I just watched the latest episode of Where in the World is Colorado Buck (recorded on my dvr)which is on the Sportsman Channel 605 Direct TV. The original broadcast was Feb. 5th. I just got around to watching it.

They start off with a plains game hunt in RSA and then move up to somewhere in the Zambezi Valley to hunt leopard and buffalo. The specific area in not identified. Colorado Buck is hunting the leopard and a father / son are bow hunting a buffalo. The primary PH who is interviewed is Vaatjie Schoeman. It is unclear to me if he is a RSA or Zim PH. He is only identified as a Professional Hunter with no Safari Company affiliation ever mentioned.

Colorado Buck has never shot a leopard. They are setting up the blind, but all of sudden as they are driving down the road they see what looks to me is a good sized leopard out in the open just on the left side of the road. The video they show on the program makes it impossible to tell what sex the leopard is. They stop the car and I think to myself that they are going to wait until they get a view of the cat's tackle area, but no. Colorado Buck fires hitting the cat which takes off into the bush. They then cut away to the plains game hunt and buf hunt. I am thinking to myself how do they know if it is a male or not?

After the plains game / buf part they go back to where they left off. There is a good blood trail which they follow until them come upon a wounded growling leopard which you can hear, but not see on the video. The PH Vaatjie Schoeman is there along with a couple of other guys who look like PHs, but are not identified. Colorado Buck fires twice more killing the leopard. They drag it out into the open and start celebrating, but they clearly show one of the unidentified PHs turning the cat over to specifically look at its genitals. There is nothing there. I froze the frame and it sure looks like a female to me. The body language of the unidentified PHs seem very clear to me. The video shows that it would have not been possible to properly identify what sex the leopard was before the shot was fired. There is then something said between one of the unidentified PHs and Colorado Buck, but I can't make it out. It sounds like they told Colorado that it was a male, but I am not sure. This exchange certainly implies that they were not sure what the sex was before Colorado blasted away. He starts whooping and hollaring and celebrating. The PH Vaatjie Schoeman comes on several times saying he has never seen a hunter so lucky. As the show closes the screen lists Bouna Safaris with their website and contact info. I can't recall ever hearing during the show that they say that Bouna Safaris is the Safari company for this hunt, but it is heavily implied at the end.

Did anyone else see this? Am I dreaming? Isn't that clearly a female leopard they shot? Who are the unidentified men who look like PHs? Are they Zim PHs? Where is Vaatjie Schoeman a registered PH? Isn't shooting a female leopard in Zim clearly illegal? Is Colorado Buck so lucky after all?

Buzz, Martin are you guys out there?

I've not seen the show, but I've seen a picture of the leopard. If not a female, it is a very small male.

BBC - I have not seen the footage, but I can tell you Colorado Buck hunted with Bouna Safaris in either Nyakasanga/Sapi area. As they gave me his name/contact info as a reference for the Nyakasanga area, when I was inquiring into their lion hunting operation last year in Nyakasanga.

A female leopard in these areas would be illegal, as far as I know.

Hopefully Martin can give some info as to the state of the "PH's" license? Not only is Bouna Safaris a huge part of the problem, National TV here in the states is promoting them - wow!

This is going to be interesting!

Guys - I cound not find a direct email addrss on his website, but one can email him through the link below. That's what I did, and I suggest you do the same.

I'm not questioning his leopard as male/female, as I did not see the show. But to participate with Bouna safaris, is simply contributing to the problem, and then putting it on TV for the world to see???

http://www.heycoloradobuck.com/email.asp

small male

The shear fact that CO Buck, WTF, or whatever his name is even went with Bouna means he doesn't research or doesn't care...either way...he IS part of the problem. Bouna IS another bad news for wildlife operator.

I have used the email link and sent Colorado Buck a message with my suspicians and suggesting he come to this site and read the whole post.

I am 99% sure that was a female leopard he shot and he may not even know it.

The photo above appears to be a small male so maybe I am wrong, but I would like others to view the video and tell me what sex they think it is.

Anton,

Is that fellow in the picture CO Buck?

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
small male

Yup, looks like a male leopard to me.

quote:

Is that fellow in the picture CO Buck?

Yes it is Lane.

Different picture from what I saw. There's another pic on the Bouna website.

I see three nuts.

Folks - Male/female leopard has little to do with the issue here. Its the massive over hunting, potentially illegal hunting, of Nyakasanga/Sapi by Bouna Safaris and those who participate in it. Don't lose sight of the big picture here!

I can tell you for certain, when I sent numerous inquiries to Bouna Safaris, I was told my PH would be a SA guy. They told me that specifically.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Folks - Male/female leopard has little to do with the issue here. Its the massive over hunting, potentially illegal hunting, of Nyakasanga/Sapi by Bouna Safaris and those who participate in it. Don't lose sight of the big picture here!

I can tell you for certain, when I sent numerous inquiries to Bouna Safaris, I was told my PH would be a SA guy. They told me that specifically.

I understand, Aaron, but people aren't really trashing Bouna so much here as they are on this hunter.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Folks - Male/female leopard has little to do with the issue here. Its the massive over hunting, potentially illegal hunting, of Nyakasanga/Sapi by Bouna Safaris and those who participate in it. Don't lose sight of the big picture here!

I can tell you for certain, when I sent numerous inquiries to Bouna Safaris, I was told my PH would be a SA guy. They told me that specifically.

I understand, Aaron, but people aren't really trashing Bouna so much here as they are on this hunter.

Well, I'm only concerned with stopping Bouna Safaris and their abuse of Nyakasanga, period! That starts with putting a stop to visiting/paying clients, and hopefully we can all help to do that?

Is that Frikkie Jacobs in the picture of the Sable and Elephant. He is a SA PH if that's him.

BigBoreCore,

Does the hunting vehicle have SA or Zim license plates?

This fellow is a hunting personality, a public representative of our sport. Aaron and I figured out a long time ago with simple research that they (Bouna) were pilaging Nyakasanga and "possibly" outside the law.

I hold him to a higher standard than the average tourist hunter. He deserves a little trashing.

quote:

I understand, Aaron, but people aren't really trashing Bouna so much here as they are on this hunter.

I have not seen the episode. If everything was proper that is great.

If "Colorado Buck" did indeed participate in an illegal hunt (quota issues, foreign PH, foreign licensed hunting vehicle) I hope he will be the example we have been looking for with the Lacy Act. These "TV personalities" have a responsibility to the their viewers and the hunting community to do it 100% legal and proper. For a "TV personality" to book with a South African company to hunt in Zim shows the little regard they have for the true Zimbabwe PHs.

I admit to seeing the episode and did a double take when they turned the leopard over, "no manhood parts"! I confess to not being a vet but I saw what I saw or did NOT in this case.

Mike70560,

I watched it again and they use more than one hunting vehicle. It looks like they drove up from RSA in a Nissan truck with RSA plates and then switched to the standard Toyota, but I wasn't able to see the Toyota's plates.
It still looks like a female leopard to me, but if I am wrong I will be happy to apoligise to Colorado Buck. I do record his shows and have enjoyed his programs in the past. He seems to be a good guy.
I do believe if you take the whole context of the hunt as shown (which has been edited) it clearly implies that Colorado fired the shot before the sex of the leopard was known. Those PHs were nervous as they very deliberately turned the carcass over to inspect the genital area. I think they were really sweating it and I believe Colorado Buck was too. I find it curious that the video would clearly show them checking the tackle area so deliberately. I still didn't see anything and I froze the frames and looked as closely as I could. I wish someone else out there who has watched it would let me know if I am crazy or not. Maybe they shrink up in death?

Thank You Muy Grande. Maybe I am not crazy after all.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Guys - I cound not find a direct email addrss on his website, but one can email him through the link below. That's what I did, and I suggest you do the same.

I'm not questioning his leopard as male/female, as I did not see the show. But to participate with Bouna safaris, is simply contributing to the problem, and then putting it on TV for the world to see???

http://www.heycoloradobuck.com/email.asp

I saw the show, thought the leopard was small, but male or female, don't know.

Facts of the matter are that in the auction hunt areas ( Nyakasanga/ Sapi ), the use of a Zimbabwean PH is not a requirement by law, if Bouna purchased hunting packages from parks, they were well within their rights to hunt the area. If and I say if it was a female leopard, then there is protocol to follow, reports, fines etc, if it was a male then no worries.
That Nyakasanga is being over hunted is another topic altogether

Mart

Unit 2, where Bouna now operates is different, a Zimbabwe PH must be present at all times, not sitting back in camp, not relegated to the vehicle, not carrying the shooting sticks, but conducting the hunt.

That is if they have got their act together and there is hunting on unit 2 this coming season.

Martin

Hi Martin,

Just a quick question, a bit off topic but, how are these South African PH's allowed to hunt here? Do they have to go throught the usual
process of applying for a work visa? Because as far as I am aware they are "earning"?

Cheers

I would say that the cat pictured here is different to the one on their website. Just look at the head.

They can by law purchase a hunting package from parks at the auctions for certain areas and hunt for that duration of the permit, however it is illegal for them to hunt anywhere else in Zimbabwe unless they are a permanent resident or a citizen of this country.

quote:

Originally posted by ilitshe_zim:
Hi Martin,

........ Because as far as I am aware they are "earning"?

Cheers

Though it might be difficult prove.

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
That Nyakasanga is being over hunted is another topic altogether Mart

Martin - That's more to my point than anything else, as you have stated! But, I know of at least 3 lions that Bouna had on qouta in Nyakasanga/2011, so they are NOT buying all of their hunts at auction. As you know, only 1 lion is available at auction in Nyakasanga.

Guys, its very possible Colorado Buck's hunt was legal, bought at auction, and was a male, I am not sure about all that. My issue is with Bouna and the huge over-hunting/possible illegal hunting of Nyakasanga and its fabulous wildlife.

Interestingly enough now - if you guys go to the Bouna Safaris website. Alot of the pictures/info is the exact same as it was 6 months ago, but the CONTACT people are totally different? Never heard of any of them, and at least two of them appear to be from Zim?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faXryxPtfls

No leopard shown.

The PH:

https://www.facebook.com/peopl...n/1255532997?sk=wall

http://www.africahunting.com/s...ukuzans-safaris.html

Hi Guys,the PH you mentioned Vaatjie Schoeman is not Zimbabwean.For sure another SouthAfrican raping our country. As for the hunts Bouna are doing,only one or two are from the auction,the rest is you could say an unlimited quota.It is disgusting what is going on and people need to know.One lion was on auction,but I know that 8 or 9 were shot.7 elehant are on auction,but over 20 were shot.Where and when does this stop??For starters if any of you book to hunt with a SouthAfrican in Zimbabwe..there is something wrong>..take note!!

Peter,

Not sure how many members there are on AR but they all support your predicament and my advice is to find and join all the hunting sites on the internet and shout your concerns.

Maybe we could come up and help you with the cull?

Instead of BBQ'ing Colorado Buck all over the Internet, wouldn't it be a bit more prudent to simply contact him first. He's a good man and all of us here share many of the same conservation goals. He is somewhat of a public figure, so please give the man a chance to answer the question posed in the initial post.

You don't just assassinate a man's
character on the Internet without giving him first a chance to address this matter. Once again a case of one hunter piling on another hunter, without any fact or validity, just suspicion and innuendo. That's not the way to do it guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Moja:
Instead of BBQ'ing Colorado Buck all over the Internet, wouldn't it be a bit more prudent to simply contact him first. He's a good man and all of us here share many of the same conservation goals. He is somewhat of a public figure, so please give the man a chance to answer the question posed in the initial post.

You don't just assassinate a man's
character on the Internet without giving him first a chance to address this matter. Once again a case of one hunter piling on another hunter, without any fact or validity, just suspicion and innuendo. That's not the way to do it guys.

+1 on Colorado buck but its good to keep after the auction hunters and "cover hunters" who seemingly have no quota limit.
Tom

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Moja:
Instead of BBQ'ing Colorado Buck all over the Internet, wouldn't it be a bit more prudent to simply contact him first. He's a good man and all of us here share many of the same conservation goals. He is somewhat of a public figure, so please give the man a chance to answer the question posed in the initial post.

You don't just assassinate a man's
character on the Internet without giving him first a chance to address this matter. Once again a case of one hunter piling on another hunter, without any fact or validity, just suspicion and innuendo. That's not the way to do it guys.

Well said bwana.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Moja:
Instead of BBQ'ing Colorado Buck all over the Internet, wouldn't it be a bit more prudent to simply contact him first. He's a good man and all of us here share many of the same conservation goals. He is somewhat of a public figure, so please give the man a chance to answer the question posed in the initial post.

You don't just assassinate a man's
character on the Internet without giving him first a chance to address this matter. Once again a case of one hunter piling on another hunter, without any fact or validity, just suspicion and innuendo. That's not the way to do it guys.

+1 Best post of the year so far!

To say nothing of the issues of internet libel!

So to use a "tag line" "where is Colorado Buck today"?
"

The simple fact that he booked a hunt in Zim with Bouna makes him BBQable in my opinion...but that is just it...my opinion. Bouna in Zim at least is part of the problem.