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- Hunted
- South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia
Appreciate the information so far. Any recommendations on outfitters in these areas?
HH
HH
Zimbabwe only just exceeds South Africa for the most top 100 Gold standard record book Leopard.
However, it is important to interpret the data correctly, statistically, Zimbabwe harvests more than double the number of leopards than ZA thereby sliding the scale in that destination's favor.
Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia all feature, but Tanzania exceeds the entries of those 3 countries combined.
Of late, Mozambique has been adding some impressive skulls to the list, however not yet grabbing major accolades. That said, the 16" SCI-measured skull is quite common with numerous topping 17"each year.
Bear in mind that there are many factors to determining the best leopard destination for each individual hunter aside from record trophy size, like other game species in the area, success rate, and Guide hunter competency.
For instance, Namibia has less than a 30% success rate per annum on leopard hunts, while Niassa in Mozambique boats higher than 70%.
The Southern regions of Zimbabwe typically produce larger cats than the Zambezi valley, yet hunting the expansive wilds of Northern Zimbabwe is a classic Safari generally not comparable with the mixed cattle/game ranching regions of the Southern lands.
Northern regions of South Africa present a genuine opportunity at a massive cat, however, permit availability and restricted land size currently pose significant challenges.
Method also counts. A study done by Mark Butcher in Zimbabwe over several seasons revealed that Leopard hunted over hounds averaged 1" larger than those hunted over bait during the same period. However, a broader data set is required to reach conclusive results.
So if your only requirement is chasing a brute of a cat, throw the dice to land somewhere near the Limpopo river...
But us crackers can not reasonably hunt RSA so that’s no even in the conversation. I do believe that your skill and hounds can yield a super cat.Zimbabwe only just exceeds South Africa for the most top 100 Gold standard record book Leopard.
However, it is important to interpret the data correctly, statistically, Zimbabwe harvests more than double the number of leopards than ZA thereby sliding the scale in that destination's favor.
Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia all feature, but Tanzania exceeds the entries of those 3 countries combined.
Of late, Mozambique has been adding some impressive skulls to the list, however not yet grabbing major accolades. That said, the 16" SCI-measured skull is quite common with numerous topping 17"each year.
Bear in mind that there are many factors to determining the best leopard destination for each individual hunter aside from record trophy size, like other game species in the area, success rate, and Guide hunter competency.
For instance, Namibia has less than a 30% success rate per annum on leopard hunts, while Niassa in Mozambique boats higher than 70%.
The Southern regions of Zimbabwe typically produce larger cats than the Zambezi valley, yet hunting the expansive wilds of Northern Zimbabwe is a classic Safari generally not comparable with the mixed cattle/game ranching regions of the Southern lands.
Northern regions of South Africa present a genuine opportunity at a massive cat, however, permit availability and restricted land size currently pose significant challenges.
Method also counts. A study done by Mark Butcher in Zimbabwe over several seasons revealed that Leopard hunted over hounds averaged 1" larger than those hunted over bait during the same period. However, a broader data set is required to reach conclusive results.
So if your only requirement is chasing a brute of a cat, throw the dice to land somewhere near the Limpopo river...
It is very geographical and varies depending on the environment.I believe it is strictly depending on their diet and not a geographical thing.
Zimbabwe only just exceeds South Africa for the most top 100 Gold standard record book Leopard.
However, it is important to interpret the data correctly, statistically, Zimbabwe harvests more than double the number of leopards than ZA thereby sliding the scale in that destination's favor.
Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia all feature, but Tanzania exceeds the entries of those 3 countries combined.
Of late, Mozambique has been adding some impressive skulls to the list, however not yet grabbing major accolades. That said, the 16" SCI-measured skull is quite common with numerous topping 17"each year.
Bear in mind that there are many factors to determining the best leopard destination for each individual hunter aside from record trophy size, like other game species in the area, success rate, and Guide hunter competency.
For instance, Namibia has less than a 30% success rate per annum on leopard hunts, while Niassa in Mozambique boats higher than 70%.
The Southern regions of Zimbabwe typically produce larger cats than the Zambezi valley, yet hunting the expansive wilds of Northern Zimbabwe is a classic Safari generally not comparable with the mixed cattle/game ranching regions of the Southern lands.
Northern regions of South Africa present a genuine opportunity at a massive cat, however, permit availability and restricted land size currently pose significant challenges.
Method also counts. A study done by Mark Butcher in Zimbabwe over several seasons revealed that Leopard hunted over hounds averaged 1" larger than those hunted over bait during the same period. However, a broader data set is required to reach conclusive results.
So if your only requirement is chasing a brute of a cat, throw the dice to land somewhere near the Limpopo river...
Certainly also some big leopards in northern KZN and Mpumalanga.There are monsters south of the Limpopo. Most if not all of those Kruger and APNR super cats that develop a taste for prime veal are giants.
Certainly also some big leopards in northern KZN and Mpumalanga.
Top 100 SCI records show only 3 from KZN, versus 19 from Limpopo/N West.
We know from published surveys that Limpopo & N West constitute the majority of occupied leopard habitat in ZA, so the data favors the Northern provinces by volume.
Impala and Kudu make up the predominant prey across all those provinces, therefore leopard size is very similar.
I believe it is strictly depending on their diet and not a geographical thing.
Cape leopard in the coastal Eastern and Western Cape mountains are generally smaller. They’ve adapted to survive in their environment. Every now and again this theory is tested however. There was a leopard killed with dogs in the Grahamstown area a couple of years ago that was over 100kg, some big ones have been caught in live traps over the years that exceed 80kg.Absolutely not true. Strictly genetics which equates population distribution. The average Cape Leopard male weighs 80 lbs and has ample steenbuck, cape grysbuck, grey duiker and many other sources of ca
Cape leopard, especially those in the coastal m
Cape leopard in the coastal Eastern and Western Cape mountains are generally smaller. They’ve adapted to survive in their environment. Every now and again this theory is tested however. There was a leopard killed with dogs in the Grahamstown area a couple of years ago that was over 100kg, some big ones have been caught in live traps over the years that exceed 80kg.
Agree with Dewald, area and genetics, not diet indicates size. Go and have a look at lions in Kalarahi vs rest of Africa, Kudu in Eastern Cape vs rest of Africa etc. I have seen some leopards kept in captivity that gets a lot of meat, they are not that big. In the Eastern/Western Cape for some odd reason certain animals are smaller than elsewhere.Absolutely not true. Strictly genetics which equates population distribution. The average Cape Leopard male weighs 80 lbs and has ample steenbuck, cape grysbuck, grey duiker and many other sources of protein.
Reaching out to the community on where the largest Leopards are found and outfitter recommendations. My biggest to date is 175 pounder out of Namibia that was raiding cattle ranches. I was happy with that setup but it’s been 8 years and looking for current info.
View attachment 571081
HH
Vaughan Whitehead Wilson with one of the many Matopas / Mangwe area big leopards. In my visits to the area he had many cats of this quality on film and hitting baits.
Vaughan does traditional blind hunting for leopard and also has a large kennel for hunting them with hounds.
View attachment 571610