The 2019 hunting season has finally arrived. Our members’ focus has shifted from administration to hunting and we are experiencing a decline in the correspondence at our national office. The crispness in the air is also an indication that it is time to make biltong.
Election
The election is done and dusted, and the results are known. At the time of writing this newsletter, the new cabinet is yet to be announced and we have no idea if there will be a new Minister of Police. Let’s keep an eye on the press. We should know soon.
HuntEx 2020
Please diarise the dates of HuntEx2020, which is scheduled for 24 – 27 April 2020. Some members get upset if we do not let them know well in advance.
Conservation
Leopard trophy hunting
SA Hunters supports the responsible use of natural resources and participates actively in processes and discussions on this matter. Therefore, we will be part of the process to determine a quota for the hunting of leopards in South Africa.
The Department of Environmental Affairs invited the public to make written submission in this regard to the Scientific Authority by 15 June 2019, to assist them in their recommendations for a quota for leopard trophy hunting. The Department will also host public consultation sessions on 4 June 2019 at 13:00 at its office in Pretoria. More information is available here.
Lion bone quota
Every year, the Department of Environmental Affairs determines a quota for the number of lion skeletons (bones) that may be exported to China. This matter will also be discussed at a public workshop at Environment House (DEA), 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria from 08:00 to 12:00 on 4 June 2019.
Elephant management plan
Lizanne Nel will represent SA Hunters at a discussion on elephant management at the Wildlife College from 4 to 6 June 2019. It is part of a process by the Department of Environmental Affairs to formulate a national strategy for the management of elephants. The Association will also participate in a three-year research programme led by Professor Rob Slotow and Dr Enrico Di Minin that were appointed by DEA.
International developments and liaison
During the past few months, several international policies and opinions have hit the headlines:
- The Botswana government decided to allow trophy hunting as part of its elephant management programme.
- Zimbabwe decided to allow bow-hunting of buffalo to stimulate tourism and to generate income for nature conservation.
- Kenya decided to accept and promote the commercial use of game meat.
More information on these developments is available on SA Hunters Conservation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Tinyarhi
Lizanne Nel was a guest speaker at the annual CIC conference held in Namibia where she presented a paper on the future of conservation in Africa. An excerpt of this session is available here.
Hunting affairs
General news
As responsible hunters it is our duty to take note of the hunting regulations that are applicable in the areas where we intend to hunt. Here is the most recent information as provided by our hunting affairs department. It includes guidelines on the requirements to import meat from certain neighbouring countries.
African Swine Fever
We remind members that African Swine Fever (ASF) has spread to four provinces, e.g. Free State, North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. Therefore, the transport of meat from live pigs is restricted in these provinces or completely forbidden in regions where an ASF outbreak has been confirmed.
Please take note of the restrictions with regard to the transport of hunted wild pig meat: It is permissible to transport wild pig carcasses/meat, provided that each carcass has the appropriate permit issued by the Department of
Agriculture (or issued by registered members of SA Hunters) and that all permit requirements are adhered to (e.g. no head, feet, skin or entrails may be transported with the meat and all lymph nodes must be removed.)
Roadblocks have been set up since ASF broke out. Anyone that transports pig meat without a permit or that transgresses the requirements of the permit, will face prosecution.
Anthrax in Lesotho
We received confirmation on 28 May that anthrax broke out in the Maseru region of Lesotho. The translocation of all split hoof animals between Lesotho and the Free State is forbidden. Members in the east Free State adjacent the Lesotho border, should exercise extreme caution as infected animals might cross the river from Lesotho. Anthrax is deadly and highly contagious. More information is available here.
SAA: Levies on transport of firearms
Members and professional hunters are advised that SAA implemented a levy on the handling of firearms, both locally and internationally, on 15 May 2019. SAA summarily added an additional levy of US$ 100 per firearm. We are trying to contact SAA to discuss this sudden move. We expect that it would have a huge impact on the hunting and sport shooting sector. More information is available here.
Buffalo hunt for R50
The Mangalana tribe adjacent to the Sabie Game Park in Mozambique allocated a buffalo from its hunting quota to SA Hunters. The Sabie Game Park is located across the border with Mozambique. One can easily drive there to hunt. The hunting area in the Sabie Game Park is located on the eastern border of KNP where the Sabie River flows into Mozambique and where large buffalo populations occur.
The second prize in our lucky draw is a polished diamond to the value of R28 000, donated by the Diamant Branch of SA Hunters.
To stand a chance to win the buffalo hunt or diamond:
- Transfer R50 or multiples of R50 (for additional chances to win) by EFT in the bank account of SA Hunters held at ABSA, account number 01443990077.
- Use your mobile phone number and Buffalo as reference.
Entries for this draw close on 31 July 2019. SA Hunters will use your mobile phone number to determine the lucky winners in this competition.
Fitch and Leedes also donated several smaller prizes that can be won.
The conditions of this hunting opportunity are available here.
Tiger fishing
Hunting affairs is offering a tiger fishing opportunity. For R50, members stand a chance to win a tiger fishing adventure in the Komati River at Komatipoort. The prize caters for four people. The boat, bait and a guide are included for two sessions (one session of 12 hours and one session of six hours). The boat is wheelchair friendly.
Your own transport to Komatipoort, accommodation and meals are not included in the prize. Camping facilities with ablutions, hot water and electricity are available at the site and other lodges can be found in the vicinity.
- Transfer R50 or multiples of R50 (for more chances to win) by EFT to the bank account of SA Hunters at ABSA, account number 01443990077.
- Use your mobile phone number and Tiger as reference.
The draw will take place on 13 August 2019.
Permits for transporting wild pig meat
Members that want to register for the issuing of permits to transport wild pig meat, can visit Hunting affairs on www.cw.co.za for more information about the process.
Video “Jagtrip”
A recently released music video by Arno Jordaan, titled Jagtrip, has our members hot under the collar. The video includes material from Safari Outdoor.
Following our enquiries, Marco van Niekerk, MD of SO, confirmed that its marketing department gave permission for the use of its logo and the recording of the video in one of their shops, but said SO was not responsible for the story line of the video and that it was not intended as marketing material for SO.
I contacted Arno Jordaan to find out what his intentions was for making the video. It was clear that his personal views on hunting differ from the negative message about hunting that could be associated with this video. Arno explained that the purpose of the video was to tell a story about a man looking for a wife using amusing language associated with hunting in the lyrics of the song.
I believe hunters have better things to do with their time towards promoting hunting and responsible use of natural resources, than spending it on one bad example of hunting. It is water under the bridge, and we all learn something from this process. We should carefully consider our behaviour and the messages we convey about hunting.
Shooting affairs
A few of our members participated in the Phoenix shooting event at Bisley in England.
Johan Griesel returned with gold, silver and bronze medals and Jors Humpel won gold and bronze medals.
Jors won a gold medal in the Limited Bolt action discipline and a bronze medal in the 5785 event.
Johan Griesel won medals in the small calibre (.22 rimfire) in the following disciplines: gold medal in the 50m precision; silver medal in the 25m precision; and a bronze medal in the time and precision event.
Congratulations to both these members that held our name high in England where they competed against the best shottists in the world. We have great appreciation for their effort and dedication.
SA Hunters’ 70th anniversary
We already described the various projects related to our 70th birthday on previous newsletters.
SA Hunters memorial publication
The origin and history of SA Hunters has never been published. A former president of SA Hunters, Prof. Pottie Potgieter, is collecting information, documentation and photographs for a memorial publication. He welcomes any newsworthy snippets from the past and photographs. Herman Jonker is the editor and responsible for collating the book which we expect the book to be available by the end of the year.
Jewellery
The first jewellery items in the range designed and manufactured by Maryna de Klerk of M2 Jewellers are available. Photographs of the items are available here.
Each item is numbered and has a price tag. These are individual pieces with limited identical items. Anyone interested in purchasing jewellery items that feature ivory from the Nico van Rooyen collection, can phone Realda Goosen at (012) 808 9300. Please quote the number of the item you are interested in purchasing. All sales are concluded on the first order and payment received.
Please note that additional costs apply to cover courier services and insurance. An EFT deposit with references of the selected items and your name are required to secure purchase. The jewellery will be dispatched once payment has been received and processed.
Knives
A limited series of 500 knives with ivory inlays at R1000 each will be available for purchase at the end of May. These Buck pocket-knives also feature the SA Hunters logo.
Make an EFT of R1 000 in SA Hunters bank account at ABSA, account number 01443990077. Use your member number and Knipmes as reference. Send proof of payment together with your member number and contact details to Realda Goosen at realda@sahunt.co.za She will contact you.
Rifles
The Board of SA Hunters decided to commission Ralph Badenhorst (jnr) to manufacture two rifles in popular calibres (7 X 57 en 9,3 X 62) to commemorate the Association’s 70th anniversary. These rifles can be won in a lucky draw. Photographs of the progress made in building these rifles are available here.
Membership
The membership of SA Hunters is stable at 42 768 paid-up members as on 31 May 2019.
Any member of SA Hunters that recruits ten members during the year, will receive free membership for the following year. Branches are also acknowledged for recruitment and receive a portion of the membership fee over and above the branch subventions.
Carl Arnold, President of SA Hunters, set a target to increase membership with 4000 in 2019 and 2020. Help us to achieve this goal.
Dedicated status
Members with dedicated status (both hunting and sport shooting) are reminded to report the required activities to maintain their statuses. Your status affects the firearms you are allowed to have.
6 973 of the 16 759 dedicated hunters already reported sufficient activities to retain their statuses
Only 3 476 of 10 815 dedicated sport shooters have registered sufficient activities to retain their statuses.
Please remember to list your activities on the online member administration system.
Training
SA Hunters in collaboration with the Wildlife College offers training in the hunting of dangerous game. Only members with dedicated hunter status qualify for this training. The course fee is R4000 per person (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and hyena).
The following training dates are available in 2019:
- 3-6 June 2019 (x 3 places left) (Monday to Thursday)
- 13-16 June 2019 (x 3 places left) (Thursday to Sunday)
- 17-20 June 2019 (x 6 places left( (Monday to Thursday)
- 20-23 June 2019 (x 1 place left) (Thursday to Sunday)
- 24-27 June 2019 (x 4 places left) (Monday to Thursday)
- 27-30 June 2019 (x 1 place left (Thursday to Sunday)
Enquire with Liesel at 012 808 9325 or liesel@sahunt.co.za
The following information is required with booking and payment of the course fee:
- Name and surname
- Member number
- Number of dedicated hunter status
- Telephone number
- Preferred date of booking
Photography competition
We remind members to participate in our annual photography competition. May’s finalists will be published on our website shortly after the end of the month. These members will receive their certificates on their online profile.
Our sponsor (Canon SA) donated a new camera for the winner of the best photograph. The prize will be handed over to the winner during the congress gala evening at the end of the year. We are also trying to obtain more prizes for different categories.
Our categories for the 2019 competition are:
- The Hunter (Not hunted animals): Photographs that depict a hunter, man or animal, in nature.
- Nature Talks: Photographs from nature that talk to your soul, i.e. landscapes with extraordinary backgrounds or colours
- Wildlife: Photographs depicting any animal life (land, bird or marine life)
- Shooting a dedicated sport: -Photographs showing the action, dedication, gear and preparation of the sport shooting competitor
At the end of each month we select photographs to add to the portfolio that can be viewed on www.cw.co.za Instructions to enter the competition is available here
Commercial affairs
We recently added additional sponsors and supporters to our regular list of suppliers that give special discounts and offers to members of SA Hunters.
Fitch and Leedes, distributor of a popular range of cold drinks to outlets, is a sponsor of the SA Hunters Golf Day and provides a selection of smaller prizes in our buffalo hunt competition. SA Hunters appreciates the support from this lifestyle brand entity.
Otterskloof, an old friend of SA Hunters, is a well-known and popular hunting destination. We also appreciate their support as sponsor of hunting packages donated as prize at the annual golf day.
The following businesses give special discounts and benefits to members of SA Hunters:
- Toyota SA
- Westvaal Nelspruit
- Wildman Hunting and Outdoor
- Hokaai Butchery
- Die Wildshoekie meat market
- LAVA Vacuum packaging
- Selftrack
- MAINSU generators
- Cens digital ear protection
- Exhaust systems Van De Graaf Auto Centre in Van der Hoff Road, Pretoria
- Helle knives
- Nitecore Torches
- Fitch and Leedes
- Otterskloof
- Cassie Nienaber – load development and reloading
Click here for more information.
Kind regards
Fred Camphor
SA Hunters: CEO