leopard hunt

stinkystomper · Jun 20, 2012

I will be flying out for zimbabwe on wednesday of next week. The outfitter I am hunting with prebaited with one impala to try and sneak a peek of a leopard they have been seeing 9.5cm tracks from. This one impala bait was hit by 3 different cats in one 24hr period and was completely consumed. The tom leaving the 9.5cm track was caught briefly on camera. I figured maybe you guys would enjoy some pics so here they are. I know its not the best pic but I would be more than happy enough to stick this fat slob with my bow. The thing I like most about this picture is any way you slice it his ears are definitely small on his head and thats always a good sign. Im definitely ready to go.

heres another pic of him

and here's a good picture of a female that came in early the next morning.

As you can see the large male had taken quite a bit of the impala out and done his best to take it off the tree.

I'm not sure about why they chose the spot they did to hang that impala but that big boy did take the bait so I'm gonna just be glad there's a decent tom in there.

The excitements building.

stinkystomper · Jun 20, 2012

I think I may have figured it out. That log appears to be in a dry river bed and on other forums I regularly read that leopards use dry river beds to travel in so maybe that's the reason for the placement???? any thoughts?

billc · Jun 20, 2012

Well looks like you maybe having some good luck on this up coming hunt.Hope all goes well and the big guy hits your baits during the day.Have a fun trip and be safe.

llamapacker · Jun 21, 2012

Looks like a nice leopard. Good luck.

Dry riverbeds are used for a variety of reasons. As mentioned, cats tend to travel the drainages so find the bait easily. Air currents also tend to disperse the bait smell both up and down valley as thermals change. Tracks are also quite visible and aid in determining, size, sex, etc. Also, a blind can typically be set up on a hillside overlooking the dry streambed, keeping your scent out of the immediate area and providing good shot opportunities.
I've shot two leopards over bait in dry stream beds, and one in a completely different setting. There aren't convenient dry stream beds everywhere, but I would guess that 15 out of every 20 baits I've hunted have been in the stream beds.

Bill

troutcarver · Jun 21, 2012

WOW this has really gotta get your blood a pumping. I'm sure the anticipation is overwhelming. It would be for me. Cant wait to hear about your upcoming adventure. Keep us posted.

Blank · Jun 21, 2012

Best of luck on the hunt. Anticipation makes the taste of success that much sweeter. Looks like a good sized male; mine had a 10.5 cm track and weighed in at 70 kg. 16 12/16" skull and was a pig.

We baited in river beds, dry washes, and in any little coulee that looked like a reliable travel corridor in my Namibia trip in 2007. On the 2009 Zimbabwe trip, I actually walked up above a sleeping leopard in a sandy riverbed and watched him for a while.

May your big tom look as good as this one. Fat head and a bull neck!

stinkystomper · Jun 21, 2012

wow what a pig. was that cat killed with sumsare? thats a dream cat for sure. im hoping i can get one half that size and i would be happy

littlejoe · Jun 21, 2012

Stinky, good luck and god bless. Travel safe and shoot straight. We need to chat about this hunt and Botswana 13 when get back.

woodruffhunter · Jun 22, 2012

Best of luck Tony!

And... Leave your bow at home!

stinkystomper · Jun 23, 2012

sorry woody. i really want a monster leopard with a bow. i bought a bow tech insanity cxl and have my 500 grain arrows shooting tigh groups at 60 yds already and over 300fps. im kinda hooked. the buffalo and croc will be shot with a gun but im gonna try for the rest with my bow. wish me luck buddy.

woodruffhunter · Jun 23, 2012

>sorry woody. i really want a
>monster leopard with a bow.
>i bought a bow tech
>insanity cxl and have my
>500 grain arrows shooting tigh
>groups at 60 yds already
>and over 300fps. im kinda
>hooked. the buffalo and croc
>will be shot with a
>gun but im gonna try
>for the rest with my
>bow. wish me luck buddy.
>

Well, I truly hope you have a great time down there. I sure hope you come back
with some great trophies!
I will just sit here at home and feel sorry for myself while you are out having fun!
Take a lot of pics.
Be safe and have a great hunt!

Blank · Jun 23, 2012

Have an awesome time and best of luck. Looking for a full report on your return. Be safe out there.

never_catch · Jun 28, 2012

Tony, best of luck over there!! I'm looking forward to seeing all the pics and hearing about your trip!! Give me a call when you get back in the states and let me know how you did

~Z~

HuntingforAdventure · Jul 2, 2012

Tony,

Can't wait to hear how things are going! Hope you've already got one in the salt.

stinkystomper · Jul 28, 2012

we chased the cat i posted above for a week when i finally gave up on him. we would chase him over 8 miles per day. we nicknamed him bolt and decided to chase another smaller cat. on july 4th i was charged by a male we had pushed into a cave. i shot my tom at 15 yards. he was 160lbs with a 16 1/2" skull. on july 19th after chasing bolt another 2 weeks for my wife she finally gave up and put the dogs on a smaller track as well. her cat helded up in a cave as well. on final approach her cat jumped vertically through a 12ft deep crack in order to get on top of the rock with us. next thing i knew is that he was between 5 and 7 feet in front of me and leaped for me. my wife thankfully put her one shot through his brisket mid air and saved my life. her tom was heavier than mine but had a much smaller head and was much younger. my wifes tom had razor sharp claws whereas mine had only shredded claws. the outfitter said mine lived and hunted in rocks which meant he probably lived on rock hyrax which may have explained his body. my wifes leopard on the other hand was killed in the cattle areas and had obviously been feeding on cattle most likely resulting in his body size. call me dumb but i found that useless fact very interesting. once i get to a computer i will pist pics here.

kilbuc · Jul 28, 2012

Stink...congrats, your 2nd choice tom is a stud, something many cat hunters never get to see let alone kill.

I bet shooting a cat out of the air was a rush!! Congrats to the wife.

Just a suggestion, but I would keep the spouse well fed and satisfied or you may end up dead....LOL.

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"

Blank · Jul 28, 2012

Congrats two times over! Great to hear the successful report. Your's sounds like a real pumpkin head, and will make an awesome mount. Can't wait for pics and a complete report.

stinkystomper · Jul 29, 2012

Here's a pic of my wife with my cat.

eldorado · Jul 29, 2012

Great looking tom. The neck and shoulders on that cat are huge. Congrats on a beautiful trophy.

Eldorado

pheasantman · Aug 3, 2012

Sounds like you had a good leopard hunt with dogs. I enjoy hunting bears and mountain lions with dogs. Did the leopard bait hunt unsuccessfully. Do you mind telling us who did you hunt with?