Date: 30-April to 13th May 2016
Outfitter: Ivory Trail Safaris
PH: Phillip Smythe
Location: Matopos Hills, Zimbabwe
Camera Man: Michael Amos
Rifles: Merkel in 500NE and Ruger #1 in 375 Ruger
Ammo: 500NE - 475gr CEB Safari Raptors with 102gr RL15
375 - 260gr Nosler Partitions with 72gr RL15
Species Taken: Zebra, Impala, Bushpig, Leopard

I had hunted with Phil in 2012, taking tuskless and buffalo as well as other plains game.
This hunt would be very reminiscent of that from start to finish. Shortly after the flight into Zimbabwe and my first afternoon there, I missed a rather easy shot on an impala (on sticks, wide open, 100 yards broadside with a scoped 375). We were trying to get a bait down quickly but I rushed the shot and went high. Missed my first animal (impala) on the last trip with Phil as well, so it was starting the same!
The next full day, after a good night's rest and calming down, I shot a zebra in the morning and put another one down in the afternoon. The first one we stumbled on as they literally walked into us and I had a close shot with the 375. It went straight down from a high shoulder shot and Phil reminded me of the 'pay' line - any higher and I would be paying for a lost zebra. Believe me, I kept that in mind on my remaining shots.

We set right away to hanging baits as we had 2 zebra down. Phil already knew the areas he wanted them hung as he had been there recently on another leopard hunt. That first day as we were driving, we noticed a drag mark across the road and a small set of leopard tracks straddling it. We got lucky and found where a female leopard had killed a nice old duiker and had not eaten but about 40% of it. Lucky to find the kill and lucky it was a relatively short distance from a bait site we wanted to
put up. So, we dragged the duiker remains off to the bait site and topped it off with a fresh zebra quarter.
Day 2 found that same female back on the bait and in daylight hours. Our first leopard on bait and we were hoping she would lure in a big tom! As a side note, she came back every day and had 2 cubs in tow. Her male cub we actually spotted sitting on the road as we came around a bend one evening and we got to watch him for a bit at close range. They are a beautiful sight to see.




The next few days were spent shooting more bait. A nice impala taken with my double.

A zebra taken with the double too.

It was day 5 checking baits when we discovered one of the baits we free spooled was hit and dragged off by a tremendous tom.
We wasted no time getting the blind and new bait site set up. He had taken a zebra quarter about 50 yards from our bait site and climbed a tree with it. The weight of the bait and tom must have been too much as the top broke out of the tree he had climbed. Freshly broken limbs and the bait there on the ground, testament to that fact. He had been there that morning and fed on the ground by the tree. We dragged the leftovers off another 20 yards and setup a new bait site in a tree. It would be a 40 yard, fairly broadside shot if all went well. We settled into the blind about 4:45pm and began the wait. Roughly 2 hours later our tom came
into the tree he had fell out of, a mere 20 yards away. Although I could not see him, Phil had and let me know he was there.
The heat had been taking it's toll on me and just like the last hunt, I began to let out a series of uncontrollable coughs and
'growling' every time I took a breath. Yep, you guessed it. One very big pussy cat sat up, looked at the blind and wondered off!
I had blown it. Phil and I sat pretty much in silence over the next hour except for my occasional growls and coughs.
He decided to call the truck to come pick us up as we figured the tom had vacated the country. With truck inbound and us gathering our things, Phil decided to give it one last look with the IR. Wanna guess what he saw? My tomcat coming back in!
With the truck literally 5 minutes away, the tom climbed the bait tree and started to feed. He was probably not there but a minute
or so when my 375 barked flame that blinded me. Although I was blinded my the muzzle flash, Phil had seen him jump straight up
and off the tree. We sat in silence as we could hear the cat growling and wheezing from the hit. It all happened so fast and my head
was in a fog as I was overheated and excited. The boys quickly arrived at the blind as they had been close and inbound on the shot.
We set to prepare for recovery\follow up which frankly scared the shit out of me. Nighttime with a torch, a possible wounded leopard
and dense cover everywhere. I was the only one wanting to wait until daylight but the others weren't having any of it.
So, off we went, side by side. Luckily all was quiet and we found the cat dead a mere 30 yards from the bait tree.
Elation and relief cannot describe how we all felt. The fact that he was absolutely huge did not escape us.
This cattle killer's nights of terrorizing and taking the locals livestock had just ended.




It was the largest tom Phil had killed to date (7'2", 175 lbs and a 17" SCI skull). For me, it was just a continuation of what I had always expected and received
from Phil - his best, which led me to a trophy of a lifetime. No need to tell you the celebration went on through the night
and well into the next morning as we traveled to a local village for some show and tell.
I also managed to take a very fine bushpig after a literal 5 minute wait in the blind. We had just finished setting up and settling in when the bushpigs noisily arrived. The big boar never knew what hit him as the 260 gr nosler partition entered his shoulder and exited through his neck. He never moved except to have his feet stop holding his weight up.

The rest of the trip was spent looking for massive klipspringer and a civet. Neither were meant to be but I was in no way disappointed. We also spent some time feeding another female leopard and 2 small cubs that came into bait.
This was a leopard hunt and I had accomplished what I came for. We spent nights sharing sundowners, taking photos and just relaxing. The most peaceful and laid back safari I ever had. Couldn't have asked for more and was a repeat of my previous safari with such a good friend and lifelong buddy. As part of this hunt, I let Phil and Mike both use my double for taking zebra as bait. I know it is not often either a PH or cameraman get the chance on a hunt to do something more than target shooting of their own and it gave me the satisfaction of seeing 2 smiling faces when they pulled the trigger of that 500NE.


Safaris are dreams come true. Time is never wasted despite outcome - success or failure - if that time is spent shared in the company of friends and doing what one has a passion for. The only sad part is knowing that the time in the field will eventually end but at least the friendships do not.
I cannot recommend Phil and his staff enough. They go out of their way to make every comfort and request possible. Good hearted, good natured and hard working describe the lot.
Mike Amos, the videographer, was great to work with as well. With the use of his drone and his keen eye for things, we captured some
truly amazing and unique footage.
Sorry it took me a bit to get this report together. I hope you enjoy the tale, the pictures, and my sincere gratitude for the
people like Phil out there allowing a simpleton like me to live the dream.

Congratulations on an excellent report and and outstanding leopard Phillip is the leopard man . On the day after the last day of my hunt in 2014 is when I shot my leopard with Phillip . On the last day our only leopard on bait made us and took off . On the morning of the day after the last day we finally got a hit by the same leopard that made us on the last day . I had the same hacking cough could not control it . But the cat finally came in and I got him . I know how exciting it was for me . It is exciting to hear about your experience . I know how psychology draining the hunt can be. Congratulations again

Nice cat. Thanks for the report

Bull of a leopard! Congrats on some fine trophies and a great adventure.

Great report and a fantastic Tom!

Thanks,

Great cat & great report. Thanks for sharing!

That duiker kill is so cool.

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The head on that tom is amazing ! Congrats to the whole team !

Also like the idea of letting the PH and camera hunt as well ! Very decent. I am pretty good with a camera too if you would like me to come along on your next hunt !!

Cheers and thanks for sharing the story and pictures

Charlie

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Congrats on a leopard of a lifetime. Phil is a good guy but I love giving him grief. We going to give it a go next year. I enjoyed your report. Thanks for posting.