Realistic alternative to hunt leopard on bait or with dogs?

[Luminous Ham]

It seems to me two methods for hunting leopard are used: baiting and dogs.

But, as the title says, I wonder if there are any realistic alternatives to leopard hunting other than baiting or with dogs? Other than pure chance that is.

I have been searching hunting reports, but can't find any other descriptions.

 

[Hunt anything]

People used to track leopard in the Kalahari in Botswana, not sure if this is still an option or not. Good luck with your search.

 

[rookhawk]

It seems to me two methods for hunting leopard are used: baiting and dogs.

But, as the title says, I wonder if there are any realistic alternatives to leopard hunting other than baiting or with dogs? Other than pure chance that is.

I have been searching hunting reports, but can't find any other descriptions.

zero alternatives. In most jurisdictions, the male leopard must be at least 5 years old. The amount of photo analysis of the cat on a bait (whether you hunt over that bait, or start the hounds on that bait towards the leopard's retreat).

Once you get to the cat, there is a lot of analysis to make 100% certain that is indeed the cat, it still is at least 5 years old, and then you take the shot.

Put another way, if you were walking merrily through the bush after impala and out pops the world's largest male leopard, they are not going to let you take that shot. Its an unknown. There are no photos to reference. There isn't sufficient time to analyze the cat. Hence, you get no shot.

 

[Graham Hunter]

Short answer NO. I have been lucky enough to have seen 2 Leopards while hunting. One female we watched as she walked along a hill. The other was a male but not an older Big Cat. The PH said he wouldn't be able to tell if he was legal without trailcam pics on a bait.
Didn't matter, I wasn't hunting Leopard.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

They used to employ bushmen trackers in the Kalahari, before hounds started being used.

 

[HankBuck]

zero alternatives. In most jurisdictions, the male leopard must be at least 5 years old. The amount of photo analysis of the cat on a bait (whether you hunt over that bait, or start the hounds on that bait towards the leopard's retreat).

Once you get to the cat, there is a lot of analysis to make 100% certain that is indeed the cat, it still is at least 5 years old, and then you take the shot.

Put another way, if you were walking merrily through the bush after impala and out pops the world's largest male leopard, they are not going to let you take that shot. Its an unknown. There are no photos to reference. There isn't sufficient time to analyze the cat. Hence, you get no shot.

ROOKHAWK: How can even the most experienced PH tell if a Male Leopard is 5 years old vs. 4 just from photos? I certainly get that headsize, neck, shoulder hump and track size & general body size are all factors - but accurate enough to age within a year? Is there a safety factor built in where they are also passing up 5 & some 6 year olds to be on the safe side? I know that guides on Cougar hunts can’t tell with certainty if a tom is over 4-5-6 until they are on the ground, look at teeth etc.. Whitetail deer - “teeth” is the most accurate way unless they’ve watched a particular Buck growing up year after year and has recognizable antler characteristics. Lastly, if they do kill a 160 lb Male leopard and it turns out to be a 4 year old — how is that determined, by whom, and what happens?

 

[McKenzie Sims]

No. Baiting is the primary way of hunting a leopard. Some countries allow the use of dogs, but most don’t. With the price of a Leopard hunt you wouldn’t find me just hoping for a chance encounter I've done two both baited, one took 14 days the other took 3. I’ve only seen one day time leopard out of 16 safaris, and it was a female.

Baiting is no gimmie there are many of hunters who have done several 10-14 day safaris without being successful.

 

[ndumo HUNTING SAFARIS]

We have successfully hunted them by predator calling, and also by tracking.
So, yes, there are alternatives. Not necessarily better alternatives, but at least different methods.

 

[Philip Glass]

It seems to me two methods for hunting leopard are used: baiting and dogs.

But, as the title says, I wonder if there are any realistic alternatives to leopard hunting other than baiting or with dogs? Other than pure chance that is.

I have been searching hunting reports, but can't find any other descriptions.

No there are not any practical alternatives. Be cautious if you find one.

 

[HankBuck]

We have successfully hunted them by predator calling, and also by tracking.
So, yes, there are alternatives. Not necessarily better alternatives, but at least different methods.

Ndumo: I would think that “tracking” - coming across a fresh track - allows you to somewhat judge size but not determine conclusively that it’s a male? Calling one in, during daylight, must be very low odds (1 in 50-100) and even then would there be time to judge the Leopard or is it more “take what ever comes in”? I would think calling one in is very exciting ”if” it works and if I lived there and had unlimited time - I think I’d be willing to put time in trying that. However, on a 10-14-28 day safari I would take a more established route (Bait or Hounds). How many PH’s and trackers or staff participate when “calling”? Do you guard against a Leopard coming in from Behind you? It sounds very interesting compared to the predator hunting I do in the U.S.

 

[ndumo HUNTING SAFARIS]

Ndumo: I would think that “tracking” - coming across a fresh track - allows you to somewhat judge size but not determine conclusively that it’s a male? Calling one in, during daylight, must be very low odds (1 in 50-100) and even then would there be time to judge the Leopard or is it more “take what ever comes in”? I would think calling one in is very exciting ”if” it works and if I lived there and had unlimited time - I think I’d be willing to put time in trying that. However, on a 10-14-28 day safari I would take a more established route (Bait or Hounds). How many PH’s and trackers or staff participate when “calling”? Do you guard against a Leopard coming in from Behind you? It sounds very interesting compared to the predator hunting I do in the U.S.

Yes sir, day time calling in has a very low success rate, but can be done. Without giving away too many secrets, it helps if there is a bait in the area. I have always set up my blind to only be able to see in one direction, and with a roof over the blind. A tree blind works best. PH and client only in the blind. It takes a lot of looking/ glassing, thus I like the blind to be dark inside, thus the roof.

When tracking, you can clearly see its a big male before you start tracking.