Cats of the World

Hunting wild cats requires specialized knowledge, expert guides, and often meticulous planning due to the animals' intelligence, nocturnal or crepuscular habits, and the rugged terrain they often inhabit. Our experienced consultants can help you navigate the complexities of planning these unique hunts, ensuring you partner with operators who prioritize ethical practices, fair chase, and contribute to science-based wildlife management. Please note: Outdoors International does NOT facilitate hunts for endangered or illegally hunted cat species like Tiger, Jaguar, Snow Leopard, or Cheetah.

• Legally Huntable Wild Cat Species (Subject to Current Regulations & Import Permissibility): We connect hunters with specialized outfitters for a select range of wild cat species where legal and sustainable hunting programs are in place:

  • North American Cats:
    • Mountain Lion (Cougar / Puma): A classic North American pursuit in many Western U.S. states and Canadian provinces, often utilizing skilled houndsmen in rugged terrain.
    • Bobcat: Hunted in many parts of the U.S. and Canada, typically with hounds, calling, or incidentally during other hunts.
    • Canada Lynx: More restricted opportunities, primarily in Canada and Alaska, often pursued by trappers or specialized hunters.
  • African Cats:
    • Leopard: A highly prized member of the "Big Five," hunted cautiously over bait from blinds, typically at night, in several African nations with strict quota systems (e.g., South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique). CITES permits are mandatory, and import eligibility to your home country must be verified.
    • Caracal & Serval: These smaller, elusive African cats may be hunted in some regions, often with specialized techniques like hounds or predator calling.
    • African Wildcat: Occasionally hunted as part of a broader safari.
    • Regarding African Lions: While regulated lion hunting occurs in a few African countries, significant restrictions and bans on trophy importation exist for U.S. citizens and citizens of other nations. Outdoors International approaches any lion hunt inquiry with extreme caution, fully assessing current legality, ethical considerations, and, critically, the client's ability to legally import any trophies. We generally do not promote lion hunting to U.S. clients due to these complexities.
  • European & Asian Cats:
    • Eurasian Lynx: Regulated hunting opportunities may exist in select European countries (e.g., parts of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe) and Russia.

• The Nature of Wild Cat Hunting:

  • Challenging & Elusive Quarry: Wild cats are intelligent, possess keen senses, and are often nocturnal, making them exceptionally challenging to hunt.
  • Specialized Techniques: Methods vary greatly by species and region, including hunting with highly trained hounds (Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Caracal), baiting from blinds (Leopard), calling, and opportunistic encounters.
  • Emphasis on Conservation & Management: Legal hunting for these species, where it occurs, is almost always part of a structured wildlife management program designed to maintain healthy populations, mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and generate revenue for conservation and local communities.
  • Regulatory Compliance: All cat hunts are subject to strict quotas, licensing, CITES permits (for international transport), and import/export laws of both the hunting country and the hunter's home country.

Working with Outdoors International for your wild cat hunting expedition ensures you are connected with reputable outfitters who operate entirely within legal and ethical frameworks. Our consultants provide up-to-date information on regulations, CITES requirements, and the specific import conditions for your country. We help you understand the commitment involved in these specialized hunts and assist with all aspects of planning a safe, responsible, and potentially once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Due to the highly specialized, regulated, and sensitive nature of wild cat hunting, we encourage you to contact an Outdoors International consultant directly for a detailed and confidential discussion regarding current legal opportunities, ethical considerations, and specific import/export requirements applicable to your situation.