Going to Zimbabwe

[Graham Hunter]

They can find a better Rep. I know I would.

 

[Woodcarver]

Well this has been an interesting read.

Notes taken....

 

[ScottHunter]

Same here. What a great rep there…jumping down the throats of very experienced potential clients who are simply looking out for each other and basically advising nothing more than to ask more questions for the purposes of planning.
A defensive ass isn’t who I’d hunt with…nor would I have them as an employee.

Plus he’s been there a whole 3 years. Many of you have socks that have spent more time in Africa.

 

[ScottHunter]

I don't need you're approval or respect I've proven my integrity before most of you were born. I'm retired have absolutely no regard of what you think or your miniscule experience. I've sold hundreds of hunts and stood behind every one of them 100% and given flat rate pricing. My family was buying sugar cane and tobacco in Rhodesia in the 60's onward. Further my father Thad Scott owned Daniel Fraser double rifles and was one of the largest collectable gun dealers on the planet we've been in Southern Africa for decades and see many changes. The worst change is the armchair quarterback BS seen online@ over 30 years I've provided qualify flat rate hunts to hundreds if you want a great hunt and guaranteed professionalism call safari connection anytime otherwise I really don't care. References by the dozens available

 

[ScottHunter]

They can find a better Rep. I know I would.

Really eff off Graham I'm tired of assholes like you judging anyone you running a business in Zim then get back with me if you think I'm an ass you are right. I apologize for GIVING SCI a hunt I'll punt them to you next time for a donation ass

 

[K-man]

You know Scott, I really dont care how much you know or what you've done before. Your experience may be valuable but as long as you react this way you are jeopardizing any possibility of being taken seriously on this forum. Take a giant chill pill, clean up your language and tone and you will be welcomed. Or not, your choice.

 

[Randy F]

I don't need you're approval or respect I've proven my integrity before most of you were born. I'm retired have absolutely no regard of what you think or your miniscule experience. I've sold hundreds of hunts and stood behind every one of them 100% and given flat rate pricing. My family was buying sugar cane and tobacco in Rhodesia in the 60's onward. Further my father Thad Scott owned Daniel Fraser double rifles and was one of the largest collectable gun dealers on the planet we've been in Southern Africa for decades and see many changes. The worst change is the armchair quarterback BS seen online@ over 30 years I've provided qualify flat rate hunts to hundreds if you want a great hunt and guaranteed professionalism call safari connection anytime otherwise I really don't care. References by the dozens available

If you don’t care what anyone thinks then why the tirade?

Look, the advice given was with the intention of helping a fellow hunter sort out facts before committing to anything. Nobody was bashing anyone, just a recommendation to use caution. You may have all the experience you say, fine, but you’re not alone in that regard. If you had spent any real time checking out this site, read actual reports, articles, and conversations instead of just gravitating to what you’re offended by, you would recognize that…and could actually be an asset to the site.
What you did here is exactly what the antis are watching for…disagreements within. You could have stated your case without all the huffing. It’s sounds like you’re old enough to know that.

If you would like to contribute useful knowledge, welcome aboard. If you’re just interested in growling because you think you’re old enough and experienced enough to know all then we’re all better off saying farewell.

Good day.

 

[rookhawk]

This isn’t the only safari forum on the internet, although it is the friendliest and I can’t imagine not buying anyone on this forum a beer in person whether we bicker or not occasionally. However, you did pop on being quite hostile and aggressive. Maybe just a bad day, not a long track record of this sort of style is what I assumed? We all have bad days.

But a cursory look on “the other safari site” shows tirades by you against AH and its founder because this site has rules, recognizes paid advertisers, and enforced policies. So you ripped on this site, its members, and the audacity you didn’t get a “Free lunch” selling your wares here In the past, ironically posting the rant about this site on “the other site”.

While I don’t have the professional experience you do, the smooth PR move could have been a simple statement to calm nerves and misunderstandings: “We have great areas with lots of leopards. If a customer wants to bolt on a leopard to their hunt, we can surely add it to the permit before he arrives and make a plan for success on the ground.” But instead it went into attacks and some pretty absurd claims that are illogical like popping a leopard if one happens by the truck…that story doesn’t jive with common sense.

Not a great reintroduction to this site after an eight year hiatus and a new username. You’d think you’d want to tread lightly, make new friends, and get some free clandestine advertising.

At any rate, whether you’re an ornery curmudgeon or not, thanks for supporting SCI and donating a hunt to further conservation causes.

 

[Nhoro]

Unless I'm mistaken this caliber is legal on Leopard in Zimbabwe. I know that this cat is thin skinned and a big male will weigh around 200 pounds so it should be plenty of gun. please give me your opinion on this. I'm really partial to Barnes ammunition and have taken Cape Buffalo and many types of plains game with it. Now, I have read that when using a 300 Win Mag on leopard that 150 or 165 Gr. bullets should be used because of the cat not really being that big and having a thin hide. I was thinking 180 Gr. What are your thought's on using Barnes in say 165 Gr. on Leopard? What other brands and bullets should I look at?

Thank you all, Robert

Leopard is in Third Schedule Part C Category and anything from a 270 Win to 30-06 to 300 win mag is legal. The rifle must fire a .275 " projectile with 2213ftlbs.

I think a 300 win mag is a good caliber for leopard if you shoot it accurately. You need a quick expanding soft so maybe Barnes is not the best. A-Frames seem to open quick while also holding together really well. Scirocco are meant to be a little softer and Woodleigh also have a reputation for opening well. You don't want a hard bullet that is slow to open- you quite correctly point out they are relatively small animals and the shock of a fast, quick opening bullet can be very effective on the cats. at the same time I am not a fan of light bullets, the 180 or 220 gr in a quick opening bullet is best and hit it in the right place.

 

[Philip Glass]

I agree with point you are trying to make to pre plan, but this isn’t accurate from my experience with late season hunts. I’ve been offered hippo/croc opportunities during hunt on every hunt they’ve been present in the area. Buffalo/elephant have still still on quota in area or adjacent areas. I was actually offered a problem lion hunt in Namibia but unfortunately had to turn it down (they found a hunter on short notice who was successful). I have been offered leopard too, but only in what I’d consider marginal areas, which was why they were still on quota. These things do happen.

certainly there is leftover quota at times I some places. I just hope others don’t think this is the norm and wind up very disappointed.
Best of luck.

 

[Philip Glass]

But @375Fox you must remember a few differences today:

1.) There isn’t “left over“ quota in February, this is brand new quota for the whole of 2022. Leftover quota exists at Halloween if at all.

2.) The animal must not only be on quota, it has to be on your hunting permit. The PH isn’t likely to put every living creature on your hunting permit Up at the Parks office On speculation you might shoot one of the things.

3.) IF you do put something on your permit at parks and start your hunt, the Parks office will demand a Ranger come with you at $70 a day before you can begin your hunts. This is required for elephant and leopard. You aren’t going to ride around with a park ranger while contemplating your plains game hunt. You can’t kill the leopard that walks by if you dont have that ranger and dont have the leopard on your permit already…so seeing a shootable leopard isn’t a sufficient condition to kill a leopard.

Very true points here. I am glad you, @rookhawk , and others are clearly debunking this idea of “opportunity leopard hunting”. It’s just not possible or legal. Shooting a female is a $20,000 fine! This whole thread has alarm bells going off for me.
Philip

 

[WAB]

Obviously, you do not know the Dande area. In a given day one could be hunting both the Parks and communal areas. Hence, the need for both a ranger and a scout.

This coming August I will be hunting at Nyakasanga, no communal areas so just a ranger at $50 a day while looking for elephant.

Very interesting discussion. I hunted Dande in 2019 with CMS. We only had a Ranger who we picked up at their camp. I wonder if the rules have changed?

 

[Jörg Krüger]

Very true points here. I am glad you, @rookhawk , and others are clearly debunking this idea of “opportunity leopard hunting”. It’s just not possible or legal. Shooting a female is a $20,000 fine! This whole thread has alarm bells going off for me.
Philip

I agree. Member since 2015 with only 12 post had me baffled a bit in the beginning. And then suddenly a ranting and raving new "member" comes on the scene. I never saw any negativity in any of our Forum members replies, but it was implied there is. I only saw good advice of many experienced Forum members.

 

[Tanks]

Very interesting discussion. I hunted Dande in 2019 with CMS. We only had a Ranger who we picked up at their camp. I wonder if the rules have changed?

I think the hunt areas expanded to communal areas, with their own quotas, as well. Hence, the need for the scout. Also, communal areas themselves have expanded.

I took this picture of an area that was a forest that was teeming with wildlife 5 years ago. Now, it is just a very large field as far as the eyes can see. Proves that human encroachment is a bigger threat to wildlife than anything else. Due to economic conditions, now people are going back to villages (or forming new ones) and leaving the cities.

 

[WAB]

I think the hunt areas expanded to communal areas, with their own quotas, as well. Hence, the need for the scout. Also, communal areas themselves have expanded.

I took this picture of an area that was a forest that was teeming with wildlife 5 years ago. Now, it is just a very large field as far as the eyes can see. Proves that human encroachment is a bigger threat to wildlife than anything else. Due to economic conditions, now people are going back to villages (or forming new ones) and leaving the cities.

View attachment 453240

Interesting, we hunted the communal areas as well with no scout. Something has obviously changed.

It’s a real shame to see the loss of habitat in one of the truly great hunting areas left in Africa.

 

[Tanks]

Interesting, we hunted the communal areas as well with no scout. Something has obviously changed.

...

At that time did the communal areas have their own quotas separate from the Parks? Maybe that was the difference. I know CMS would not include them unnecessarily as he gets an equal share in the meat that is distributed to the trackers and ranger. He also worked alongside other guys in necessary chores with the gut bucket etc.. Ranger was the only one armed though, with the AK.

 

[WAB]

At that time did the communal areas have their own quotas separate from the Parks? Maybe that was the difference. I know CMS would not include them unnecessarily as he gets an equal share in the meat that is distributed to the trackers and ranger. He also worked alongside other guys in necessary chores with the gut bucket etc.. Ranger was the only one armed though, with the AK.

I believe they did as we had to keep track of where game was harvested.

 

[Philip Glass]

Very interesting discussion. I hunted Dande in 2019 with CMS. We only had a Ranger who we picked up at their camp. I wonder if the rules have changed?

Lion and elephant will require a local and a national parks game scout to be on the hunt. I am not sure about other hunts.

 

[Tanks]

Lion and elephant will require a local and a national parks game scout to be on the hunt. I am not sure about other hunts.

That makes sense then, I was hunting an elephant among others.

 

[WAB]

That makes sense then, I was hunting an elephant among others.

That makes sense. We were hunting buffalo.