Hunt: Leopard
Dates: 2014 July 1 - 14
Area: Save Valley Conservancy / Sango
Outfitter: Zambezi Hunters
PH: Thierry Labat
Camp: Sango Tented
Rifle: Dakota Arms w/ Swarovski Illuminated Scope
Caliber: .375 H&H
Ammo: Federal; .300 gr; A-Frame

This safari would be my first leopard hunt, my second hunt on Sango with Zambezi Hunters, and my seventh hunt with Thierry Labat. This hunt was a landmark event, not because it was my first leopard hunt, but because Thierry just received his new Dakota Arms rifle and I would help get it dirty.

Upon arrival, and following all the pre-hunt necessities, the team quickly got into the routine associated with leopard hunting. On the second day, Thierry decided to bait in the SW corner of Sango, near the Mufushwa hills, in an attempt to find a cat named "Smiler." This nickname was given to the cat because of the smiley face rosettes on the his right hip. Around 5:30 pm, the final bait was in place along the Ndove river in a tree previously used two years earlier by "safari-lawyer" (Will Parks) to shot a leopard.

The next day the game camera revealed that a mature male leopard, not Smiler, had investigated the Ndove river bait at 7:30 pm, just two hours after we departed. The bait showed minimal feeding and the camera confirmed that the cat preferred sitting on the ground than on the log we leaned against the tree. Thierry decided to replace the log with a firmer log to see if the cat would settle down and eat.

The following day the new log worked for the cat had settled down and eaten. The camera's time stamp once again showed almost the same routine (6:30 pm; 10:45 pm; 01:10 am; 07:30 am) from the previous night. This cat had a fixed schedule. While this cat was not Smiler, and it was only day four of our hunt, this was a mature male leopard feeding on bait, and thus a blind was built.

That afternoon, Thierry and I settled into the blind at exactly 4:30 pm, and waited. At approximately 5:45 pm, Thierry leaned over and whispered if I knew what that funny little squeaking noise was in the distance? Thierry informed me that it was a klipspringer's warning call. A minute later the deep, throaty grunts of a male leopard called out announcing his presence. A few moments later another warning call, this one from a Hyrax, was heard. On queue the leopard grunted again, and he was moving in our direction. This warning system would occur one more time with a baboon giving out a warning call which was immediately followed by the leopard's grunts. As we waited for the leopard the whole area seemed to quiet down as the last of the daylight disappeared. Finally after approximately ten minutes we heard in the distance the faint grunts of the leopard as he left the area.

I was sitting there is silence, and half napping, when I felt Thierry's hand on my shoulder and then heard the faint whisper of "he's on the branch" and the nap was over. Looking thru the scope I could clearly see the black outline of a leopard standing on the branch feeding. Since Thierry had already briefed me on the procedures before I could shoot, I sat back and waited. Thierry whispered that I need to go back on scope for he was going to turn the light on, to do the "nut" check, but I was not to shoot. In one memorable moment that black silhouette of the cat became a gleaming bright leopard with brilliant black spots. Upon seeing the light the leopard slowly turned away and stepped of the branch and at that precise moment I knew that cat was mine. The light was turned off, I came off scope, and we waited.

I sat there waiting, and then I felt the signal to go back on scope. Once on scope, I felt the signal that the light was coming back on and that I was cleared to fire. Once again that black silhouette turned into a gleaming leopard, and once the red dot was on his shoulder I fired. A flash of light, a loud boom and then dead silence. Nothing. No thump of the cat falling. No angry grunts. No crashing bushes. Nothing. After a minute Thierry whispered he was going to turn the spot light on and check the bait, I whispered back "ok" and got back on scope. Why we were still whispering I don't know. As the light hit the tree there was nothing, nothing but grass under the tree, and then I saw it. Sticking out from behind the log, facing me, were these brilliant white fangs of my leopard. Up until this moment I thought I had maintained my composure, but now I lost it. I jumped out of my chair, hit the top of the blind, and scared the hell out of Thierry as I screamed a few profanities in celebration. Then Thierry in a surprised tone asked me what the hell was I doing? Shocked, I asked Thierry if he too saw the dead leopard under the tree and he said "no" and my heart sunk. Going back on the scope, Thierry turned the spotlight on again, and thank the Lord, I was not seeing "things" as clients sometimes do on safaris.

Once Thierry confirmed that there was a leopard under the tree he too joined in the celebration for his follow-up on the cat was accomplished from the blind. As we grabbed the rifles to go check on the leopard, Thierry mentioned that when I jumped up in celebration he thought I was going to tip the blind over the side of the cliff into the riverbed. Standing over the leopard, Thierry stated that while he has a success rate of 35 leopards out of 39 hunts, this was the first time he had a leopard dead under the tree. Thierry then looked at his watch and said congratulations Jim, you have grand total of 2 hours of sitting in a leopard blind. I checked my watch and confirmed that it was 6:30 pm, July 4th.

The rest of the safari was stress free plains game hunting, story telling and a lot of fun. My girlfriend, Theresa, once again accompanied me on safari and I am truly starting to believe that she is my hunting good luck charm. That afternoon when Thierry and I were leaving camp she looked at me and said, I will see you in a couple of hours once you get your leopard. Side Note: The day we left Sango Thierry had started a lion hunt with another client. Prior to going out Thierry and Miguel stopped by to say goodbye and Theresa gave Miguel a hug and wished him good luck. At 7:30 pm that night, after just 1 1/2 hours in a lion blind, Miguel shot a big mature Sango lion.

To all AR members I wish many memorable hunts.
Jim


PS:

Thank you Alistair Pole of Zambezi Hunters for another wonderful, stress free safari. See you in Las Vegas.

Thank you Jannie and Cathy Liebenberg for making our stay in camp most comfortable; for those colorful dinner conversations; for the tasty Gin 'n' Tonics; and of course for the Elephant Dung Cake.

Thank you Neville and Lindsey Lees-May for the helping me celebrate my birthday; and for drinking wine with Miss-T.

Thank you Suzie and Jake Labat for your friendship and for keeping Thierry inline. Suzie, can you get Thierry a second music CD for his truck.

Thank you Mudini, Ismael and Zeckus for all the hard work, and for keeping Miss-T safe.


Thierry's Red Shorts, Its a tradition

Talking with Thierry re: my theory of using Hi-Viz Yellow shirts on safari.

Thierry's first kill with his new rifle.

My Leopard

http://im1.shutterfly.com/medi...0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Mudini wanted a picture on AR with the cat.

Miss-T and Thierry with an old bull.

First buffalo we saw on Sango. This was going to be a leopard/buffalo hunt but I decided on leopard only. Big mistake.

The Labat Family. Little Jake's first trophy picture.

Some pictures Thierry took during the hunt.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/medi...0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/medi...0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

A photo taken by Miss-T

This male leopard was 4 years old when collared. That was three years ago.

I introduced Thierry to "truck nuts."

Congratulations, that is a beautiful leopard. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Great report - I almost felt as I was there in the blind with you. Hell of a leopard as well - way to go!!!!

Excellent report - the save is a special place.

Mike

Congrats man - that a beautiful cat!

Love the pic of Mudini - he's such a showman

Jakie + Suzie look happy with dad

Great cat!!!

Jim a very fine cat to say the least. I am a firm believer of a 375 on leopards and a big bullet.

Mike

Gorgeous color on that leopard.
Big Congratulations !

Congratulations. Well written report, especially the "audio" of the leopard approaching the bait.

I would have soiled myself if you had jumped up screaming with me in the blind!

Great cat, great area, great PH.

What did you see in the way of other game (elephant, lion, buffalo)?

Great! Congratulations. Nice tom.

Well done guy that is a very nice cat!!!

Hi Jim,

Welcome to AR.

Glad you guys broke in that rifle properly.

Good to meet you at the skinning shed on our last day and congrats on an excellent cat and outstanding hunt.

Best Regards.

Chris

Proper Leopard that! The pic with Mudini holding Mr Spots is a damn good one!

Both those Buff are awesome bulls (assuming the second had both horns) - now you got something to go back to Sango for...

Well done to all involved

Nice Leopard! Enjoyed that report, big congrats!

Copngrats on a Super leopard Jim.

I have a tie going with you on hours sitting in a leopard blind. I sat exactly two hours a few weeks ago and shot a nice cat with Rich Tabor. Post and pics in progress.

Thanks for the post.

That leopard looks huge! Congratulations. Thanks for the report!

Best regards, D. Nelson

What a beautiful cat! Thanks for the nice report and photos.

OUTSTANDING gents

Well done Jim, and welcome to AR. Excellent work on Mr. Spots and an impressive first post!

Thierry and company continue as a "go to" outfit for a big leopard. Congrats to them as well.

I had some good times in those Mafushwa hills. Nice country there, but helluva far from the tented camp. In fact, after I shot my leopard there (off a lion bait), a lion was roaring in the distance. Thierry asked if I wanted to return to the blind and sit for the lion straight away. I passed as it was Day 4 of a 21 day affair and I was in no rush. Well, a big lion came and finished the bait that same night. Imagine that I shot a leopard and a lion on the same bait, same blind, and same night!

Mokorokoto to you and Knuckle and all the best to Theresa and your parents.

Love Rock Python picture.

Thanks for sharing the report and photos.

Thierry is THE "cat guy" and a great all around PH.

Congrats on what looks like a tremendous safari.

Wonderful safari and trophies! Well done to PH and hunter.

Great story and fine pictures.
Congrats to all of you on a great hunt.
Hell of a cat!
George

Hey Thierry!! now THAT is a cat!!!

Congratulations Jim!
We were privileged to spend an evening with Jim, his parents & Theresa in 2011 at Sango.
It was a most memorable event that my wife & I truly enjoyed.

A truly awesome cat. Congrats. Job well done Thierry.

That cat is a monster. Congrats to all involved.

Dutch

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:
Proper Leopard that! The pic with Mudini holding Mr Spots is a damn good one!

Both those Buff are awesome bulls (assuming the second had both horns) - now you got something to go back to Sango for...

Well done to all involved

+1

Hey Jim,

Nice report and thanks for your continuing support.

Cheers