Got back from Namibia a couple of weeks ago. Hunted with Karl Stumpfe of Ndumo Hunting Safaris. Thank you to the AR members who recommended Karl.

My primary focus this hunt was a leopard. My previous attempt was with bait, unsuccessful and boring. This trip was 10 days with dogs, plus 5 for other animals.

The leopard was hunted east of Gochas in the Kalahari at the border with Botswana. The first morning we split the hunting and dog crews to look for tracks. We found where the cat came under the border fence. Shortly we got a radio call from the dog crew, they had tracks a few kilometers in. We headed in their direction post haste. By the time we caught up, the dogs had the leopard fighting on the ground. The sticks were set about 20 yards away. I could see the dogs in a circle surrounding the leopard, but no cat due to the 2 foot grass. The next thing I was aware of was the damn cat was charging. The rest is just a blur, relying on automatic reflexes. It appeared to me that the cat was moving in slow motion. I know I was off the sticks. I focused on his head, pointed the rifle and shot at 5 yards. Within a milisecond Karl shot. I was aware of the cat collapsing at the shot. He came to rest at 2 yards. My shot hit him between the eyes, causing him to fall below Karl's shot which hit in the back. The cat weighed 155 lbs., 7'2" long, 16 3/16" skull.
I shot a 30-06 with 180 gr. Partitions, Karl shot a 450 Rigby.

We moved to a nice hunting lodge about 12 miles from Windhoek. From that location the following animals were shot:
Hartmans zebra, warthog, brown hyena, gemsbok, jackel, baboon, steinbok, blesbok and kudu.

An overnight side trip for a hartebeest.

Another side trip to Gotja, about 70 km. south of Etosha for a dik-dik.

I think I'm going to have quite a taxidermy bill.

It seems many of us have to learn by our mistakes, myself included. I wounded and lost a blue wildebeest. Later the same day I flat missed a black wildebeest. I had a target set up and fired 2 shots from a rest. Both bullets were about 8" high. I shot Karl's 8X68 and hit the target. Later testing showed the scope shifting zero when jarred perpendicular to its long axis. I had a spare scope, but was not prepared to switch in the field, and it was the last hunting day. I mentioned that this was the third failure of this type I had seen in 40 years. Karl replied that he had seen many. The rifle in the rack and african roads is a potential scope killer. I will never hunt again without having a collimator with me. I will check the zero twice dailey. Cheap insurance.

Oned again thanks to the AR members who directed me to Karl. Add my name to the long list of satisfied clients. I hope to hunt with him again.

Dave

Congrats on a great hunt Dave. Karl is quite the PH.
Cheers,
David

An exciting hunt. Congratulations!

Almost too exciting! When we eased up towards the tree that mine was in the first time, he came out and there were about six really nervous guys ready for him. Luckily, it went the other way.

Congratulations on the memory of a life time, and a tremendous leopard.

Some of Dave's photos:

His first day leopard


brown hyena


jackal


bait oryx


Hartmann zebra


baboon & Godfried with Dave


steenbok


kudu


hartebeest


Damara dik-dik


blesbok

quote:

We moved to a nice hunting lodge about 12 miles from Windhoek. From that location the following animals were shot:
Hartmans zebra, warthog, brown hyena, gemsbok, jackel, baboon, steinbok, blesbok and kudu.

Very good!

You have to tell the story of the Brown Hyena. That is a rare trophy indeed. I have only seen one in Botswana once.

Yes, I am also low on brown hyenas.

Wow! congrats beautiful cat with a great story. I am also interested in the heyena. Please do tell the story. Is the brown heyena a cites animal? Is the brown heyena the same as an arddwolf? I would love the opportunity at one of those ugly beasts in Namibia 8 wks from now...

Congrats again

great story and pictures

Congratulations Dave!
What a thrilling experience! Nice cat with an exceptionally big head.

Geoff

Very, very nice. What an exciting leopard hunt.

Wow...

That's a Hunt!

Great looking cat and a bit too close for my preference but good shooting on both of you

Great looking trophies...ALL of them

You had an AWESOME PH there...good on you!

Great job Karl

Congratulations on your fantasic leopard, but I thought it was very illegal to shoot a brown hyena. I know they were off limits two years ago when I was in Botswana. Has the law changed?

Not much to say on the hyena. It was 20 yards away and I shot it. I was able to obtain an export permit.

Dave

Good deal Dave, very nice animals. That leopard must have really puckered you up on the first day!


Karl, if that's a bait Oryx you just set high expecations for me next month.

Congrats on a great hunt and some great pictures. Next time I too will use dogs.

Excellent hunt and trophies. Congrats on a great cat!

Brown hyena can only be hunted with a special permit, after the client has motivated for it. One of the areas we hunt, had a problem brownie, and we applied for said permit. We saw the tracks in the road, early one morning, and found it about 2km furter on, and Dave shot it form approx. 20 yards.

Great job Dave! I'll pull your ear a little next time I see you at Kenmore! Great report.
Pegleg

quote:

Originally posted by nopride2:
Not much to say on the hyena. It was 20 yards away and I shot it. I was able to obtain an export permit.

Dave

Can you import them into the US now? I was told in 2004 that you could not. Great trophies!!

Mike

Congrats on a nice cat. I also was under the impression you could not import the brown hyena. Learn something new every day! Unique trophy.