LEOPARD

Length including tail: 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 feet (170-230 cm)

Shoulder height:  20-30 inches (51-76 cm)

Weight: (male) 80 to +160 pounds (36-+73 kg)

Weight: (female) 60 to 130 pounds (27-59 kg)

Max age: 10 to 15 years

 

NATURAL HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION

Leopards can be found throughout Africa except in dry deserts.

 

BEHAVIOR

Leopards are nocturnal and usually rest in cover or on trees during the day.  Their pray ranges from small antelopes to birds and monkeys. Except during the mating season Leopards are solitary. Breeding can take place throughout the year (gestation time is 3 months). The Cups stay with their mother for up to 2 years. Males inhabit territories of 5 to 40 square km overlapping the territories of several females. They are incredibly strong and are capable of lifting carcasses three times their own body weight into trees to be safe from Hyenas and Lions.

 

THE HUNT

Leopards are the most difficult to hunt animals of the Big Five. Only male Leopards are hunted. Especially close to civilization these intelligent cats with excellent hearing, smell and good eyesight educate fast and get extremely difficult to hunt at night. In remote wilderness areas hunting can take place during daylight increasing success and quality of the hunt.

To outfox these cats usually several baits are hung into trees and thick blinds are built to keep the feeding cats unaware. Leopard hunting requires luck - “Leopard Luck”.

Even so smaller calibers work well with proper shot placement we recommend calibers like 9,3 x 62 to 375 with soft point ammunition. A single precise shot is needed since there will be no time for a backup shot and wounded Leopards will charge when searched after.