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Hunting is also an ideal way to preserve and conserve the natural environment. This is not as contradictory as you think. Real world examples in Tanzania , South Africa and Mozambique have all shown hunting to be the best way to protect the bounty of nature.
In Mozambique , Hunting concessions build roads, provide infrastructure, employment and education to some of the poorest parts of the country. Concession owners are responsible for providing anti-poaching patrols, protecting endangered species and training the local population in conservation.
In South Africa , Hunting alone is a Billion Rand industry and has helped to repopulate and continue to protect species such as the white rhino, black wildebeest, bontebok and others. It has been proven consistently that putting a value on the animal has helped preserve animal populations at viable levels allowing the species as a whole to thrive and the environment to remain ecologically balanced.
It comes down to the basics of land use, large populations like those in African countries need natural resources like the land and the game on it. In many places if the land was not controlled by hunting concessions and hunting reserves, the land would be empty, the game trapped and snared for the pot and the land exploited for firewood, mineral deposits and housing.
However hunting gives the wilderness a reason to exist in the modern world. Countries need the revenue that hunters bring and have found that assigning high values to the animals is the best way to stop poaching. In short, limited and ethical hunting is very beneficial to wildlife and conservation in general. Putting a high value on game species in combination with strong legislation to conserve and protect bio-diversity, while still allowing the consumption of game and use of the land is the solution. Hunting is considered the best use of wilderness land as it produces the best revenues for the land. A Hunter will pay top dollar to hunt, whereas an ordinary tourist brings in half that at best estimates.
Let us face simple facts, if the land was not producing high revenues from the hunting tourism industry, it would probably be ploughed up as farm land, built on as homes or barren due to poaching. So hunting and conservation go hand in hand. Really all hunters want their children to hunt in the same places they do and as such see themselves as true guardians of nature.
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We hunt according to the rules of fair chase! As such, there will be no shooting any animal from a vehicle unless it is a problem animal or an animal management issue. We spot the quarry and then dismount to stalk it on foot. Our approach may be as long as 2-3 hours, or as short as 10 to 20 minutes depending on the terrain and circumstances.
Most hunters use rifles with telescopic sights, while some use simple iron sights that require the animal to be a lot closer. We also do bow hunting which limits your engagement range to 20-30metres. This requires a large amount of skill and practice. Invariably the animals have plenty of time to get away from the hunters.
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"Fair Chase" Hunting is a method of hunting that allows the quarry as much time to spot the hunter and escape as possible. The use of vehicles in the chase are not allowed. Most animals are spotted from the 4 wheel drive vehicle, at which point the hunter and his guide dismount and stalk up to the animal on foot. This stalk can last from 20 minutes to 2 hours. Successful conclusion of the stalk should put the hunter in position to make an accurate shot on the quarry. During the stalk and set up for the shot, the quarry is alert and responds immediately to any perceived threat. About 50% of all attempted stalks may fail due to poor field craft, change in weather or chance. Hunters learn to respect their quarry for their finely tuned senses, their uncanny ability to sense the hunter and their strength and speed.
"Fair Chase" puts the hunter in competition with nature and gives the quarry every chance to spot the hunter and escape. |
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While there are some distasteful aspects to hunting, we believe hunting promotes respect of the natural world, your quarry and ultimately your meal. Domestic animals live dull mundane existences and are slaughtered in abattoirs with electric shock, hydraulic bolt guns and sometimes exsanguinations (cutting of the carotid artery in the Islamic tradition).Domestic animals often wait terrified in corrals awaiting their turn to be slaughtered. Wild animals live natural lives, free from cages and have a good chance of escaping the hunter on foot. You be the judge of what is cruel.
With practice a shot can be delivered to kill quickly and with the minimum of suffering to the animal.
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All the animals are fully utilized. The heads are taken for trophies as is the skin. Often this can be made into leather and handicrafts as well. All of the meat is used. We eat the choice cuts and provide the rest to the staff and their families or to the butcher. Even the offal is used as it is considered a real delicacy to the Africans and some seasoned Africa hands. Absolutely nothing is wasted from a game animal as wild game is considered a special treat and game biltong (dry meat) is an African Staple.
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Hunting is sustainable in two spheres. These are the economic sense and the environmental sense.
Economically, hunting makes use of land that is not suitable for farming. Much of Africa is like that. You may note that both Ragged Stone and Askari Game Reserve are extremely difficult places to farm. They have serious gradients, large rocks and soil that is only marginally fertile. This makes cattle or arable farming ill suited to the land. Game farming utilizes the lands basic make up fully. Native plants and animals are all suited to the land and weather and provide a steady source of revenue and a place of employment for the local population. The land is protected, while the local population benefits from the income the land generates. It's a win-win situation.
Hunting is sustainable in the environmental sense as well. Many parts of Africa like Ragged Stone, Askari Game reserve and others are former farms changed back into habitats for native plants and animals. Many of these areas are still fenced for management purposes as some neighbours may still be farmers. For our neighbours safety, the higher predators like Lions, Leopards & Hyenas have not been re-introduced. This means the herds of herbivores that are present have to be managed and controlled to prevent a population explosion. Hunting fulfils this need for predators. Hunters shoot only mature animals that have had a chance to transmit the genes to the next generation. Our hunters are only allowed to shoot selected animals, in line with a sustainable quota worked out by our owners, their staff and wildlife management professionals.
As such hunting is a sustainable and in being a hunter, you are making the best use of the land, providing income & employment and still safeguarding the ecological treasures of Africa . |
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Shoulder Height : 1,2meters
Body Weight : 180-210 kilograms
Hunt : Found in scattered thorntree flats. Feeds in herds. Usually a long shot (up to 250 yards) as they have very good eyesight and senses. Very tough animal and important for good shot placement. Caliber .30 and above. .300wm or equivalent recommended
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Shoulder Height : 1.5-1.7 meters
Body Weight : 460 - 700 kilograms
Hunt : Found in scattered thorntree flats and valley slopes. Feeds in herds sometimes found in bachelor herds with old and young bulls. Sighting them from a distance and stalking into them on foot. Because of their feeding habits, one usually gets in within 100 yards, sometimes longer. Eland are big animals so it is important for good shot placement. Caliber .30 and above. .300wm or equivalent recommended
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Shoulder Height : 1.3 meters
Body Weight : 150 - 300 kilograms
Hunt : Found in Bushveld and always associated to thick bushy areas. Feeds in herds sometimes found in bachelor herds with old and young bulls, or solitary old bulls. Depending on the terrain, shot varies from 50- 250 yards; sometimes one can stalk in closer if the terrain allows for it. We usually sit for them in the mornings and evenings and stalk on foot into them if we can. Good shot placement is important as they slip into thick bush when wounded. Caliber .30 and above. .300wm or equivalent recommended
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Shoulder Height : 0.7-0.8 meters
Body Weight : 25-70 kilograms
Hunt : Found in Bushveld and always associated to thick bushy areas. Solitary animals but can be found together when feeding. Depending on the terrain, shot varies from 10- 250 yards; sometimes one can stalk in closer if the terrain allows for it. We usually sit for them in the mornings and evenings and stalk on foot into them if we can. Sometimes walking along dry riverbeds gives a good chance of bumping into them at a close range (10 yards). Good shot placement is important as they slip into thick bush when wounded and are very ferocious when wounded.
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Shoulder Height : 1 - 1.2 meters
Body Weight : 50 - 130 kilograms
Hunt : Found in Bushveld and always associated to thick bushy areas and riverine forests. Solitary animals but can be found together when feeding. Depending on the terrain, shot varies from 10- 250 yards; sometimes one can stalk in closer if the terrain allows for it. We usually sit for them in the mornings and evenings and stalk on foot into them if we can. Sometimes walking along dry riverbeds gives a good chance of bumping into them at a close range (10 yards). They are graceful animals and usually don't run far if wounded. They are not as aware as Bushbuck so getting in closer on foot is easier if the terrain allows for it.
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Shoulder Height : .75 meters
Body Weight : 30 - 50 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grass plains or scattered throntree areas. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually a long shot from 100-300 yards, depending on the terrain, but they usually feed where there is no cover, making stalking difficult. They usually fall with a reasonable shot and following up wounded Springbuck is usually easier as they find safety in the open terrain, making sight easier. Sub-species available are the common, black, white and golden Springbuck.
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Shoulder Height : 1 meter
Body Weight : 40 - 80 kilograms
Hunt : Found in scattered bush along flats and valleys. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually we get in within 150 yards. Good shot placement is important as they are tough, and if wounded can run long distances and usually head for thick cover. They are tasty and often sought after for the pot and for Leopard baits.
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Shoulder Height : .75 meters
Body Weight : 30 - 40 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grassy mountain slopes and dry river valleys. Found in breeding herds as well as territorial rams on their own. Usually a long shot from 100-250 yards, depending on the terrain. Sometimes stalking closer is possible with sufficient cover. Good shot placement is important as they can cover long distances if wounded and have excellent camouflage in their grassy habitat.
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Shoulder Height : 1 meter
Body Weight : 60 - 85 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grass plains or scattered thorn tree areas. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually a long shot from 50-300 yards, depending on the terrain, but they usually feed where there is no cover, making stalking difficult. Good shot placement is important as they can cover long distances when wounded and usually run a few hundred yards even if mortally shot.
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Shoulder Height : 1.25 meters
Body Weight : 105 - 182 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grass plains or scattered throntree areas. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually a long shot from 100-300 yards, depending on the terrain, but they usually feed where there is good cover, making approach on foot reasoable. Very tough animals and shot placement in important. They can run long distances if wounded and as they are one of the fastest antelopes on earth, following up is difficult.
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Shoulder Height : 1.2 meters
Body Weight : 90 - 160 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grass plains or scattered throntree areas. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually a long shot from 100-300 yards, depending on the terrain, but they usually feed where there is no cover, making stalking difficult. Good shot placement is important as they fall with a reasonable shot but usually get up and run off back into the herd, making a second safe shot difficult. Caliber .30 and above. 300wm or equivalent reccomended.
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Shoulder Height : 1.35 - 1.5 meters
Body Weight : 180 - 280 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grass plains, scattered throntree areas as well as valley slopes. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually a long shot within 150 yards, depending on the terrain. Often find old bachelor bulls on their own where one can usually get in close on foot (up to 15 yards). Good shot placement is very important as they are very tough animals and dash off
into very thick bush. Caliber .30 and above. .300wm or equivalent reccomended.
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Shoulder Height : 1.36 meters
Body Weight : 320 kilograms
Hunt : Found in grass plains or scattered throntree areas. Found in breeding herds as well as bachelor herds. Usually a long shot from 100-300 yards, depending on the terrain, but they usually feed where there is no cover, making stalking difficult. A good shot is important although they are usually easy to follow up. Caliber .30 and above. .300wm or equivalent reccomended
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Shoulder Height : .9 - 1 meters
Body Weight : 40 - 90 kilograms
Hunt : Found in river valleys, thick forests farm crops and thick bush. Found in sounders of up to 10 pigs. Usually shot at close range with a shotgun from a tree stand on bait. Depending on the time of the year, hunting on foot at night by moonlight is possible where one walks into the feeding sounder noise. Very dangerous when wounded.
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Shoulder Height : .6 -. 7 meters
Body Weight : 40 - 110 kilograms
Hunt : Found in scattered bush openings and riverbeds. Usually shot within 50 yards. They feed on their own or in family groups of up to 8 pigs. Good shot placement is important as they are tough and can get into their holes if not caught in time.
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Shoulder Height : 1 - 1.6 meters
Body Weight : 20 - 45 kilograms
Hunt : Found in anywhere where there is food. Found in troops of up to 50 baboons. Usually a long shot from 100-300 yards, depending on the terrain, they have excellent eyesight and have sentries posted as observers. They are tough and very dangerous if wounded. Often considered a pest species they are extremely wary of any hunters, but are used to invading some lodges once they have learned that food is available. Guests are reminded not to feed them as they can cause large amounts of property damage when foraging in camp.
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Copyright © 2004 Blaze Sporting Clays. All rights reserved. |
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