After awhile the good and sometimes the great shots you made fade a bit but the others stick in your mind. My 2nd trip to Zim was for leopard, buff, sable and other plainsgame...but leopard was the 1st priority. My 1st trip was 16 days on leopard hunting frustration and I really wanted a leopard. The 2nd trip was fantastic with one-shot kills on almost eveything but the leopards weren't co-operating until one morning all the baits save one had been hit. The 3rd afternoon in the blind was the charm but for some reason the shot went a little high and we had a wounded leopard on our hands and it was getting dark.

After a quick recce the PH and tracker decided it had been hit pretty hard and would "probably" be dead by morning but they were concerned hyaenas might get to it and ruin the hide. I was afraid the PH was going to tell me wait while he and the tracker followed up my leopard but when he looked at me and said "Are you ready?" I'll never forget the feeling his confidence in me gave me.

We followed the blood trail and I had to make a quick shot at fairly close range to bring my "leopard quest" to a successful conclusion. Every time I look at the mount I can't help but think of not only making a shot when I had to but in his vote of confidence when he ask "Are you ready?"