MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambique Leopard Hunt - A Bust, But...

[Franco]

Gav, thanks for posting that video, and adding your professional perspective. As we discussed in camp, I would like to confirm to anyone reading this thread; I have no doubt had there been a leopard present you and your dogs would have found it.

I do not know the exact size of the area we hunted but I do know our lack of success was not due to a lack of trying, there simply wasn't any leopard food and as a consequence - no leopard.

Your offer to return at no charge speaks to your integrity and commitment to your clients, and is greatly appreciated. For those of you reading this, Gav made this offer when it became obvious conditions were just not favorable.

The croc portion of my hunt speaks to Gav's commitment to his client's success. The first croc was simply taking advantage of an opportunity and making the shot. The second croc was altogether different, it still required making the shot, but a whole lot more went into making it happen, and it required the PH to trust his client could make that shot with an open sight double.

Let's hope the leopard situation and my current attitude about hunting them both improve.

Thanks again

 

[Franco]

Sometimes you have to make lemonade. Really well done on the crocs.

Thanks Red Leg. I'd say we squeezed as hard as we could.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Great crocs!! Congrats. Great shooting

So was the lack of bait and prey animals due to poaching? Lack of poaching control measures ?

Who has that concession ? So others can steer clear.

 

[Franco]

Great crocs!! Congrats. Great shooting

So was the lack of bait and prey animals due to poaching? Lack of poaching control measures ?

Who has that concession ? So others can steer clear.

Thanks.

I do not know the answer to that question. We did see evidence of poachers in spite of anti-poaching patrols. There were gold poachers along the river as well.

Mine was the first hunt of the season and both outfitter and PH discussed the late rain and high grass.

The PH contacted operators in other areas as an alternative and was told not to bother - no game. I was able to overhear the conversations and they all said the same, late rain, high grass, and who the hell knows but there's no game around.

This area in North of Tete in the area of the Luina River. it is owned by Graham Cawood, he also owns the camp on the Zambezi where I shot the crocs. I will say this, both Graham and Gav the PH have offered to make me whole regarding this hunt. They are both standup guys and I have no reason to question their integrity. Graham routinely fills his quota of 4 leopards every year.

Hopefully conditions will improve later in the season.

 

[Altitude sickness]

that says a lot about the outfit. That through no fault of theirs. They still offer you another hunt. The guiding cost to them is the same. If you kill or not. Their staff, fuel, concession cost etc doesn’t go away. So to offer another hunt is very generous.

 

[Franco]

that says a lot about the outfit. That through no fault of theirs. They still offer you another hunt. The guiding cost to them is the same. If you kill or not. Their staff, fuel, concession cost etc doesn’t go away. So to offer another hunt is very generous.

I agree.

 

[PARA45]

Beautiful Crocks, and some fine shooting. Thank you for sharing and taking us along. What are your plans with the Crocks, full mount, just the skin, shoulder mounts?

 

[coreydb]

Beautiful Crocs and what an adventure! Leopard hunts are always a crap shoot with about a 35% success rate.

 

[Franco]

Beautiful Crocks, and some fine shooting. Thank you for sharing and taking us along. What are your plans with the Crocks, full mount, just the skin, shoulder mounts?

Thanks.

That is a great question, I don't have room for a full mount in my trophy room, but a shoulder mount might work. Rug for the smaller of the two.

 

[Franco]

Beautiful Crocs and what an adventure! Leopard hunts are always a crap shoot with about a 35% success rate.

Thanks. It appears I am doing my part to maintain that low success rate.

 

[PARA45]

Thanks.

That is a great question, I don't have room for a full mount in my trophy room, but a shoulder mount might work. Rug for the smaller of the two.

Excellent idea, and I also do not have room for a full mount, and if and when I hunt one, this is what I'm planning on doing. This is my gator shot in Holey Land WMA in South Florida.

 

[AZDAVE]

Congratz on the Croc's most impressed with the work your PH team and yourself did to get within double rifle range of a big croc! Leopards are the ultimate chess match. I have a friend that too 6 tries to anchor his cat. and I was struck with the luck of the Irish hunting gods and got mine on my first try.

I would take the outfitter and PH up on their offer for a second try.

 

[Franco]

Congratz on the Croc's most impressed with the work your PH team and yourself did to get within double rifle range of a big croc! Leopards are the ultimate chess match. I have a friend that too 6 tries to anchor his cat. and I was struck with the luck of the Irish hunting gods and got mine on my first try.

I would take the outfitter and PH up on their offer for a second try.

Thanks Dave, and congrats on your success with a leopard. Each attempt makes me appreciate outcomes such as yours even more.

I guess I shouldn't complain, all my attempts at the other members of the Big 5/Dangerous 7 have been successful

 

[Nyati]

Nice and exciting croc hunt !

 

[Green Chile]

Big congrats on your croc successes. Fine shooting to be sure!

I was sorry to hear about the lack of leopards BUT Gavin’s offer to go again is first rate. I have personally booked with him in Moz in ‘27 to finish my leopard journey. My first leopard attempt was with another operator and was unsuccessful in Zim. After a LOT of research, and in depth discussions with Gavin, I selected him and his team to help me finish the big 5. His good character is on display here.

 

[BRICKBURN]

......

Let's hope the leopard situation and my current attitude about hunting them both improve.

Going back with Gav and hunting a Leopard with dogs in an area with fresh Leopard sign will be an incredible hunt. After a little time your attitude will shift again. From this story it is obvious you are tenacious. Good luck on the next hunt.
Thanks for sharing the tale.

 

[daniloc]

who in this forum is after leopard for what its itself means and not just to complete the Big 5?

 

[Franco]

Going back with Gav and hunting a Leopard with dogs in an area with fresh Leopard sign will be an incredible hunt. After a little time your attitude will shift again. From this story it is obvious you are tenacious. Good luck on the next hunt.
Thanks for sharing the tale.

Thank you for the words of encouragement.

Having seen the effort Gav, his crew, and his dogs exhibit in the absence of any sign, I have no doubt in their ability to succeed in the presence of a leopard.

Your prediction is 100% correct, it echos insight gained from experience, and beneath the eloquence says, "Been there - done that, suck it up and get on with it".

I know you are right, I'm just not there - yet.

 

[TheGrayRider]

Thank you for the words of encouragement.

Having seen the effort Gav, his crew, and his dogs exhibit in the absence of any sign, I have no doubt in their ability to succeed in the presence of a leopard.

Your prediction is 100% correct, it echos insight gained from experience, and beneath the eloquence says, "Been there - done that, suck it up and get on with it".

I know you are right, I'm just not there - yet.

Hi Franco. Not succeeding on a premium hunt is a tough pill to swallow “temporarily “.

A short note of encouragement - I have also been on an unsuccessful premium hunt but Alaska dall sheep is the species. 10 day backpack hunt in the Alaska Brooks Range in 2020 where we bumped a legal ram but never got a shot. The other two hunters in my unit both killed rams. In hindsight, probably a good thing for me because I no longer take hunts and killing game for granted.

Fast forward to this month, I fly up North to Fairbanks in 2 weeks for another hunt for a dall ram in same unit in the Alaska Brooks Range. 5 years of planning and training to get back on the mountain.

Don’t quit. Refocus and schedule your return hunt. Continue training, shooting, and planning. You will succeed. Leopard over bait is one of the toughest hunts in Africa.

Happy hunting this autumn and see you on the mountain, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[Franco]

who in this forum is after leopard for what its itself means and not just to complete the Big 5?

Interesting question. Personally, my first leopard attempt was well before I had any aspirations of accomplishing a Big 5.

I would say, you can hunt a leopard without going after the Big 5, but you can't complete the Big 5 without the leopard. The aspects of the hunt remain the same.

Each member of the Big 5 presents its' respective challenges and stands alone upon successful completion.

You could expand your question to ask those who have accomplished the Big 5 if they set out to achieve that goal or did it just happen? At what point did you say, "I think I'll try for a Big 5"?

What are your thoughts?