Hunting Leopard & Buff over 40
Zambia
Muchinga Safari's
Owner John du Plooy
Booking agent Hunter's Quest - Wendell Reich
Gracy Travel Airline Tickets
PH ALISTER NORTON

Let me first say I am no writer but I love to read the reports you guy/gals post so I need to do this. I have hunted leopard 4 times without success (45 days) so when Wendell told me this is the place to go shoot one, I took it with a grain of salt. I was cursed when it came to leopard. I decided if I did not get one this time, I would not hunt them again. I have shot 2 buff before so I wanted a big one. I was not going to shoot anything under 40

June 1st- Arrived in camp about noon, had lunch when out and shot 2 impala. Hung 3 baits.

June 2nd- Shot a Puku and hung another 4 baits,checking baits had a hit on the second bait.



Decided to build a blind and sit. Cat came in about 5pm. He would not go up the tree. He sat at the bottom of the bait and jumped up and grabbed the bait and took a bite hand then dropped off. One of the coolest things I have ever seen. He did this for about 45 min. He was average and I never had a good shot. Alister told me don't shoot unless your comfortable. He got his video camera out and we taped this cat. I should have a copy when Alister comes over in Jan. I will try to post. We started talking and the cat just walked away about 20 feet from the bait and sat and watched us. We decided this would be our back up plan. We would keep feeding this cat just in case. We called the truck up and when back to camp.

June 3rd- Checking baits had another hit, track looked good. Built the blind and my stomach problems started. The bait had not been eaten very much so Alister thought he found it late and would be back early. Went back to camp had small lunch took something to stop me up and some Cirpro. Our blind was on 26 yard from the bait. I was shooting a Blaser R93 416, I wanted a slow big bullet. I wanted a big hole so he would bleed, plus I just like shooting the gun. The cat came in just before dark, lit crosshairs REALLY helped. Put it right behind the shoulder. He jumped, I am told but did not land on his feet. Grunting and ran off to the front right of us. We sat quietly listening. after about 15 min. we call the truck up got our shotguns/torches and very slowly went out looking for him in the direction we heard him run. That was great fun! Found him 20 yards stone dead. Double lung. The only bad thing was my leopard hunt was over. The good news I now had my big 5! The party started.



June 4th- Slept in, relaxed went looking for a bushbuck, took a long lunch. Went to the next camp to have dinner with Alister's uncle Abby. Gave Abby a hair cut at his request. Did I say I am not a barber. Abby is a fun guy and we drank some more.



June 5th Went looking for a buff. Within a hour we were in a herd looking them over. First stalk we bumped them just a little.
Big herd maybe 125-150. When around from another angle. We are both looking and this one turns back and looks at me.
I told Alister that looks like a wide bull. He was unimpressed. He was 23 yards from us. I say to Alister again, He looks good to me. He says shoot him if you like. Boom. He goes 50 yards stone dead. Good news he is 41, bad news now my buff hunt is over.
He was not 100% hard boss but it was my call. I am very happy with him.



June 6th- Bushbuck hunting ...



... got one and now trying to get a second buff tag. No luck. Hunt is over on what I wanted to shoot.
Did do some bird shooting great fun.

The Camp- You see the huts. I prefer tents. Call me crazy but I freak out when some critter is crawling on me in my bed. We slept under nets tucked into the mattress. Still had to kill something. This is not a camp I could bring my wife. You must understand I stayed at Bundu in Tan. and I got spoiled. Bundu is a 5 star camp with a 6 star price tag.





PH Alister Norton is a cool as the other side of the pillow. I mean nothing rattles him. I tried adding a little pressure to him by telling him my bad luck on leopard. Never wavered. He understands the PH profession as well as anyone I have hunted with. He sits on the board of directors of PH's in Zambia. A true professional, he is a pleasure to be in camp with. I will hunt with him again I hope someday. If you go, hunt with him, you won't be disappointed. Not saying anything bad about the other PH's

The Trackers



The Luangwa Valley hunting block I was in.- This is not a plains game block, but leopard and lion signs everywhere. Alister told me he was 100% on leopard since Zambia opened back up. It does not surprise me in this area at all. If your snake bit on leopard, like I was, come here.

Johnny and Muchinga- Very organized, Laura his wife runs the office and every thing when smooth even though she just had a baby. Thank goodness the baby looks like her

Hunter's Quest- Wendell is an ugly man, and not the sharpest tool in the box, but don't hold it against him This hunt was every thing he said it would be and more.
I have booked 3 of my big 5 with him and never been disappointed by who I hunted with. He is who I use and trust. In case you have not picked up on it. I love busting his balls.

Congratulations!

Great hunt and a lot of fun to boot. Excellent trophies, especially the leopard.

Thanks for sharing,

Hugh

Great report, super cat!

What a beautiful cat!! Thanks for sharing him

Jeff,

That's a great leopard!! Thanks for the report, I will be hunting with Muchinga next July for lion and leopard.

I am also using the same unappealing, dimwitted booking agent as you!

Lhook7
I am soooo jealous. Are you hunting with Alister?
Thanks for the nice comments.
I knew this would be fun for Wendell

Congratulations on a great hunt. I have also hunted with Alister and found him to be an excellent PH. My wife was with me in both the Muchinga camp and at Lokisale. She loved them both.

quote:

Originally posted by jeff h:

'nuff said.

Wendel your just jealous of my hair styling ability. Don't worry I can give you a hair cut when i see you in Dallas just before the show

Jeff H,

"The good news I now had my big 5! The party started."

Congratulations! Hope we will be getting to see some of your previous hunt photos.

Congrats.

That is a great leopard.

Jeff, congrats on a great time and a super cat... Good shooting...

Mike

Good to hear this!

Great Hunt!

I will be joining Alister in October to get a Lion.

Thanks for sharing!

Nice stuff jeff h!

Congrats on finally getting your cat in the salt and sealing the deal on the Big Five.

jeff,

Congrats on a great hunt. The Luangwa is one of my favorite places in Africa and Du Plooy is a class act all the way.

Mark

Great animals! Congrats.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jeff h:
Lhook7
I am soooo jealous. Are you hunting with Alister?
[QUOTE]

I am either hunting with Alister or Johnny, I'm not sure which one at this point.

Did you see any lions?

We saw lots of tracks. Abby in the other camp almost ran over one driving in the tall grass he told us Big Black Mane. The locals were complaining the lions were coming into the village every night.

Beautiful trophies and great report - congrats!

Super cat! Congrats, seems almost too easy in the Luangwa Valley... the only place I've ever had to shoo leopards off of hyena baits! Glad you had a great hunt. Muchinga and the Duplooys, Alister and Terry are great folks and a well-run outfit.

thanks guys for all the nice comments. I will have to see if I can find some old pic's

Congrats on a great hunt!

I like everything about that CAT...

And its beautiful color especially....

Nice TROPHIES!!!

Jeff,

Just to follow up, I just got word that Alister will be my PH.

Your in very good hands! Fun guy to share camp with. You lucked up!

Congratulations!! Great photos and report. Let's have more.

Regards, D. Nelson

Beautiful, big leopard! Congratulations!

What a great tom leopard! Congrats on the Big Five!