11 August 2017, 18:49
Phillip SmytheLeopard # 3 - Ivory Trail Safaris
I am posting this on behalf of Jeff - With photo bucket doing strange things I am using another image hosting site, so hopefully it works.Thanks Jeff for a great safari - we got a toad!
Booking Agent: None, but booked through Ivory Trails Safari, Phillip Smythe
Operators Zambezi Hunters and Ivory Trail Safaris
Clients: me, my brother and nephew
Hunting: Leopard, plains game
Location Save Valley, Sango
PH - Phillip Smythe, aka (the Ginger) You are lucky I left that in there Jeff
Camera man: Mike Amos, aka (Nat Geo)
Guns: 300 ultra-Christenson Arms, 416 Blazer lite recital scope (leopard gun), Merkel 500 double (just for fun)
Airline: Delta Business Class
Travel agent: Gracy Travel
Guys, I think this was my 18th trip to Africa maybe around 35 international hunting trips. I booked this trip about 3 years ago, since they only get 4 leopards a year, and they do shoot some very good ones here. I told Phil I was only shooting a big one. If we did not get a big one I would go home empty, and be happy. I have taken 3 leopard so he understood this.
Thanks to Larry Shores, and Will Parks for phone calls and emails. Thanks to Ahmed Sultan for on the ground report just before I arrived.
Thanks to Thierry Labat for some scouting reports as well.
This would be my Brother and Nephews first trip to Africa. I was very excited for them as the first safari is always one you never forget.
Along the way my brother and nephew shot their first African trophies... as well as getting involved in the leopard baiting, particularly the spreading of scent.
First hiccup was before we left the US when Delta tells me they don’t take any luggage over 70 pounds to Joe-burg, not just guns. I must go back to the car take out my fun gun, 500 double. Now I have 500 ammo already in checked bag. They tell me this is a new policy
Very, nice tented camp, very nice. Wonderful camp manager’s, great food, attention to detail was over the top.
First day hanging 5 baits that were waiting on us. Shot a couple more Impala last head count they had over 9000 so bait was very easy.
Had hits the next day, females and one male not a big track.
3 day two males hit bait with trail cameras and it was the famous or infamous in you happen to be a PH that hunts Sango “CO”.
He has a C and O in rosettes easy to see on cam pics. CO is a very smart cat that only hits bait once never to return. I think he will die of old age. Of course we sat for him anyway and it was a waste of time.
Day 4 had another big cat hit bait near Sango river sat but wind was swirling he never came, we heard him but never to the bait.
Was asked to shoot a buff cow for rations for the National Park scouts, fun stalk, got pretty close they busted us but did not out run the 416.
The days run into each other but shot black black giraffe. Old and sick so I tell my wife. The old part was correct.
Decided to we would take a chance and sit on cold bait as we had some more around where we thought CO would be walking. Nothing…
Day 9, June 30th, I think we got a proper hit on the river bait the night before. Move the blind back in very thick stuff. We had seen the cat on bait he was Johnny named for a thick PH that used to hunt that area. He had a J in the rosettes. Again easy to see in cam pics.
The Tree was quartering toward us, not really a good place to put the blind but we had little choice. So we sit.
About 6:45 he comes in. I get the touch to get on the gun. I have him but Phil needs to see the J and then the balls. I am on the gun about 5 min. I am thinking he will never see his balls at this angle. Phil whispers “99% I see the J rosette, just got to see the balls” Maybe 30 seconds later
“I see the balls, shoot him when you have a good shot” took about 5 seconds… BOOM
He falls dead out of the tree, shot him on the point of the shoulder. We hear the death bellow, wait about 5 more min. Dead.
Call in the truck.
I have been blessed to live large a few times in my life. That night with my brother and nephew was in the top 3. We had a grand time around the fire that night. Having two of my favorite people there made it so special.
Want to single out a few things. Phil Smythe PH is a good one. We have fun together, and after all it needs to be fun. Proud to call him my friend.
Sango is a special place. I would love to go back one day, but it’s not cheap. Sango is the picture of conservation, they were doing a game capture to give, animals for free, to a national park in Moz. that had been depleted. They have 40 game rangers with two new tracking dogs. They are hammering to poachers. It’s a privilege to hunt in Sango.
Zambezi Hunters and Sango Staff did a great job. Jannie and Cathy the camp managers were wonderful people who made my trip special, from the elephant shit cake for Mike’s birthday to the great cake for me and my brother.
Easy to say everything was great when you shoot a toad but even if I had not I would have zero complaints. My brother and nephew saw all the big 5 alive on their very first safari. When have you heard of that in a hunting area? I have ruined them J
