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Hi everyone: I'm getting serious about booking my first leopard hunt. I'd really appreciate hearing from those who have done it:
1. What's your favorite area for leopard, and why?
2. Who's your favorite PH for leopard, and why?

I'm planning this as if I'll only be able to do it once. Hopefully that's not the case, but I do fear an import ban being imposed by the most successful anti-hunting organization of all time (USF&W).

Also, do I have a decent understanding & expectation of cat size:
I know that some absolute 'monster size' cats come from Zim's lowveld and Namibia, but I understand they're quite difficult to hunt & not the success rate of other areas.

On average, do the next biggest come out of the Luangwa in Zambia?

Seems like, from there, in the other wild places (Tanzania, Zambezi Valley, Botswana) some areas have great success on nice, mature toms, but they don't seem to very often produce those monster size cats?

Thanks for any information!
 
Posts: 452 | Location: CA.  | Registered: 26 October 2016Reply With Quote
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I did a hunt in April with Charlton McCallum Safaris in the Zambezi Valley and got a very nice cat. This was my second attempt. There seemed to be lots of cats in the area. Based on ten years of guiding for mountain lions in Colorado, I think my cat was in the 140-150 lb. range. Leopards are shorter and stockier than a mountain lion, but I think I was close. Keith Wall was the PH I hunted with and he did an excellent job. I would definitely hunt with him again. CMS also has other excellent PHs.
 
Posts: 781 | Registered: 03 January 2004Reply With Quote
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To me the best areas for big leopard are as follows;

Tanzania: Burko, Monduli, Losimingor, Longido, Natron Mountains of Masailand and Maswa Game Reserves all Northern Tanzania. These areas produce large leopard but note that the Masai leopard can be very cunning. Mike Fell has taken some monsters from Maswa North GR.

Zambia: Western GMAs surrounding Kafue National Park i. e. Lunga, Kasonso, Mumbwa West. Also, Andrew Baldry and his place: Royal Kafue. The PHs are Richard Bell-Cross (Lunga) and Fico Vidale (Kasonso).

For better chances of success and GENERALLY smaller leopard;

Tanzania: Rungwa-Kizigo, Lukwati and Rukwa Game Reserves and most of the Western GCAs i. e. Rungwa River, Mlele, Nyonga etc.

Zambia: Luangwa Valley GMAs and private areas i. e. Munyadmadzi GR, Nyamvu.

Those are the places I know- if I had not shot a leopard I'd head to the Luangwa Valley or Western Tanzania. The areas and PHs are so good in these places (Mike Angelides, Alan Vincent, Thor Kirchner, Andrew Baldry, Adam Buske) that if you have enough time one can actually be selective with leopard.

No slight intended here to all the great PHs hunting in other countries- I'm just telling you what I know.

Good Luck!
 
Posts: 277 | Registered: 14 July 2006Reply With Quote
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I don’t know him other than here and other forums, but Thierry Labatt (I hope I spelled that correctly) seems to be a cat master.

Many here have hunted with him with great success.


I meant to be DSC Member...bad typing skills.

Marcus Cady

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Posts: 3459 | Location: Dallas | Registered: 19 March 2008Reply With Quote
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Leopard hunting success depends on pure luck, as long as they are in that area.

I hunt leopard every year, and have had plenty feeding, and some years we saw only females and young one, despite seeing tracks at the bait of large males.


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Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 69037 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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I wonder nobody is mentioning the Selous for Leopard hunting. There are plenty there. Bodysize are more average compare to Masailand or Southern ZIM Areas


Nec Timor Nec Temeritas
 
Posts: 2293 | Registered: 29 May 2005Reply With Quote
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Plenty in the Selous
Got one there every year.


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Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 69037 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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Thanks a lot for the input, gentlemen.

This has given me some places & PHs that I hadn't even considered. Please, keep them coming!
 
Posts: 452 | Location: CA.  | Registered: 26 October 2016Reply With Quote
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The most I ever had on bait was in the Selous.

Most sign noted was in Selous (MH3), Maswa N, and in multiple areas in the Luangwa valley.

While there are lots of PH’s who do well with cats, the guy I have had the best results with personally is Brian Van Blerk.

Big cat vs best success are different criteria. Maswa has both, but is quite expensive.
 
Posts: 11130 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
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We send around 10-12 leopard clients per season to Zambia. The Kafue has, on average, larger cats. Luangwa areas typically have higher cat densities and sometimes a tom surprises you size wise. I shot a cat on day 3 of my hunt in the Luangwa in 2019 that was 7'8" and heavy enough that taking photos holding it up was a chore.

Both Kafue and Luangwa offer long-term success rates (25+ years) of nearly 100%.

Greg


Greg Brownlee
Neal and Brownlee, LLC
Quality Worldwide Big Game Hunts Since 1975
918/299-3580
greg@NealAndBrownlee.com


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Hunt reports:

Botswana 2010

Alaska 2011

Bezoar Ibex, Turkey 2012

Mid Asian Ibex, Kyrgyzstan 2014
 
Posts: 1154 | Location: Tulsa, OK | Registered: 08 February 2010Reply With Quote
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loveld
 
Posts: 13465 | Location: faribault mn | Registered: 16 November 2004Reply With Quote
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Interesting Mozambique and the Niassa Reserve is not mentioned. We killed two representative Leopards in 10 days of baiting.

Hunt Report


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Hunt Reports

2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112
2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012
DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191
Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771
Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141
Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141
 
Posts: 7624 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 05 February 2008Reply With Quote
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Mine is the lowveld of Zimbabwe for the big ranch cats. My last one was 8'1" and 180 lbs, taken with PH John Hunt of Georgia Safaris. Wayne Grant is the consummate PH on leopard and has written the book "Into The Thorns". Wayne's favorite area was the Matopos Hills of Zimbabwe.
 
Posts: 18575 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
Interesting Mozambique and the Niassa Reserve is not mentioned. We killed two representative Leopards in 10 days of baiting.

Hunt Report


I agree.
I had 3 feeding after 1 day of baiting. Shot a good one on day 4
Had more in the same tree a hour after we shot the first one.
That was Block "B"
 
Posts: 761 | Location: Michigan USA | Registered: 27 September 2008Reply With Quote
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I shot my one and only leopard in 2008. My PH was Andy Hunter and we were in Chewore North. We had a number of female cats on bait. We shifted our efforts to a cove way down river where Andy had sighted big tracks over several years. We set bait in a tree no more than 50yards off the Zambezi. A rock with rushing water gave us some noise cover. We were way down river from camp and stopped our boat a good mile from the blind. The leopard showed up immediately and was feeding day and night. His tracks were huge. Had to resupply the bait and the next day (day 10) we caught him feeding at 4:00 PM. Perfect set up. Sooo remote. He was dead under the tree after the shot. Back at camp Andy and pal Ian Gibson said it looked like a lowveld leopard. Long heavy with worn teeth and chewed ears. Told this story not to tell where to go but rather choose a area that will create maximum adventure plus success.
 
Posts: 282 | Registered: 07 July 2009Reply With Quote
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My only leopard came out of nowhere.

One second there was no leopard, then, the next second, he came out of nowhere and was suddenly there, and the following second, I shot him dead.

If I had any sense, I would go on all of my safaris to nowhere.

That seems to be where the best trophies come from.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13727 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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rotflmo clap
 
Posts: 18575 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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The prime concessions of Luangwa have one of the highest densities of Leopard in Africa and you will shoot a good cat there. Although the Kafue Leopards are bigger they can be street-wise.

In Zambia, I would recommend the early season for Leopard especially Luangwa.

Prices vary so you need to be selective and do some research.


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Posts: 9996 | Location: Zambia | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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