How do you guys rate cheetah in the trophy stakes?

I saw a very nice one in Zim.
It would have been a fairly easy shot we watched him for a good while from less than 50 yards. I had my scoped 9,3x74R Double.

The PH said I could take him if I wanted, but since,as far as I know, you cannot bring in the trophy into the USA.

So I let him go, for some future non USA hunter.

I was under instructions to shoot any Cheetah seen whilst I was in Namibia.........

Spotted cats are prohibited imports into Oz, so I wasn't interested, but a big male Cheetah is an impressive animal.

Cheetahs do a lot of killing on my friends' cattle. I think they make handsome trophies, either as a rug or a full body mount. The next time I'm invited to shoot one I will, and visit it on my return trips to Namibia.

Namibiahunter

I have herd that cheetahs are extremely dangerous animals. I saw them in a zoo once. They can run very fast and you would have no chance to escape from one.

Heinz

Since they are killed in Namibia as Vermin and are approved by CITES, I wanted to take one some years ago, but it seems USF&W knows best and won't allow their importation. I have argued (heatedly) with their agents at SCI over the years about why they prohibit a CITES approved animal.

I don't expect the situation to change in my lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by Alpinejaeger:
I have herd that cheetahs are extremely dangerous animals. I saw them in a zoo once. They can run very fast and you would have no chance to escape from one.

Heinz

I don't think human fatalities from cheetah attack are very common, my learned German friend.

I know Saeed's cheetahs are dangerous. They are always attacking his feet.

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
I know Saeed's cheetahs are dangerous. They are always attacking his feet.

I gather from your post these animals are small.

If so, are they to be released back into the wild?

quote:

Originally posted by Mvu:

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
I know Saeed's cheetahs are dangerous. They are always attacking his feet.

I gather from your post these animals are small.

If so, are they to be released back into the wild?

I read that cheetahs have very small pool of jenes and have hard time of things.

Heinz

quote:

Originally posted by Alpinejaeger:

quote:

Originally posted by Mvu:

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
I know Saeed's cheetahs are dangerous. They are always attacking his feet.

I gather from your post these animals are small.

If so, are they to be released back into the wild?

I read that cheetahs have very small pool of jenes and have hard time of things.

Heinz

Cheetahs don't wear jeans Alpy.

Cheetah are an endangered animal and anyone hunting them should spend time in a federal prison.

quote:

Originally posted by Cdr_McBragg:
Cheetah are an endangered animal and anyone hunting them should spend time in a federal prison.

Rubbish. Endangered in which country?

Just about every animal one reads about is endangered.

In every country!!

Christ, can someone do something about the trolls! This or that is "endangered"..."Cheetah's are VERY dangerous"..."Can I get AIDS from a Mosquito bite in Africa?"...etc. My God!

When stuff like this repeatedly comes out, it really discourages real posters from even logging on to AR. I know Saeed is all for "free exchange" but apparently the trolls know this too and use it to the sites detriment. Time to start blocking IPs?

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
Christ, can someone do something about the trolls! This or that is "endangered"..."Cheetah's are VERY dangerous"..."Can I get AIDS from a Mosquito bite in Africa?"...etc. My God!

When stuff like this repeatedly comes out, it really discourages real posters from even logging on to AR. I know Saeed is all for "free exchange" but apparently the trolls know this too and use it to the sites detriment. Time to start blocking IPs?

It seems some of the recent questions are almost too basic to believe they are serious. I know everyone is new to Africa at some point, but please, read a book or two about safari or watch a couple of DVDs before you start asking questions that are so obviously simple!

I was attacked by this gal when she woke up and decided to lick my face.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
Christ, can someone do something about the trolls! This or that is "endangered"..."Cheetah's are VERY dangerous"..."Can I get AIDS from a Mosquito bite in Africa?"...etc. My God!

When stuff like this repeatedly comes out, it really discourages real posters from even logging on to AR. I know Saeed is all for "free exchange" but apparently the trolls know this too and use it to the sites detriment. Time to start blocking IPs?

It seems some of the recent questions are almost too basic to believe they are serious. I know everyone is new to Africa at some point, but please, read a book or two about safari or watch a couple of DVDs before you start asking questions that are so obviously simple!

Not all people visiting the site are "old Africa hands" with vast experience. They may not be "trolls" and, in fact, may well be trying to learn. Also, they may be much younger than the majority of the "old farts" who post on the forums so they may not read books. The current generation tends to get all of their information from the Internet.

Even if you, based on your experience, feel that the questions are basic you can respond with a site or book that you feel can answer the question. I'm sure you have heard more than once that there are no dumb questions - only dumb answers.

Additionally, the person whom you seem to have singled out has admitted that he has been trying to communicate in a second language. This may limit his ability to ask or state what he really means. Lighten up a little and share your knowledge, experience, and helpful opinions. Don't belittle those trying to learn or to join the group.

I will be in the minority and I am OK with that. I would shoot a cheetah in a heartbeat and happily pay the $2500-3000 troohy fee to do it. If I can give a financial incentive to locals to keep Cheetah's around, I am happy to spend the cash to do it! Make 'em pay for ranchers or they will be history!

I'm with you. If i was given the opportunity i would take a cheetah.

+1

Seems to me Alpine Jaeger is a sincere person who, having never been to africa, has genuine concerns about his personal safety.

Most find this more acceptable than someone making flat out statements about something they know little about. Like Mc Bragg and the statement about cheetahs being an endangered species.

There are lots of cheetahs in Namibia and the landowner with whom we were hunting carried an FN FAL especially to deal with the situation. He being a celebrated conservationist and game rancher( yes, you can be both)had forgotten that they are endangered in the peta press and hsus literature.

I agree with ten drams. JMO Adrian

quote:

Originally posted by Adrian Parham:
Most find this more acceptable than someone making flat out statements about something they know little about. Like Mc Bragg and the statement about cheetahs being an endangered species.

Probably where the information came from.

ENDANGERED Cheetah

I am a bit of a collector myself, and have shot quite a few animals that were not a "threat". However.....I really don't want to shoot a cheetah, although a cheetah chasing a gazelle would be a very interesting mount. I had the experience of playing with two pet cheetahs at a friend of my PH's ranch on one hunt, and watching several at very close range on another hunt, they are just too much like a big dog, I don't know that I would want to shoot them, they would be a very easy target, didn't show the slightest fear, and finally just walked away. I like a little bit of sport to the collection of a trophy. Do a leopard or a lion. I have heard that many shoot them on sight in Namabia, due to the loss of domestic live stock. Anyway, you can't bring them back to the US, so killing one would be just for the sake of killing.

Cheetah trophies are not importable into the USA are they?

I'd kill the hell out of one.

I took one in Zimbabwe with my bow. The picture on my wall reminds me of a wonderful day spent in a great country with some outstanding hunters and lifelong friends.

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
I will be in the minority and I am OK with that. I would shoot a cheetah in a heartbeat and happily pay the $2500-3000 troohy fee to do it. If I can give a financial incentive to locals to keep Cheetah's around, I am happy to spend the cash to do it! Make 'em pay for ranchers or they will be history!

Agreed.

quote:

Originally posted by Cdr_McBragg:
Cheetah are an endangered animal and anyone hunting them should spend time in a federal prison.

Check your facts McBragg. They are not endangered, just not importable to the US under CITES. They are alive and well in several places.

dogcat,

Correction, they ARE importable from Namibia under CITES. It is the USF&W which prevents their importation. Same situation as the Polar Bear.

quote:

It is the USF&W which prevents their importation. Same situation as the Polar Bear.

That's because the USFWS still has them listed as ENDANGERED and also refused to make an exception for Namibia several years ago.

That's why I included the link in my message above.

AND...the polar bear is not listed as endangered; it is listed as threatened.

I've been on a few hunting properties where cheetah were available (in Zimbabwe, non-exportable then).

I asked a PH what he thought of them as a trophy. His reply was, "they are not much of a trophy".

In my opinion, if you want to hunt and shoot a particular animal, or do not want to hunt/shoot a particular animal, that is YOUR business.

If I could have brought the Cheetah home I would have shot it.

If someone hits a running cheetah, USFWS should make an exceptiont o the rules and allow that trophy to be imported.

quote:

running cheetah,

what about running trolls?