In reply to:

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The outfitter shoots a Leopard before the start of the season and freezes it.....then a few days into each hunt he sends someone to the bait tree with the frozen pussy and a jar of blood......When the client arrives he sees the cat on the bait and is encouraged to shoot it quick!.....at the shot, the cat (which has a long piece of fishing line attached to it) gets pulled off the tree and the blood chucked about the place......the the Leopard gets picked up, carried away and returned to the freezer for the next time. The client is told he's wounded the cat and after a little walking & tracking told he's lost it......but of course, he still has to pay the trophy fee......then the landowner just claims an unsuccessful hunt and sells the licence again..... one of these was discovered last year when two hunters found themselves in adjacent seats flying home to the USA!.

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Steve,

I'm amazed that someone would pull a stunt like this (and the others you mentioned). But it is unfortunatly not too suprising. I just recently looked at a website where they (a RSA hunting ranch near Soutpansberg) say they have been dealt 5 lion permits for 2005 which cost US$6500 for the trophy fee, plus a minimum of 7 days daily rates. Only "stalking" is allowed, as they don't allow the use of baits. From the website, it appears as if every "hunter" last year got his lion(ese!) within the first day!!! Does the word canned lion(ese) ring a bell...

Thank you for the warning regarding all the monkey business that goes on in RSA. I'm sure the real deal when it comes to hunting can be found in RSA too, but it's best to be cautious and do ones homework before booking. Perhaps more there then elsewhere.

Erik