Quote:

---

One thing that would be interesting to know is how often do leopards turn and fight when being chased by hounds. I read it is quite common.

I have read the same thing, and also that jaguar in S America do similarly, some never treeing at all. Our bear fairly commonly fight the dogs though many will tree before much of a fight occurs, or may tree way before the dogs get close enough for a fight to take place. Some bay up and stand their ground and just have it out. The bear that gave me the trouble noted did neither. It fought the dogs as it jogged along, never baying up or treeing. It would jog along then turn and grab a dog, worry it up good and then jog along again. The race was not the longest I've been on, but best as we could tell the bear did this for a solid 2 hours before I put the first round into it. Some of the houndsmen around here tell me the nastiest bear they deal with are smallish sows, and that is exactly what that bear was.

One thing that did stick out from the reports was the assumption the leopard was gone and the nonchalance of poking around where it had just vacated. But who knew it was waiting there with "murder in its heart". A tough angry leopard. But as I said before "Shit happens".

I'm afraid I'd have strolled right smack dab into the middle of the critter's teeth. I would have never guessed it would still have been there! There is a lot of noise and general mayhem involved in hounding, and I for one never would have thought the leopard would have stuck around for more after the dogs left the scene the first time. Differences between leopard and bear, I guess. Something to remember if I ever get a chance to leopard hunt with hounds which, I might add, has got to be an absolute rush!

---