting with Buzz and John and Blanton are hunting with Myles. Should be a blast to watch first-timers react to the bush. I am going to try out the 9.3x62 I had built a couple of years ago. Our original group of six dwindled to three and then grew to four. You know how it is when it is time to put up $$$$. Nobody else wanted buff but me so I decided to hang with the crowd. Let me know how your hunt goes. I bet your boys are getting excited about now. Hell of a leopard...hope I'm as lucky!
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
05 February 2005, 05:57
Bill CMy mistake, I see now you said 2006 for Sapi. You are all set then for this year...and next, nicely done! Humani sounds like a fun "coke and buns" hunt! I'm sure Buzz is looking fwd to it. Cheers!
05 February 2005, 09:52
CFAquote:
Originally posted by bwanamrm:
It's hard to believe but most all the good outfitters had sold out their leopard quota for 2005 and 2006. In Houston at the HSC Show, I spoke with Andrew Dawson of Chifuti Safaris and he was already booking for 2007. I mentioned my interest for 2006 and he had me sign a quote sheet in case he had a cancellation. Well, he called earlier this week and I am in for June 18th through July 4th, 2006 in the Sapi area of Zim. Our good friend Bill Campbell is booked into the Sapi for ele this July with Buzz Charlton! I look forward to hunting leopard where you don't have to sit in a blind until 2:00 am waiting for ol' spots to show up and blast him under a spotlight. Tried it, didn't care for it. Since the Sapi is government land, no hunting in the dark and the leopard cooperate (I hope) by coming in at late evening or early morning. Hopefully I'll finally settle my score and get payback for cold nights in a leopard blind!
Congratulations Russell, saw your post over on my topic also. You might want to consider an illuminated scope for those low light conditions for leopard, Chris Collins told me that often you end up with the leopard skylighted on a limb but the normal crosshairs disappear when all you can see is a black shape. I am going to carry mine.
Fred
*If you are not hunting in Africa you are planning to hunt in Africa*
05 February 2005, 22:16
MacD37quote:
Originally posted by CFA:
You might want to consider an illuminated scope for those low light conditions for leopard, Chris Collins told me that often you end up with the leopard skylighted on a limb but the normal crosshairs disappear when all you can see is a black shape. I am going to carry mine.
Fred
That is correct, and Andrew reccomends a lighted reticle scope, that the reticle stays black when not lighted, for Leopard! With the bright sky behind the cat, the crosshairs simply disappear in many cases! a lighted DOT, or center crosshair will show on old spots, in a backlighted sittuation. Andrew also hunts his hides usually at 80 yds from the bait, as well!
....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
06 February 2005, 01:15
bwanamrmThanks for the "heads up" guys. I've never hunted with an illuminated reticle scope. What about a 30mm 1.5x6 Swarovski Pro series or do I need a new rifle with a new scope??? Please???
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
06 February 2005, 02:17
Charles_Helmquote:
Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Thanks for the "heads up" guys. I've never hunted with an illuminated reticle scope. What about a 30mm 1.5x6 Swarovski Pro series or do I need a new rifle with a new scope??? Please???
I'm pretty sure you have to design the rifle from the ground up with the illuminated reticle in mind. The Swaro sounds like a good choice. Better get going on the rifle while you still have time.
06 February 2005, 08:22
CFAquote:
Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Thanks for the "heads up" guys. I've never hunted with an illuminated reticle scope. What about a 30mm 1.5x6 Swarovski Pro series or do I need a new rifle with a new scope??? Please???
Russell
I use a 1.5-6x42 illuminated Swarovski with #24 N reticle. Pulls in a lot of light, you can see the cross hairs under normal light and dial up the illumination for low light or even use it with normal light, works great. Of course you can put it on any rifle.
Fred
*If you are not hunting in Africa you are planning to hunt in Africa*
06 February 2005, 20:23
Charles_Helmquote:
Originally posted by CFA:
Of course you can put it on any rifle.
I was pretty sure he was looking for a good excuse to get another gun. I am always happy to feed that desire.
06 February 2005, 20:32
bwanamrmCharles is right...I never need much of an excuse to buy/build another rifle!!! Heck, what would you choose for the purrrfect leopard rifle?
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
07 February 2005, 02:40
CFAquote:
Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Charles is right...I never need much of an excuse to buy/build another rifle!!! Heck, what would you choose for the purrrfect leopard rifle?
.300 Win Mag custom of your choice.
CFA
*If you are not hunting in Africa you are planning to hunt in Africa*