For leopard I am 1 for 4. All hunts were done with Sean Grant in Zimbabwe. First 3 were on Shangani Ranch back when he had the hunting rights. I was an anomaly though and am only the second client who failed on a cat hunt with him in 25 years. It really was just plain bad luck as I did everything to up my chances. PH is a leopard specialist, right time of year, right time of moon phase, uneducated cats, can hunt at night. We were holding out for a giant as that area is known for, but they just didn’t like me. We hunted last year on his new leopard area in West Nicholson and took a great old male during daylight on night 6. With counting the days of pre-baiting that’s 76 days. Planning on going again in 2027 to try for another.
View attachment 627709
I have a much better record with cougars going 3-4. First hunt was done back in 2002 in the Okanagan Valley in BC. Snow was horrible and did not even come across any good male tracks. Since then I have hunted solely with Byron Stewart of Tracks n Trails Outfitting in Alberta. Have taken my cats no later than day 6 of my hunts. Alberta has the best cougar management for trophy quality in the world.