If you love going on hunting expeditions and have finally decided to take the big step of hunting leopard then you would know that it isn’t just about the excitement and thrill of it, but also the number of challenges you will face.
Unlike hunting other animals where it’s simply all about aiming at the target and pulling the trigger; you will find many factors affecting your performance and success rate when hunting leopard.
Here are some of the most important challenges you may come across while going on your leopard hunting expedition.
How To Hunt Leopard
Although leopard hunting has become a bit more popular in recent years, it is still an extremely challenging task.
Leopards are nocturnal animals and spend most of their time perched high up in trees.
The leopard hunt is also often carried out at night which can make seeing the leopard very difficult.
Hunting for leopards requires a hunter who is completely aware of his surroundings and can be quiet enough to spot prey without startling them.
Using a bow or rifle with a scope allows hunters to get close to their prey without making any noise.
There are two different ways that you can use when hunting for leopards.
One way is using bait and the other way is using scent trails. Bait works by using food that draws in many types of animals.
When the animal comes closer to get its meal, hunters trap it or shoot it with arrows or guns with special bolts that penetrate deeply into the animal’s body.
Scent trails work by leaving a trail of urine from your previous hunts leading to the next location where you want to hunt.
It attracts all wildlife around so that they may end up on your path as well.
16 Challenges and Advice while Hunting Leopard
Hunting a leopard is always a dangerous job.
But there are many things that can go wrong and make the job even more difficult than it already is.
To reduce this risk, you will want to check off as many of these 14 challenges as possible.
- Get an animal call-out group to give their approval of your plan in advance. This way you’ll have a support network and won’t feel like you’re on your own.
- Make sure that everyone on the expedition has been trained for such hunts, even if they don’t hunt often or at all. It’s crucial to know how to handle firearms properly and which ones to use for different games, as well as how to identify games from all angles and maintain discipline at all times.
- Always wear high visibility clothing when hunting – preferably brightly colored, but hunter orange is best.
- Clear any obstacles out of the area before setting up camp and prepare for rain – bring tarps to cover anything that might get wet.
- Remember what time zone you’re in so you can keep track of time during daylight hours (lots of hunts happen around sunrise and sunset).
- Bring enough food and water so people don’t need to leave camp for long periods of time. Food should be light, healthy snacks with lots of energy.
- A personal first aid kit is essential, especially one geared towards outdoor adventures.
- All weapons must be checked daily for signs of rust or damage; replace if necessary. Keeping them clean and oiled will help prevent corrosion as well.
- Remember to turn off electronic devices that may interfere with signals from both animals and other members of the expedition team (hunters, guides) . Cell phones are a major no-no! They can cause problems with radios, beacons, and GPS units. Plus, they’ve got batteries that could die anytime and create a need for battery replacement in the middle of nowhere.
- There are also other important items to bring including medical supplies (especially if someone doesn’t have access to regular healthcare), appropriate clothes/footwear, knives/tools/kitchenware, weatherproof shelter materials (sleeping bags), small cooking stove fuel tanks, etc.
- Binoculars or telescope equipped with night vision capabilities, tow chain/rope (or satellite messenger), rifle scope caps, etc., books on tracking techniques, etc., first aid kits containing over-the-counter medications for diarrhea prevention and altitude sickness prevention among others.
- The preparation process for a leopard hunt is complicated and time-consuming. If you don’t have the time to do all of the prep work, consider hiring a professional safari guide who can help with the details.
- Scout the location in advance and establish a perimeter about 300 yards in diameter for your campsite. Make sure that your campsite is well hidden by terrain or vegetation (preferably) and is as far away from streams, rivers, or ponds as possible. When scouting the location, look for a wide variety of game and make sure to note where they are.
- Be careful not to destroy the environment in your hunt – look for signs of human presence or previous campsites and avoid those areas.
- Communicate with your party at all times, using the agreed-upon language. This will help you stay alert and focused on the task at hand. And don’t forget to sleep at some point together!
- Always be wary of the wind, and make sure your campsite is safe and secure. Remember this and always ensure you have appropriate radios and GPS tracking systems with you on the day of your hunt.
Your hunt will be successful if you follow these tips. Good luck!
Safety Tips While Hunting Leopard
- Always be vigilant. Remember that the best defense is a good offense. Keep your eyes and ears open and on high alert, not just when you are hunting, but also when hiking to and from your hunt site or during any breaks in the action.
- Watch your back. Your natural response will probably be to keep looking forward while stalking an animal, but always remember to turn around every so often and be aware of what may be approaching from behind.
- Consider all potential escape routes.
- Plan ahead for dangerous animals like leopards by researching their behavior patterns, as well as how to deal with them if they do attack.
- Walk slowly and carefully through dense foliage, taking care not to make any sudden movements that might startle an animal.
- Don’t get lazy about wearing protective gear like gloves and goggles. Remember that these things are there for a reason. Even though they may seem cumbersome at first, it’s important to wear them so that you don’t endanger yourself unnecessarily.
- Use appropriate protection against bites and scratches. Wear long sleeves, long pants and boots (and even a helmet) when necessary.
Do you really need heat detectors for leopard hunting?
Leopard is no easy animal to track and, depending on where you live, this will be a difficult hunt
Exhaustion and dehydration are not uncommon during leopard hunts.
A heat detector can alert you of potential danger which may also happen while you’re in the middle of the hunt.
While not essential, it’s one piece of equipment that might save your life!
In Africa, African hunters often have the advantage when tracking down a leopard because they know their surroundings better than most.
It’s important to do your research before deciding if you want to go hunting for these elusive creatures.
Whether or not hunting is right for you is something only you can decide but don’t let fear stop you from checking out what it would take!
How hard is it to Hunting Leopard?
Hunting Leopard is not for the faint of heart.
Leopards are ferocious animals and will do everything in their power to keep you from bringing them down.
The leopard has acute hearing, sharp vision, excellent senses of smell and touch, making them formidable hunters themselves.
They are excellent climbers and strong swimmers who can swim up to a kilometer in search of prey.
Hunting leopards require stealthy stalking as well as climbing skills.
Shooting a leopard with an arrow also requires luck due to their agility, quick reflexes, and keen hearing so hunters should bring more than one arrow into the field.
The best time to hunt a leopard is at night when they become more active, but it takes some time to build your hunting area which may make it difficult if it rains during the day.
Which caliber is best for hunting leopard?
When it comes to choosing a caliber for hunting leopard, you’ll want something that will pack a punch but not be too heavy on recoil, such as the .243 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum, or 8×57 Mauser.
The bullet size is less important than the caliber.
In general, heavier calibers are better at taking down larger game, while lighter ones work better at targeting smaller and more agile animals like leopards.
Some other important things to keep in mind when choosing your weapon include:
- accuracy (do you have good aim?)
- cost (gun rental companies offer different packages and deals)
- power (light rifles might have difficulty with bigger game)
- portability (some calibers aren’t as easy to carry).
What kind of shots should you expect when hunting leopard?
The leopard is not a large animal and can be hunted with a 30-06 rifle as its most difficult shot is from the back and more than 100 yards.
In addition, you should use 180 grain bullets or greater to obtain maximum results.
Hunters should never shoot leopards in their hind legs because they will likely escape, or if they have fallen on their stomach.
This shot is a head or heart lung shot that is optimal for the success of the hunt.
There are many types of cover where hunters have an opportunity at a kill, but hunting in trees or on rocky hillsides are better opportunities than grasslands where there are too many long shots possible.
Equipment needed for Leopard Hunting
You will need a hunting rifle with a scope, large caliber for a big cat like leopard, and enough ammunition; binoculars; basic hunting gear such as jackets, tents, water carriers and sleeping bags; GPS tracker that can transmit information on leopards’ location wirelessly to your phone or tablet; food rations for long hunts lasting up to three days in the jungle.
There are many rules of etiquette when out hunting for leopards that are not listed here but it is important to remember this one rule of thumb when hunting – always shoot from a safe distance.
What percentage of Leopard hunts are successful?
Success rates vary by region and the type of leopard you are hunting. Northern Africa offers the most success, with 30% of hunts resulting in a kill.
While this is probably higher than you would expect, it is important to note that not all hunts produce leopards.
Some hunts result in bush pigs or other animals being taken.
In Asia and South America, success rates are lower, generally around 15-20%.
However, these regions offer hunts for a wider variety of big cats like Tigers and Jaguars.
It should be noted that over half of all leopard hunts will fail due to the high degree of difficulty involved.
Final Thoughts about Hunting Leopard
Hunting Leopard can be very challenging; but there are a lot of things that one needs to consider in order to succeed.
If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation where you are unprepared for leopard hunting because it is completely new for you or if you need some advice on how to do it properly then, you can hire someone who can explain you from top to bottom.
Hope you liked this article about Hunting Leopard.
Leave your queries if any.
