coueselk Report post Posted July 26, 2009 To my friends on CW, I'm getting ready to leave for my leopard hunt in two days. I'm going to try to give day by day updates while on the hunt. The past hunts where to hard to do with the kids. So I decided that I'll give it a go on this one, network permitting. This will be probably my last hunt in Africa, as we are hoping to go back to the US next year. Plus, with all the animals we have taken on the past two hunts with the kids, we are going to have big problems with where to put all the mounts in the house. My primary animal is the leopard but since I'm on this hunt by myself (wife and kids are in the US for a couple of months) I have pretty much said anything goes for which I haven't taken already. So I hope to get quite a few animals. So this should be a good start to the hunts thread. I have been doing laundry all day, packing my bags and charging the cameras. PH sent me a text today and said that it is freezing there. So I'm already at a disadvantage, here in the Congo it never freezes, so I don't have any cold weather clothes. So I'm packing whatever I can layer to keep me warm. Another sleepless night tonight in antisipation of the upcoming travel. So with quite a few shots and cold one chasers going down, some good old country music rocking throughout the house and neighborhood. I leave you until Wednesday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted July 26, 2009 This thread is going to be awesome. Good luck and hopefully you can keep us updated regularly! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youngbuck Report post Posted July 26, 2009 Im suscribing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ehunt Report post Posted July 26, 2009 your hunt sounds exciting!! good luck and we look forward to hearing about it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
couesridge Report post Posted July 26, 2009 good luck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted July 26, 2009 Man that is awesome.! It has always been my dream to take a full blown African safari. Good luck on your hunt and we hope you got some great pics and a good story when you are done. Stay safe out there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScottAdams Report post Posted July 27, 2009 Good Luck Danny! Waiting to hear the hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
singleshot Report post Posted July 27, 2009 Good luck Danny! The home town crowd is jealous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted July 27, 2009 My Dream Hunt for sure!!! Best of luck! Can't wait for the pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted July 27, 2009 Best of luck. I had an email from friends in Pretoria today who said they have never experienced such a cold winter as this one in South Africa and both are in their 70s. Bill Quimby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueselk Report post Posted August 1, 2009 As promised all. Here is the beginning of the story. I'm a couple of days behind, but having problems with the network. Well the hunt began with landing in Windhoek. My guides welcomed me with good news that they had a couple of different good cats hitting the baits. With getting settled in that night after a quick dinner and a few beers, the next day would be interesting. Day one, July 29th. After getting up early after a nice hot shower, here is a picture of the sunrise from the lodge. We had a quick breakfast and then headed out to do a little sighting in of the rifles and then procede with checking of the baits. We checked the first two but nothing had been hitting them. As we were headed for the 3rd bait, I happen to spot these gemsbok and snapped a couple of pictures. When we arrived at the 3rd bait, there was good news. The big cat that had ate on this a few days before had been back again. They had put up a trail camera and we were quick to see the pictures. It was a very large tom. Everyone is excited. So now we get to work on building the blind. From the pictures, it looked as if the cat was feeding just after sunset, so we had to work hard. As we were building the blind, we heard a dog barking nearby and then the screams of a young warthog. One of the PH’s grabbed his shotgun and we ran toward the commotion. It was a poachers dog that had caught a piglet. The dog looked happy as we walked up to it, as it had done a good job. Neverless, it was a poachers dog, so I shouldn’t have to say more. Well we went back to work on the blind and finished up at around 1:00pm. Hurried back to the lodge to grab some additional gear for the cold night ahead. We got back into the blind around 4:00pm and it was dead silence from there on. Into the night was sounds of jackels and even some baboons, which we figured had spotted the leopard somewhere on the mountains near us. It was a long, cold night of pushing each other to stop any signs of possible snoring. No leopard this night. The story to continue............. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted August 1, 2009 Very cool! Good luck on getting that big ole cat or another one for that matter. Thanks for the update. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 1, 2009 Great update!! Thanks for taking us along with you!! I love these kinds of posts! Enjoy the sounds of the African night for me!! Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScottAdams Report post Posted August 1, 2009 Man what a great adventure Danny! I wish I was there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted August 4, 2009 Keep it coming! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites