15 day ( 2 x 1 ) leopard/ buffalo/ sable/ plains game

Dates: September 10-24
Area : Omay, Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe
Clients: Daran and Devan Wastchak ( dwastchak@vivopartners.com , daranw@drwaz.com )
Camp : Chifudze
PH: Martin Pieters
Vehicle staff/ trackers: Steven ( tracker ), Dennis ( vehicle hand ), Test ( Game scout )
Weapons: .30.06/ .300/ .375/ .416
Game seen: Elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, sable, kudu, zebra, bushbuck, impala, warthog, waterbuck, duiker, grysbok, baboon.
Game taken: Leopard x 2, buffalo, sable, hippo, waterbuck, zebra, impala, grysbok, duiker.

Daran and Devan Wastchak booked a 2 x 1 leopard hunt with me in Las Vegas and despite the potential difficulties in hunting for 2 cats plus extras, the challenge was welcomed by myself.

The hunt was slow to start with baiting and exploration, a few wounded animals including a buffalo cow ( disappeared into the park ) and a few other missed opportunities, however after day 7 things heated up with several leopard on bait and some plains game in the salt.

We had a huge cat feeding in an area located approx. 60 clicks from camp ( the Omay is 2 million acres, so very vast ), we built our blind and got in around 4pm. At approx. 6.30 pm he arrived and with the standard taps and encouragement, Daran squeezed his shot off. Long story short, he shot under the cat and missed and we headed back to camp. On checking the bait the next morning, the cat had returned and we prepared for another evening in the blind. This time, Daran nailed him on the shoulder and he was in the salt. This cat is an exceptional old male with a 17" skull.

Day 13 saw Daran's twin brother, Devan taking his cat on the Ume river out of a beautiful old Natal mahogany tree set against the Zambezi valley hills. Another exceptional cat taken from the Omay.

During the course of the hunt, we took several outstanding trophies including an excellent old hippo bull, waterbuck, kudu, sable and a couple of zebra all in all a lot of fun was had by all.
The most enjoyable part was the fact that every day was spent walking mile after mile, exploring the vast stretches of the concession including some of the more remote ' off the beaten track' areas.
This hunt cemented my professional unbiased views that the Omay is one of the top producing leopard areas in the country with close on 100 % over the last few years on big cats.

I appreciate the dedication, effort and hard work put in by everyone, my tracker Steven did another amazing job, my camp staff were a joy to be around and the game seen on this safari proved without a doubt that my management techniques over the last 7 years has surely paid off.
We continue to put massive energies into anti poaching and wild life conservation including education of the locals.
Very soon, I will be outlining the ongoing developments in the Omay with the formation of the URC ( Ume River Conservancy ) and the bright future this amazing portion of Zimbabwe holds for us as hunters and conservationists.

If any one can help me post photos, I will get them to you ASAP

Many thanks

Martin

Sounds like a great place..........Pictures?

Congratulations to all involved. Great trophies, awesome buffalo!!

Thanks Mike, unfortunately the second buffalo bull was W/L, it was a goodie as well.

Outstanding Mart. Yep you do have plenty of Leopard there in the Omay.


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Beautiful cats, nice old dagga boy and sable as well. Congratulations.

Dunno what you feed your Leopard but those Zim cats must surely be the biggest in Africa.

Absolutely outstanding trophies and the buffalo is indeed a crusty old fellow.

Well done.

Well done Martin. Great trophies.

Great safari and report. Congrats to all involved.

Congratulations you guys. Most hunters need several trips to get their Leopard you two got yours on the first trip outstanding

Fantastic! Congrats to all involved.


Torbjoern

Outstanding!

Very nice, Mart. Looking forward to hunting with Chap next April.

Super hunt - congratulations!

congrats to you guys on a great hunt with very good photos....well done

Outstanding job as usual Mart!

Congratulations to both hunters and PH!!! Outstanding!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Great safari congratulations to the PH and sportmen .

Thanks for sharing Martin

well done to you and your team!