Day 10 still do not have a Leopard on Bait. Not much fresh sign either.
I'll post more of my observations when I return home. I have a few days left, but the Fat Lady is starting to hum.

Good luck !!!

Good luck. Maybe he will show.

Don't give up until you are back on the plane to WI.

Good Luck!!

The best thing you could do right now is hunt as hard as possible, if there is any indication that a leopard is coming to a bait, sit in the blind!! Just my $.02

Keep the faith. Good luck!

The fat lady is singing. We put a fork in it this AM. O leopards on bait in 14 days.

I'm darn sorry the cats didn't cooperate. I hope you still post a report.

quote:

Originally posted by chuckmaxman:
The fat lady is singing. We put a fork in it this AM. O leopards on bait in 14 days.

Its tough...Many of us have been there, you get him next time.

Same thing happened to me while hunting leopard in Namibia.

Same here but tried for 21 days...never again!

Went to Zimbabwe and killed one on day 4.

Sorry to read that...but nothing is sure-fire when a leopard is involved.

Hope to read your feedback on the hunt when you get back and decompress.

Sorry to hear it, hope you found something positive in the experience.

Sorry to hear this.

I have been unsuccessful on two leopard hunts, both traditional baited hunts in Zim and Namibia. There was definite leopard sign in both areas, but the cats in Zim were very savy and the ones in Namibia had too easy a time snatching the baby gemsbuck that were dropping at the time (the same time as your hunt)while I was there. The third time was the charm, but I switched tactics to a Botswana Kalahari tracking hunt using bushmen, dogs and a shotgun. Better luck next time.

Namibia has a great reputation for lots of leopard, as evidence by the recent Atcheson mailing rating it as #1. I think the problem, at least with my hunt, was choosing an outfitter that let you hunt a leopard at no additional cost, as a come on. If I was to look at Namibia again, it would be with an experienced, proven, dedicated leopard specialist. That should make the difference.

We'd love to see a hunting report. Everyone can glean knowledge about hunting areas and circumstances whether if the trips are successful or not, especially with such a challenging trophy as leopard.

samething happened to me in Namibia. was very disapointed. no leopard on bait in a 14 day hunt :-(

same story with me 10 years ago

And me 6 years ago.

Went to Zimbabwe and it took 4 days..

Hunted Leopard in Namibia twice with no results. Second time almost exclusive for Mr. Spots. Never got a cat on bait. Leopard hunting in Nambia for the most part is a lot different than other areas of Southern Africa in my experience. Don't know if it's the terrain, abundance of prey species, cats that have been hunted hard, lack of experience by the PH's on cats or what. Two hunts in Mozambique, one cat in the salt and should have had another, my fault on one of them. All in all I feel there are a lot better places for Leopard than Namibia, even though I really love the place and all the folks I have met there.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry,

I think you hit it on the head.

1)Abundance of small prey to eat
2)Open terrain
3)Persecution by farmers
4)Generally, inexperienced PH who are accustomed to hunting plainsgame only. I have experienced this firsthand!!

My Namibian PH's experience/skill level with Leopard was not even close to the Zim PH's I hunted with in 3 following hunts.

Now, I'm not saying that this applies to EVERY NAMIBIAN PH, but I bet it does cover the majority based on what I've read and heard from people who have hunted Leopard there.

I would say "Hunt Leopard in Namibia at your own risk, and be VERY CAREFUL in choosing your PH".

Just my 2 cents.

I would say "leopardtrack" hit the nail on the head. While I was there, a local farmer poisoned a big male that had killed a calf on his farm. He said "he didn't care if it cost him a trophy fee. He just wanted the leopard dead". Did not see many fresh tracks either.

Another problem! Daytime hunting only. Not going to happen. Maybe in Damaraland but not in farm country.

Also saw the same thing with Leopard while there.

Near Etosha, a "farmer" shot a Lion while my cousin was on his way to his farm. He had $8,000 in his pocket but the guy shot it before he arrived.

Forget Damaraland as well...I hunted there for 21 days without a cat on bait.

I do not have an axe to gring with Namibia...I am just relating my experience/observations.

Awesome plainsgame though!

Here's the thing....in any ranch area of ANY country I imagine a landowner loses more money in plains game trophy fees (depending on what the leopard is eating) or stock value than the $4000 trophy fee paid by the rare successful leopard hunter. Even with substantially higher daily rates, I am not at all sure leopard hunting is a viable income source for ranchers in some of these places compared to other plains game. Imagine the value of a bunch of sable calves lost every now and then or the regular loss of Impala or Springbok at $400-$500 a piece. If you totaled the value of game eaten by a leopard between hunters, you just know it well exceeds the market price of any leopard hunt package advertised here on AR or elsewhere. I think that is the foundation for why leopards are tough to hunt in any country's ranch areas...they probably get informally shot at A LOT!

Two stories to relate there may have not been any spots there, but a leopard hunt conducted anyway.

Secondly, a personal friend was hunting plains game and chui was out and about. Ph says if we see the leopard shoot it flat out dont hesitate. "What happens if I kill it?" WE will bury it!

Mike

Mike,
While in Namibia the PH said the same exact thing regarding Cheetah!!

I have never been to Africa but I had a colleague who worked on a game ranch as a guide. He said the same thing - he promised me a FREE leopard or cheetah that would be burried after taking all the photos I wanted.

A lot of loose tongues that will eventually land someone in deep trouble sooner or later.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
A lot of loose tongues that will eventually land someone in deep trouble sooner or later.

As long as those tongues are being honest, I have no problem with that.

Dean

Guys,

Most of the leopard hunters that come to me after a second or third go around on leoaprd have hunted Namibia at least once. They often relate the same stories as above of many days of hanging and replenishing baits and not even seeing a track let alone get one to hit a bait. They go there because its cheap but it's cheap because the success rate is so low. Two or three cheap hunts are a Hell of lot more expensive than one good quality hunt that nets you a nice Tom.

I have a guy in Namibia that is a good cat man and his success on baited hunts when they used a spotlight was 30%. I can't imagine the success rate now that daylight hunting is all that is allowed.

Mark

I agree with Mark 100%.

I booked my Namibian hunt in 2005 because it was "Cheap" and because my PH assured me (a 1st time African hunter!) that he could get me a cat in 20 days....I don't think I would have had the opportunity if I stayed there for 40!!

I went to Zimbabwe the following year (John Barth Adventure Unlimited) and killed my cat on day #4. Tracks everywhere and every bait was fed on.

Namibia...great plaace for Plainsgame...NEVER AGAIN for Leopard!!

Lesson Learned. Don't do it, there is no "cheap" way to do this!

We run a outfit in Namibia known for hunting leopard and we are not cheap because we are successful. We get 4 tags per season and we take four cats. This year we wounded one and we will hunt the other one in November.
There are good leopard hunters in Namibia BUT there are lots of BAD ones!!!!
Do not write Namibia off just pick a good outfitter and be willing to pay...

Could you explain why you are different from the "Bad Ones?"

My PH in Zimbabwe clients have killed over 100 Leopards...why would someone want to take a chance with you in Namibia after all that is being said here??

I am not being mean spirited with you here, I am sincerely asking you why you are different from the rest.

I think many of us here would like to hear what you have to say.

Wow, you do have the Leopard guys nailed for an answer! At the rate things are going here with the tag system, in a few years you will have a over population of Leopard. One thing I have realized is that dishonesty does not pay in this bussiness. Go for a plains game hunt and if a Leopard turns up take it.Do not go for a Leopard alone.It remains a opportuistic hunt.
If you only want a cat then rather go to Zim. or the other countries that offer them.

Baobab,

I agree with you 100% when you say hunt plainsgame with the Leopard being a lucky bonus...just don't promise a Leopard fully knowing what the reality of taking one is. This is what soured me about my Namibian PH. His plainsgame hunting was awesome...even better than I expected and he worked very hard for me.

Don't bullshit prospective clients and reel them in with promises of a Leopard for plainsgame day rates, knowing that the chance of success is from slim to none.

Namibian PH's...just be honest on what you can produce and let the client make a decision based on your sincere opinion.

Take Care!

I know but the guys use it as a marketing thing. Plains Game is not so intresting if you do not include Leopard. We tell our clients that we have good plains game and a chance of getting a Leopard, that is if we have a tag.The Leopard has a enormous home range and to get him to your place at the right time.
It all goes about getting clients, marketing and clients.

Like the lottery! At least the odds are posted!

With the new system the goverment has in place the leopards have increased considerably as well as Cheetah.
Cheetah is a problem for US hunters as they may not be imported into the States, or is that incorrect. We have never had a problem with both animals for over 40 years now there is a problem.My Father in-law who was born in this area said he shot over 50 Lions in the 30'- 40's
and Leopards he could not remember!Those were the days! With the new system we have to proove we have Leopard and then apply for a tag.When the come to check the cats are at the neighbours!!! You get tags but usually only 2.
These must be applied for in September. They let you know in the next year. Here comes the problem. You have a hunter and a Tom cat appears
but no tag!!! Ranger/farmewr just sees damage and loss of livlihood.. income. What would you do in the farmers situation...?

i understand what you are saying baobab. other members have said that the farmers are taking shots at the leopards when on their property. they make it sound like it is a frequent occurence to see leopards in the daytime. they stated that this is why it is difficult hunting leopard in namibia.my p.h. told me that he has only seen a handful of leopards during daylight hours and it is a rare occurence. iam not a leopard hunter, but it seems to me that they are a very shy creature.