Hunting lions or leopards in the wild can be a real challenge. This is especially true for leopards, which are by nature wily and elusive animals that are always very aware of their surroundings, making it extremely difficult to sneak up on them unawares. Lions tend to be less vigilant.
During the hotter hours of the day, being the lazy creatures that they are, they will lie around resting or dozing – especially after having eaten a good meal. When active and on the move, however, lions are very observant and also difficult to approach to within shooting range.
Both species tend to be more active between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Unless a specific animal has been identified as a “problem, whereupon a permit may be issued by the relevant authorities to hunt it at night, both lion and leopard will have to be hunted during daylight hours – first light to last light.
Many footsore, frustrating, and sweaty hours can be spent (and wasted) trying to hunt lion and leopard on foot. Most times, a leopard will be aware of your approach and will move off silently and unseen without you having even been aware of their presence. Lions generally trot off if they see, hear, or smell humans approaching. They may, on occasion, however, stand their ground or approach closer when they detect humans, and it is on these occasions, which are more the exception than the rule, that a hunter, on foot, may be presented with an opportunity for a shot.
For increasing one’s chances of success, it has been demonstrated, over many years, that instead of walk and stalk or spot and stalk methods, greater success in hunting lion or leopard will be achieved if the animals are somehow enticed to approach a point within shooting range of a concealed hunter rather than trying to approach them on foot. This is where the art and science of baiting comes into play. In this article, we will be looking specifically at how to select a suitable site for baiting. In a separate article, we will discuss how to place and build a hide over a bait.
THE SITE MUST BE IN AN ACTIVE AREA
It is pointless setting up a bait site if there is no evidence of lion/leopard in the area. The first thing is that it must be established, by finding fresh evidence and signs, that lion/leopard are indeed active in the area to be hunted. The signs must be fresh, as sometimes lion/leopard may be nomadic and are just passing through an area and may not be resident. Old signs, such as skeletal remains of prey species, old scat, claw marks on trees, etc., may indicate that lion/leopard were there at some stage but may have long since departed the vicinity. The following sign will confirm an active presence:
- Fresh tracks: Search for tracks on a suitable substrate. Game paths, riverbeds, bush tracks, waterholes, and areas devoid of ground cover can be productive. (See Figure 1).
- Fresh scat: Both lion and leopard tend to defecate at random sites and may be found anywhere they have walked. Lion scat smells awful and may often be smelled before being found. (See Figure 2).
- Fresh remains of prey species: Bones and carcasses on the ground will indicate the presence of lion whereas kills or skeletal remains in the branches of trees are a sure sign of leopard. (See Figure 3).
- Claw marks on the trunk of large trees: Leopards and lions will leave claw marks on the trunk of trees when sharpening their claws or when climbing up into a tree (Figure 4). Leopards are exceptionally good climbers and will claw their way up a vertical trunk with consummate ease, whereas lions are not as good at scaling trees and will do so only if the main trunk of the tree slopes at an angle.
- Vocalizations: Dawn, dusk, or nocturnal vocalizations such as lions roaring, or leopard “coughing/sawing” will be a sure sign that these animals are present in the area.
- Visual sighting: Visual sightings by locals or recorded on camera traps will confirm a presence (Figure 5).
From the sign collected, try and establish an area of core activity – the place where the species you are after tend to hang out. It is within this area that you must select a suitable bait site.
SUITABLE FOR A HIDE
The site selected must be hide compatible. In other words, there must be enough cover around the site where you are going to place the bait to be able to build and conceal a hide.
THE TREE MUST BE SUITABLY SHAPED
The tree in which the bait is to be secured must be of suitable shape, especially for a leopard. Any big tree will generally do for a lion, as the purpose of the tree is to provide a strong anchor point to which the bait is to be secured.
The bait can be anchored on the ground against the trunk of the tree (Figure 6) or pulled up into the tree so that it lies against the trunk but in such a position to force a lion to stand up on its hind legs to reach it (Figure 7).
Lions are not as adept at tree climbing as leopards, so it is better to place the bait on the ground or up against the trunk. A tree with a sloping main trunk may also be selected in which to secure a lion bait. Lions can climb sloping branches and give them access to the bait whilst at the same time keeping the bait carcass out of the reach of hyaena or other terrestrial scavengers. For the leopard, there should be a strong lateral branch fairly high up on which the bait can be secured, resting on the branch (Figure 8).
The main trunk of the tree should be vertical, as this will prevent lions from getting to the bait. A lateral branch will provide a comfortable position for the leopard to lie down and feed, and present a good side-on heart shot when it stands up. The lateral branch or tree trunk to which the bait is secured must have a clear and unobstructed view from the hide.
SELECT A SUITABLE BAIT AND SECURE IT
For leopard, a warthog, baboon, or impala-sized antelope will all work well. Anything bigger will make lifting, positioning, and securing the bait onto a lateral branch a lot more difficult and impractical. A leopard will not consume an impala carcass at one sitting and may return on two to three consecutive nights to feed. A large animal should be shot for lion bait (Figure 9).
Figure 9: Buffalo shot for lion bait.[/caption
A buffalo, zebra, or blue wildebeest-sized animal should be used, as anything smaller will soon be devoured – especially if there is more than one lion. Secure or suspend the bait with a chain or steel cable.
Nylon or sisal rope will soon be severed by the sharp carnassial teeth of the big cats and defeats the purpose of securing the bait, which is to keep it in place and prevent it from falling out of the tree or being dragged off. When placing and securing the bait, it is advisable to wear gloves and to stand on hessian sacks to minimize human scent. Do not allow too many people around the bait site (one or two people maximum) and make sure no one urinates or “does their business” in the vicinity of the bait tree, as human scent and excretions are sure to scare big cats away.
THE BAIT MUST BE PROTECTED AGAINST SCAVENGERS
Protect the bait from aerial scavengers such as vultures, Marabou storks or crows by covering it with leafy branches and making it less visible (Figure 10) from above.
The idea of placing a carcass on a lateral branch or higher up against a tree trunk is to keep it out of reach of ground scavengers such as hyaena and jackal (Figure 11).
If they can reach the bait, they may be able to pull it down and carry it off.
THE BAIT MUST BE PLACED HIGH ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE FEEDER FROM HARASSMENT
If the bait is placed too low down, a leopard feeding on it may be harassed or chased off by hyaena, whereas if secured higher up, a leopard may continue to feed quite contentedly even if there are hyaena running around on the ground under the tree (Figure 12).
LAY A SCENT TRAIL
Lions and leopards will locate a carcass by smell. To lure a leopard/lion to the bait, use the intestines of the bait animal to lay a scent trail. Place the organs in a cloth bag and drag the bag from different directions towards and ending at the bait tree (Figure 13).
Figure 13: Laying a scent trail leading to the bait from a bag filled with offal.
When the scent trail is detected, the leopard/lion will then follow it to where the bait is secured.
MONITOR THE BAIT
It is a good idea to place a trail cam recorder in a position from which the secured bait can be clearly seen to monitor what comes to the carcass and when (Figure 14).
