What is your success rate as a client hunting leopards?

[Beck]

I'd look into Cabassa Safaris. They've got a spot in Mozambique where they've had a 100% success rate for three years in a row.

 

[Cme1983]

I’ve hunted leopards 4 different times, taking 3 nice Tom’s.

May,1983, Deka Safari Area, Zimbabwe. This was my first ever safari, a 24 day full bag hunt with Roy Vincent as my PH. I shot a big Tom about 2 hours into my first sit. IIRC, we had 4 baits up and 3 were being fed on.

June, 1989, Kalahari Desert, Botswana. Another 24 day hunt, with the first 8 days in the desert. Our 1st day we cut a big track and the Bushmen jumped off the truck and started tracking. About 4 hours later we had a beautiful, pale desert cat. It was long and lean.

Late October, 2021, Mlele Reserve, Tanzania. This was my unsuccessful hunt. It was late season and hot. There were lots of young animals everywhere so leopards had easy pickings and didn’t need to hit baits. Still, we had nice Tom’s feeding in 3 different trees. But the cats zigged when we zagged, had no pattern and at the end of 16 days I left without having a leopard opportunity. Saeed preceeded me and had the same problems. I will not hunt leopards during late season in the heat and after animals have dropped their young.

August 2023, Selous Game Reserve/Madaba, Tanzania. This place is absolutely lousy with leopards and Alan Vincent is a damn good leopard hunter. We had 7 baits up with cats feeding on 6 of them. We built a blind where we had pictures of a nice Tom feeding and sat the blind the next morning. The Tom came in at 7:55 and I shot him at 8:00 AM. The hunter before me also shot a cat right about at 8:00 AM. Interestingly, I shot the leopard on a full ‘super moon’.

I think anyone interested in a quality leopard hunt should focus on area first, then PH. I’d also hunt earlier in season when it’s a bit cooler and newborn animals haven’t yet dropped. Stick to places like the Selous, Luangwa Valley or Niassa Reserve and you’re likely to get an opportunity without too many days invested.

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You hit the nail on the head. Save for an extra year and go to one of the places above and 99% is the expectation when leopard hunting.

 

[Billcollector]

3 Leopards hunted, 4 sittings and 3 Leopards killed. Zim, Namibia and Zambia.
Area, PH and costs are huge drivers. Certain areas are known for big cats and high success and you pay for it. A big cat is smart and needs a really good experienced “Cat man” to outsmart them. Some areas have high success but on average, smaller Leopards…Selous, Niassa and Luangwa. Many areas are marginal and the price is what entices hunters only to leave with no cat and lack of sleep. There are exceptions to everything, positive or negative.

 

[dogcat1]

2 for 2, used dogs and it was a riot....
If you are hunting without dogs, then go to the area that has best reputation for cats and go with the most experienced PH you can get - Thierry Labat, Dean Kendall, most of Buzz Charlton's guys are who i would invest in.

 

[Billcollector]

Many times, a cancellation hunt for a leopard means that someone didn’t get one and a tag is available. Tells you something right there and should be avoided unless it is with someone you have researched and would normally schedule a future leopard hunt with.

 

[Green Chile]

I know of at least 3 leopard cancellations last year that were unsuccessful, including my hunt. Nice thing is you get a lot of baiting experience and there is always the luck factor and it's a cheaper experience but you get what you get. It works out for some.

 

[ActionBob]

Many times, a cancellation hunt for a leopard means that someone didn’t get one and a tag is available. Tells you something right there and should be avoided unless it is with someone you have researched and would normally schedule a future leopard hunt with.

I've often wondered about some of the last minute or late season deals.
For a $28,000 leopard hunt, it probably breaks down to $1500/day plus a $7000 trophy fee. Plus bait animals and if any pre-baiting, a fee for that.

If an Outfitter only has two leopard on quota, they can sell those hunts and maybe gross $80,000 with the extra fees and a couple higher end plains game like a sable and eland, etc.

On the other hand if they are unsuccessful on two hunts. They basically sold 2 plains game hunts at $1500/day. So for simplicity let's say they shoot the same amount of extras so minus the $7000 leopard trophy fee x2, they gross $66,000.

Then sell 2 more hunts, and get the cats later in the season to use the quota. Now those two tags have grossed $146,000. Even discounted, they bring in a lot more money than if successful during the first hunts.

Not saying this would happen but I am saying that going with a reputable Outfitter who stays busy because of a good reputation is comforting.

As has been pointed out, successful leopard hunting requires an area with good leopard populations. Preferably large enough to encounter uneducated cats And then an experienced PH who is a true Cat Man. And a reputable honest Outfitter who has a good track record and wants to maintain it!

 

[Billcollector]

Yep. For some reason, good outfitters with good areas rarely have cancellations and when they do, they get gobbled up quickly. Wonder why? They kill their leopards on quota!
Not saying cancellation hunts are a bad thing, I just would steer clear of them for Elephant and Leopards.

 

[Huntforever]

My 1st and only leopard hunt was in Zambia. I got him on day 5 of the hunt. It was one of my top adventures of my life!!

 

[DLSJR]

Anyone contemplating a leopard hunt would do well to ponder this concept before booking…

It’s less expensive to go on an expensive leopard hunt in a premium area once with a top notch PH at the right time of year and kill a good Tom on your first leopard hunt; than it is to go 2 or 3 times on lesser hunts where you don’t kill a leopard.

I believe there’s a reason so many leopard hunts are not successful. #1; they’re in secondary quality areas. #2; wrong time of year (late season hunts are tough for leopards). #3; PH isn’t that great of a cat hunter.

Go with the right PH in a great area at the right time of year and you’ll realize that many/most successful leopard hunts get a cat in the first 1-3 sits. The more times you sit for a cat, the less likely you are to get him.

 

[Green Chile]

My 1st and only leopard hunt was in Zambia. I got him on day 5 of the hunt. It was one of my top adventures of my life!!
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Fantastic and with a bow! Very nice cat.

 

[Huntforever]

Thanks!! It was amazing!!

 

[major hunter]

My 1st and only leopard hunt was in Zambia. I got him on day 5 of the hunt. It was one of my top adventures of my life!!
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What a great first cat and with a bow! congrats to you.

 

[major hunter]

50%.

Both leopard hunts were in Zimbabwe, in National Parks areas (so no night hunting). In the first, we had leopard on baits but were unable to get them to come during shooting hours and in fact never saw one. But spent a lot of time driving from bait to bait and sitting in blinds.

The second hunt was in the same area two years later (Matetsi Unit 2). Had a leopard on bait within a few days, sat twice, and got him on the second sitting at about 6:20 pm - last shooting likely around 6:30 then. Nice cat. By the time the dipped and packed skin made it to Canada, much of the skin was rotted and unusable. My taxidermist was able to get a head mount out of it (not full shoulder), but had to replace the ears with a pair from a cougar! I also got a hat band and a tail!

Going back in 2025 to see if I can connect again and get a decent skin this time.

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate outcome of your skin. That's pretty bad, do you think it was the skinning job and lack of salting or the D&P storage facilities themselves? I've been to a number of them and can't imagine my trophies sitting there for a long period. Can you please share (or PM) the company/persons handling the d&p. Want to avoid avoid this from happening.

 

[Hank2211]

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate outcome of your skin. That's pretty bad, do you think it was the skinning job and lack of salting or the D&P storage facilities themselves? I've been to a number of them and can't imagine my trophies sitting there for a long period. Can you please share (or PM) the company/persons handling the d&p. Want to avoid avoid this from happening.

This happened back in 2009, I think (maybe 2010) and I can’t recall who did the dip and pack. I do recall it took more than a year to get the skin (and other trophies) home from Zimbabwe. My taxidermist here thought it might have been a poor job of skinning, but that was speculation - my PH on that hunt was meticulous and none of the other mounts had an issue.

I probably should have added that the skin was in rough shape anyway - that will happen after a wounded leopard charges you at about four yards (I can see that face to this day) and swallows a few loads of buckshot. And that was due to poor local re-loads which I had to use because I couldn’t bring my own firearm (UN embargo). Good shot placement but lacking in penetration. But I could still have had a decent mount, but for the rot.

 

[major hunter]

This happened back in 2009, I think (maybe 2010) and I can’t recall who did the dip and pack. I do recall it took more than a year to get the skin (and other trophies) home from Zimbabwe. My taxidermist here thought it might have been a poor job of skinning, but that was speculation - my PH on that hunt was meticulous and none of the other mounts had an issue.

I probably should have added that the skin was in rough shape anyway - that will happen after a wounded leopard charges you at about four yards (I can see that face to this day) and swallows a few loads of buckshot. And that was due to poor local re-loads which I had to use because I couldn’t bring my own firearm (UN embargo). Good shot placement but lacking in penetration. But I could still have had a decent mount, but for the rot.

thanks for the info, that's a long time to get back your trophy and it's unfortunate even with a dip and pack it still rotted out. I know there are other factors that play into timeline but definitely more motivation to get any trophy shipment back faster.

Skinning jobs can be dicey at times. I've also seen the good and the bad. I know of some who've had their taxidermist join them and handle their skinning & prep to ensure a good job is done. Not for everyone of-course but there's no replacing a Leopard/Lion trophy.

Glad to hear you made it out of that charge (hopefully) scar free. 4 yards is incredibly close and I can't imagine the expression on the Leopards face. There's nothing like hearing a leopard groan/growl in close proximity.

 

[Hank2211]

thanks for the info, that's a long time to get back your trophy and it's unfortunate even with a dip and pack it still rotted out. I know there are other factors that play into timeline but definitely more motivation to get any trophy shipment back faster.

Skinning jobs can be dicey at times. I've also seen the good and the bad. I know of some who've had their taxidermist join them and handle their skinning & prep to ensure a good job is done. Not for everyone of-course but there's no replacing a Leopard/Lion trophy.

Glad to hear you made it out of that charge (hopefully) scar free. 4 yards is incredibly close and I can't imagine the expression on the Leopards face. There's nothing like hearing a leopard groan/growl in close proximity.

Thanks. Don’t want to get off topic . . . But It was an interesting experience. The shot had looked good - the leopard fell out of the tree like the proverbial sack of potatoes. We got geared up to go have a look, and got the pep talk from the PH - we go slow and in a line, if we get charged everybody stands still, and most importantly, no shooting the leopard if he’s on someone unless there is a very clear shot - more danger from a bullet than a leopard (that last bit was for me - I was the only one carrying a rifle). PH traded his rifle for the shotgun, and we walked slowly to the bait tree. No leopard. I said “now what?” and that’s when he came at us. He had rolled into a depression covered in grass a few yards from the tree and about four yards from where we were standing. Good thing they growl when they let loose! No one was hurt - the trackers stayed put and the PH was incredibly fast with the shotgun. Semi-auto is definitely the way to go. I found it quite exciting. The PH? Maybe not so much!

 

[ALbowhunter]

I will be hunting with Nick the first half of July 2025. My non-hunting wife will be with me. After that, she'll head home and I'll head to the Caprivi for a buff hunt with Karl Stumpfe and @ndumo HUNTING SAFARIS. I was thinking about doing one hunt one year and the other the following year, but figured I could save on the air travel and do both hunts back to back.

Karl is damn good on leopard also. We are 3:3 on leopard with Ndumo.

 

[major hunter]

Thanks. Don’t want to get off topic . . . But It was an interesting experience. The shot had looked good - the leopard fell out of the tree like the proverbial sack of potatoes. We got geared up to go have a look, and got the pep talk from the PH - we go slow and in a line, if we get charged everybody stands still, and most importantly, no shooting the leopard if he’s on someone unless there is a very clear shot - more danger from a bullet than a leopard (that last bit was for me - I was the only one carrying a rifle). PH traded his rifle for the shotgun, and we walked slowly to the bait tree. No leopard. I said “now what?” and that’s when he came at us. He had rolled into a depression covered in grass a few yards from the tree and about four yards from where we were standing. Good thing they growl when they let loose! No one was hurt - the trackers stayed put and the PH was incredibly fast with the shotgun. Semi-auto is definitely the way to go. I found it quite exciting. The PH? Maybe not so much!

What caliber were you using, assuming the bullet passed through?

Good advice, things can go real side-ways in a moment of chaos. I guess the Leopard responded to your question in full! The noises they produce really get my heart going in the moment. Haha exciting is one way to describe it, good shooting on your PH!