Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Leopard or sable?

At Kruger for a second day, Leopard walk right up to vehicle. Could have reached out the side and touch it. Not so sure they you have to sit sit in a blind all day to hunt Leopard, maybe it's just park Leopards that you can just drive.

Leopard

I'd go with whichever makes a smaller mount otherwise you're going to have to add in the expense of expanding your trophy room!

Guest bedroom needs decorating,,,,,,,

Great idea, Mr. Roan is a little tougher to find.

Do you need a leopard to complete your Big Five? if so, the answer is obvious.

As you undoubtedly know, leopard hunting is quite technical and not always successful It took three (3) safaris before I got a leopard.

Boils down to what you want more in your trophy room, I suppose.

I don't recommend a buff/leopard hunt together. It can be done, but reduces your chances of success on either.

For best chances of success, IMO, a leopard hunt should be a single purpose exercise. Shooting and hanging baits, refreshing baits, building blinds and sitting in the blind are all time consuming endeavors.

Your best chances of success are in an area that permits hunting at night.

Lou Hallmore's book "Chui" is very informative.

Good hunting!

I've been blessed enough to have gotten in some good hunting starting early on. No Big 5. Rhino and lion are stupid expensive. Helps to be lucky in the bush (and shoot straight).

Been 7-8 years since my last Africa trip, but I've got the itch.

Nice leopard,bongo and that's a great buffalo bull!

Info on the double rifle please.

.450/.400 Jeffery's built in 1909. Wonderfully balanced and pleasant to shoot.

Thanks Hatari.

I offered a very tall, busty blonde in exchange for that double. It's truly a joy to shoulder..

BWAHAHAH, You're gonna get punched in the ribs if she reads that.

Hatari, BOTH!

As she reminds me, she is the keeper of the 51/100 rule. She is not only 51% of the population but one 100 % of the pussy!

And the snatch remains undefeated. Our kryptonite.

Great bongo, Jeff! One of the few critters I believe should be a full-body mount every time. And that buff... whoof!

Anyways, back to the topic... I'd do the leopard, for the same reason as others have posted, i.e., it's questionable whether leopards will be huntable in the not too distant future. Better get one while you can!

Sable, Roan, Leopard, Lechwe and be good

Great pics Jeff!

Couple things to consider. The use of artificial light isn't legal in Zambia (in the GMA's)
Also, Sable isn't available in all of the Luangwa Valley. I've hunted extensively in Nyaminga, Chanjuzi and have spent non-hunting time in Chifunda, right next door to Nyaminga. I killed a 44" Sable in the Tondwa concession which is extreme NE Zambia right up near Tanzania.

There are some fabulous Sable area's to be found in other Zambia area's. The Kafue GMA's are the best for big (44"+)

I agree that a Roan would be a really nice adder since I guess you have both a Sable and Leopard previously?

There are other Zambia only animals to consider also, Cookson's Wildebeest, only found in the Luangwa Valley. Be sure to shoot a Puku and if the time and money hold out a trip to Bangweulu Swamp for a Black Lechwe and the Kafue Flats for a Kafue Lechwe, both totally unique to Zambia. Neither are too time consuming and more of a collecting trip than a hunt.

The Luangwa valley's Leopard concentration is remarkable, you should have no trouble killing a Leopard there as long as you're with a good operator in one of the decent area's.

My original reason for responding to you is Sitatunga. If you are going to Zambia and you've killed the Sable and Leopard, I really recommend a Sitatunga. My opinion it is the finest and most unique Spiral Horned Antelope to hunt in the world. Their habitat and nocturnal nature make hunting them a true game of chess mixed with cat and mouse, with a bit of a hippo hunt thrown in.

Whatever you decide best of luck.

Considering where you're going leopard ALL DAY LONG!

Tremendous cats there.

Had a chance to leopard hunt for the trophy fee only when in Zim 2 years ago, with a PH in the party who has at least 120 in the bag by now. But I was there for ele and passed on the leopard. The cats have not called to me on either side of the Atlantic so far. YMMV

I'd go for the sable, but I'm biased as I hope to have a chance at one before kicking the bucket for the last time. I know you're headed to Zambia but if I were after a great sable I'd look at Moz Coutada10. Plentiful and quite good horns. Out party brought back 3 in in 12 days, including one with a bow. Just my 2 cents as I near the dusk of a hunting career.