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The majority of hunting today is done in fenced private "game farms". The hunting is what you make of it. The PH will oblige if you want to sit on the back of the vehicle and take your shots from there. Or he will hunt with you on foot (I suppose there are a couple who won't but you should ask upfront). As long as the property is 2500 acres plus (ask beforehand), you will get plenty of exercise, and since the game is likely to have been shot at before, you will have to put up a decent stalk. Certain species are more challenging than others, eg Kudu. If you don't know a PH who will give you a fair chase hunt, I can put you in touch with one who will be happy to make you sweat. Leopards have traditionally been hunted from blinds over bait. Most blinds are ground blinds, which adds a little excitement to the hunt. However, there is an alternative: daylight hot pursuit hunts. This is a very exciting way to hunt, but is only possible where the terrain is fairly flat and open. A male leopard track is found, trackers follow with the hunter in tow (realistically on the vehicle but I suppose you could do it on foot if you don't have any dependents). When the trail is hot, or the leopard is sighted, the trackers fall back and hounds are released. These dogs give tongue and the whole thing picks up momentum. Soon the leopard will be sighted and is then pursued at high speed. He won't go far before turning to kill his attackers. I am not joking about this. He will pick out the person who is making eye contact and charge. That is usually the hunter perched on the back of the pursuit vehicle with a shotgun. If you don't get him, he will draw blood for sure. An exciting finish to a long hot dusty trail. I have a couple of these hunts available for 2003 in the Central Kalahari. |