| Every Professional Hunter has his own way of | | | | the lion! So now I put holes on every side of the |
| hunting leopards and this article is about how I like to | | | | blind and then put 'curtains' over all but the front |
| do it, and if your PH has his own set of tricks, please | | | | holes. After we've built the blind(s) we'll then place a |
| don't think he's not necessarily doing it the right way | | | | movement detector above the bait and the receiver |
| - he is just doing it his way. | | | | in the blind and also place two or three small red LED |
| I'm a perfectionist when it comes to hunting leopards | | | | lights around the branches to give us a little |
| and the reason for that is because they're just so | | | | illumination. We switch these on sometime during the |
| incredibly wary and clever creatures. Because of that | | | | day preceding the evening or morning before we're |
| we need to think like a leopard to bring a suitable | | | | scheduled to sit in the blind. Cats incidentally, don't |
| trophy animal to the bait. | | | | see red light at all. So the only things left to do is |
| We'll first need to find at least one perfect 'leopardy' | | | | build the rifle stands into the blind and equip it with |
| tree and location to hang the bait. If we can find | | | | those plastic garden chairs that don't squeak, |
| three or four trees, then so much the better. The | | | | blankets to sit on for the sake of comfort and |
| tree itself needs to be fairly big with nice wide | | | | silence and more blankets if it looks like getting cold, |
| spreading limbs, not too many thorns and have some | | | | spotting scope for the PH, red spotlight and two |
| but not too much undergrowth growing at its base. | | | | way radio (turned off until we need to use it) and |
| This is to allow the cat somewhere to hide until he | | | | rifles. |
| feels secure before he actually goes up the tree. It | | | | On the subject of rifles, the client ideally needs |
| also helps to have a little bit of cover above the bait | | | | something in.30 calibre or larger and fast expanding, |
| branch if possible - you can always trim this as | | | | soft point bullets. This rifle should be equipped with a |
| necessary, once the cat starts feeding If the main | | | | scope of 4 or 6 power with a large light gathering |
| trunk is slightly angled, then we have an added | | | | aperture at the business end. Once everything is all |
| advantage as we want to make everything as easy | | | | set up and ready, we'll use the rangefinders to zap |
| as possible for the leopard to gain access to the bait. | | | | the exact distance from blind to bait and measure |
| However, it mustn't be so easy that other predators | | | | height from bait to ground and then go elsewhere |
| such as hyena and lion can get to it. (What's that I | | | | and set the clients rifle up to shoot 'bang on' at that |
| hear you mumble, someone told you lions don't climb | | | | exact range and height. I don't just set a target up |
| trees? Don't you believe it!) We want the tree to | | | | for this. Nowadays, I like to take a long cardboard |
| have a fairly open area all around it to allow us a | | | | box and draw a life size outline of a Leopard on it |
| safer follow up if it becomes necessary and we also | | | | and then I fix a small bottle of water inside, where |
| would prefer at least a small tree or bush within 30 - | | | | the cat's heart would be. Then I'll sit you down in a |
| 50 yards of the bait tree which we can incorporate | | | | chair and set you up just as you'll be in the bind. |
| as a natural location for a blind. | | | | Then all you have to do is put three consecutive |
| The blind location should give us a good view and | | | | shots through the bottle of water. Only then are you |
| sight picture of where the leopard will be laying as he | | | | ready to sit for the cat. If you can't make those |
| eats the bait. When I'm choosing my blind site, I like | | | | three consecutive shots on the target, then it's not a |
| if possible to locate it amongst some natural foliage | | | | problem......we'll just practice until you can. |
| and I like to take my time testing the winds by | | | | When we go into the blind, the clients rifle will be |
| lighting a few dry elephant droppings and leaving | | | | placed in the rifle rest with a round in the chamber |
| them to smoulder in various positions. I find this helps | | | | and the safety catch ON. The rests will have been |
| me a lot in selecting the perfect blind site(s). | | | | positioned in such a way that the client just leans |
| Incidentally, if you have a swirling wind, I've also used | | | | forward into it, looks through the scope and will see |
| these same 'smoke bombs' when we actually sit for | | | | the leopard. |
| the cat, as a precaution to mask our human scent. | | | | Once everything is set up to my complete |
| Sounds crazy, but it's worked for me a few times. | | | | satisfaction and a couple of hours before the cat is |
| We also want this tree to be near some sand roads | | | | due to arrive, or just before dark (whichever comes |
| and/or dry river beds, so the cat is comfortable | | | | first) we'll go into the blind and sit and wait quietly |
| when he walks. Just like your domestic cat, leopards | | | | read/doze. We'll probably get some kind of audible |
| are lazy and like an easy life. We would also like the | | | | warning of the cat's approach. The birds and |
| tree to be close to good, clean water. If we can't | | | | monkeys usually go crazy with alarm calls as the |
| find a spot close enough to water, we'll resort to the | | | | leopard passes and it's usually possible to mark the |
| first of the sneaky tricks - sinking a bucket into the | | | | cat's progress through the bush. When that |
| soil near the bait tree and filling it with water. We can | | | | wonderful movement detector lights up, it means we |
| also tie a feather or two to short pieces of fishing | | | | have something on the branch. I'll peep through the |
| line in suitable places to use as wind indicators and | | | | observation hole for a first look. We won't rush |
| also sweep a few nearby areas to make it easy for | | | | things (so please try not to get excited) and we'll |
| us to check the size of the paw prints. If necessary, | | | | give Mr Spots plenty of time to get comfortable. |
| we'll place a few obstructions in appropriate places to | | | | Then I'll take a look through the spotting scope and |
| guide our quarry onto these swept areas. | | | | put a red spotlight into the trees and then move it |
| If we can find two places on opposite sides and | | | | down onto the cat. If he's shootable, I'll reach out |
| equidistant to the bait tree where we can locate the | | | | and squeeze your knee. This will mean you're to get |
| blind, then that's also an advantage. There is usually a | | | | yourself comfortable and ready for the shot. IT |
| prevailing wind of some kind and we'll site the blinds | | | | DOESN'T MEAN SHOOT! I'll then give you're knee |
| to suit these winds but winds can change which is | | | | another squeeze and then remove my hand. When |
| why I try to have two blinds to each bait tree if | | | | that happens, you can shoot anytime you like. |
| possible. I like to have the blind sited across the wind | | | | There's no rush, so don't feel you have to feel |
| rather than facing into it as there's nothing worse | | | | hurried at all. It's far more important that you shoot |
| than sitting for hours and having the stink of a half | | | | accurately rather than quickly. Please remember that |
| rotten bait blowing right into your face. | | | | you're shooting uphill and into a three dimensional |
| Once we've located a suitable tree or even better, | | | | target. Imagine the skin of the animal as a glass |
| trees, we'll shoot a bait animal (zebra are usually | | | | container with the heart in the centre of that |
| particularly good and one animal can easily provide | | | | container. Aim slightly low to allow for the uphill |
| five baits) to hang from the best limb at a suitable | | | | shooting, and shoot for the heart - remember all that |
| place. Mark the branch with two small pieces of | | | | practice at the range. If you've got it right, then the |
| reflective tape 1.3 meters apart to use as a | | | | next thing we'll hear after the shot is a soggy plop as |
| measuring aid for the size of the leopard. Use some | | | | a dead leopard hits the ground. If we hear an angry |
| of the stomach contents of our bait animal to spread | | | | growl, then it probably means we've got problems |
| around the tree limb and trunk. This not only | | | | and may have to do a follow up. If the leopard |
| eliminates our scent it also makes the tree very | | | | charges then it has to be stopped at close range. If |
| attractive to the leopard. | | | | you come along on this, make sure you remove your |
| Then using the stomach and intestines from the bait | | | | scope beforehand. I did a follow up a while ago and |
| animal(s), make drags from the bait tree to the | | | | shot the cat in mid air just seven yards from me. |
| nearest road(s) and/or dry river beds, continuing for | | | | This picture shows me kneeling where the cat fell |
| at least a mile. If at all possible, these drags will be in | | | | and was taken from where I shot. Now imagine it in |
| at least two or three separate directions to maximise | | | | complete darkness except for the light from a head |
| our chances of a passing leopard walking into the | | | | torch. If possible, I'd like to avoid the experience. |
| scent lines. I like to refresh these drags on a daily | | | | After the shot, keep quiet and if you can still see the |
| basis if possible or every other day at least. | | | | leopard, then try to get another bullet into him if you |
| So now we're pretty much ready for step two of | | | | can. About this time, I'll ask you how you felt about |
| the leopard hunt which happens to be the one that | | | | the shot and we'll try to work out what we think |
| drives me crazy....... We wait for Mr Spots to pass by, | | | | happened. Then we'll call the hunting truck on the |
| give his approval and start feeding. If after a few | | | | radio and tell it we've shot a leopard but they should |
| days, we've found his tracks near our baits but he's | | | | wait until we call them back before coming in. After |
| ignoring them, we might consider moving the bait to | | | | 20-30 minutes, if nothing else happens, we'll whistle |
| a different nearby tree and if that doesn't work, we'll | | | | up the truck and have them drive right up to the |
| try another sneaky trick or two....... but I'm gonna | | | | blind where we step quickly and quietly into it. Then |
| keep those up my sleeve for now and you'll just | | | | we'll drive to the bait tree and look for blood spoor |
| have to wait and wonder what they are! Sorry | | | | or hopefully a dead leopard. If we can see the cat |
| Bwana. | | | | and he looks dead, we'll have the tracker use a |
| If we get a strike or strikes, we'll assess the size of | | | | slingshot to fire a couple of stones at it. If there's |
| the tracks and decide if we might have a cat of a | | | | any response at all, the cat gets shot again |
| shootable size. If we do, then we'll attach a trail timer | | | | immediately. If there's no response, then I'll climb |
| to the bait to see what time the cat feeds and then | | | | down from the truck whilst the client covers me with |
| we wait another day or two (if time allows) to give | | | | his rifle. Once I'm certain the cat is dead, everyone |
| the cat time to get really comfortable. Cats are | | | | can get down from the truck for photographs. If |
| creatures of habit and will almost certainly come to | | | | there's any 'trouble' and I end up having a tussle with |
| feed at much the same time every night. When we | | | | Mr Spots, please don't try to shoot him from the |
| have established his feeding pattern, we'll build the | | | | truck as if you do, you'll probably shoot me as well. |
| blind(s) which are about three metres square, made | | | | Rather get down and get as close to the cat as you |
| of grass and poles and even if there is no moon at | | | | can and kill him - but please remember to try not to |
| all, we'll put a roof on it as well. Even starlight coming | | | | shoot me as well! If we end up with a wounded cat |
| into the blind is enough to give the game away to | | | | on our hands then I or possibly we will conduct a |
| our spotty friend. On the subject of the moon, a lot | | | | follow up tracking job in an appropriate manner - but |
| of people claim a full moon or near full moon is a | | | | we won't go into that too much here as I'm sure |
| problem for leopard hunting. From my experience, if | | | | you'll get it right the first time anyway! |
| you set everything up the right way, the moon | | | | So now you have some idea of how the hunting |
| phase doesn't matter at all. I'd say that close to 50% | | | | strategy will planned on your leopard hunt and by |
| of the leopards I've taken, have been at, or close to | | | | doing so, I hope you'll get even more pleasure from |
| the full moon. In fact, I've always found a full or near | | | | it than just being the trigger man while a bunch of |
| to full moon, actually makes a leopard rather more | | | | strange things go on all around you. If you have any |
| helpful to us hunters. He'll usually dine earlier and come | | | | new ideas that you think might work, don't hesitate |
| to bait before moon rise. | | | | to let me know. I'm always willing to try something |
| All four sides of the blind will have shooting and | | | | new and as it's your leopard hunt and not mine, I'm |
| observation holes. Most Professional Hunters only put | | | | always more than happy to try things your way. In |
| these in the front of the blind, but I learned my | | | | closing, please remember the shot at your leopard will |
| lesson a couple of years ago when I had two lions | | | | probably be the easiest shot of your safari - but it's |
| fighting just one yard from the side of my blind. To | | | | also the most important shot of your safari. So take |
| add insult to injury, the winner then mated with one | | | | your time, don't get excited, pick out a rosette at |
| of his girlfriends' right in the same spot. During all this | | | | which you're going to and make sure you hit the cat |
| time, we couldn't even see anything and had to wait | | | | in exactly the right place... |
| another two hours before we could get a shot at | | | | |