Inyathi Park News November 2020

It is the end of November and Christmas is three weeks away. Fortunately, years such as this one also comes to an end and we look forward to a holiday, albeit a short one for some of us. This is the last formal newsletter for 2020. What an unusual year this has been!

Structure of newsletter

We start with the new and important information first, followed by the regular news.

Therefore, members can get up to date with fresh news first and read other information later

Fresh News

Old Green Licences

SA Hunters made a proposal to the Police for the phasing out of the old green licences. We have just received their response and are still studying it in detail. However, I believe that the two main parties should meet towards finding an acceptable process that gives a fair chance to firearm owners with old green licences to migrate to the new white licence.

The most important requirement will be for firearm owners to be declared competent to own a firearm. Therefore, we urgently advise members to get their competency in order.

We will keep members informed of further developments.

Firearm Amnesty

Amnesty Period

At most, there are 44 working days left of the current amnesty period. Members whose firearm licences lapsed and no longer want these firearms, can use the amnesty to hand these in or another person that wants the firearm, can hand it in and apply for a licence.

If you want to make use of the amnesty, do it now. Do not wait until January 2021. We anticipate that many people will want to hand in firearms in January, which will result in long queues.

Advice to Members

Our advice to members stands. Members with illegal firearms, or with firearms with expired licences for which they did not apply for renewal in time, should hand the firearms in under the amnesty and apply for a new licence. The following is important:

You must be competent to own a firearm. Make sure that your competence is in order and renewed as required by law.
You must hand the firearm in under the amnesty. There is no other option.
Apply for a new licence within 14 days from handing in the firearm. It is better to apply for a new licence when you hand in the firearm.
Ensure that all documentation for the licence application is correct and complete. It will improve your chance of obtaining a licence.
The person that hands in the firearm, may apply for a new licence within 14 days.

Prepare documents (amnesty application and application for a new licence) before handing in your firearm and apply for a new licence at the same time.

Enquiries on Status of Licence Applications at Central Firearms Registry

The SAPS website makes provision to log an enquiry online about the status and progress of a firearm licence application. It offers an easy way to obtain information but does not speed up the process. We recommend that members use this facility to enquire, rather than trying to phone the CFR or a DFO or SA Hunters’ office.

Click here for tips on using the system.

SA Hunters and Social Media

SA Hunters has been on the receiving end of derogatory remarks on social media in the past. We fought back every time. The Board agreed that SA Hunters should also use social media to promote what the Association stand for. Watch this space for developments early in 2021.

Shooting Affairs

The Shooting Committee received requests to consider the use of shooting sticks similar to the 4Deadhold hunting sticks on SA Hunters’ shooting ranges during shooting competitions.

This type of shooting stick offers excellent support for hunting purposes, but at the shooting range it does not comply with SA Hunters’ rules (safety rules in particular) for shooting competitions. These sticks may not by used in any SA Hunters’ shooting competition because the rule determines that only one point of support may be used. The 4Deadhold hunting stick does not allow that option. Read the evaluation report here for more information.

Conservation

Effect of lead ammunition

SA Hunters is part of a national and international discussion forum to reduce the risks of lead poisoning in humans and wildlife. Members are exposed to lead through various activities that could be harmful to their health.

Therefore, it is important to inform members about new scientific findings about lead, the initiatives that SA Hunters is involved with, and the possible effect of developments with regard to lead ammunition on shottists.

Read the article on the risks of lead in the current edition of SA Hunter. An article on the risks of lead in wildlife will be included in the next edition. The third article in the series will deal with the implication of switching over to leadfree ammunition.

African Wildlife Consultative Forum

The African Wildlife Consultative Forum (AWCF) held its annual meeting for hunting and conservation organisations in Africa as an online event. Matters of common interest were discussed, and included:

Strategies to curb the effect of Covid on the wildlife sector;
Position towards CITES and other international agreements;
Export of wildlife products and hunting trophies;
Promotion of responsible hunting and conservation;
The impact of hunting on rural communities in Africa; and
Broader cooperation between hunting and conservation organisations in Africa.

Earlier this year, SA Hunters and other member countries submitted a position statement against the proposed international legislation aimed at banning the importation of hunting trophies from Africa. AWCF sent a letter to the California parliament in the US, explaining the positive impact that hunting has on conservation, and the survival and economic development of communities.

It is evident that collaboration among members of AWCF made a meaningful contribution to prevent the passing of that law. SA Hunters will continue to cooperate with other like-minded organisations at local and international level towards promoting conservation and responsible hunting.

Photographic Competition

Our photographic competition for the year is done and dusted. Congratulations to the overall winner, Jimmy Kryger (Member no 099361) for his winning photograph of two male lions. We will get in touch with him soon to arrange the handing over of his prize.

Category: Our Heritage

Winner: Jimmy Kruger (099361) – Brotherly Love
1^st runner-up: Jan Saunders (045219) – Cape Rock List
2^nd runner-up: Chané de Bruyn (097282) – Pivot Sunrise

Category: The Hunter

Winner: Jan Saunders (045219) – The Thief
1^st runner-up: Mariana Coetzer (085065) – Foggy chases
2^nd runner-up: Jan Saunders (045219) – Walter on the haul

Category: Man in Nature

Winner: Chané de Bruyn (097282) – Early morning miss

Several gold awards are also made in each category. View all the beautiful photographs here.

REPEAT MESSAGES

Christmas Gifts!

2020 was an unusual year, but we can still enjoy or Christmas shopping. Consider the following:

Publication about the Kruger National Park

At a special price of R1000, delivery included, SA Hunters can order signed copies of Dr Salomon Joubert’s book about the successes and disasters during the development of the Kruger National Park from 1898 tot 1994.

Dr Joubert is a former head of the KNP. He describes how the concept of nature conservation hardly existed when Col J Stevenson-Hamilton became the first head of the park in 1902.

In the three volumes of this work, he describes the development of conservation and the philosophy of management practices, surveys about geology, soil, plants, animals, monitoring of game populations, and policy development of interventions regarding water supply, veld fires, and culling of excess game and predator management.

Members can complete the order form here and add their membership number to qualify for the special offer.

4Deadhold Shooting Stick

4DeadHold released its first shooting stick that can be used in all shooting positions, from sitting and standing. The flip locks make it is easy to adjust the height from 77cm to 177cm. Any person, even children are able to use it for optimal shot placement. It is also suitable for very tall persons. The shooting stick is stable and weighs only 1 kg. The legs are made of fluted aluminium.

Members of SA Hunters can purchase the shooting stick for R1 950,00. More information is available here.

Doctari Knives

The Doctari knife project with its ivory handle and logo has resumed. The ivory is from the Nico van Rooyen trophy stock. Place your order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. There are only 50 knives available.

Pay R5 500 in SA Hunters bank account no 01443990077; branch code 632005, and use the reference Mes and your mobile number. Send proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za

Memorial publication

The memorial publication is now available to order in two options:

The book is in A4 format and available with an ordinary cover at R300 per copy, or a luxury version bound in buffalo leather at R1000 a copy of which only 100 copies will be available.

To order your copy:

Transfer the correct amount (R300 for the ordinary version or R1 000 for leather bound version) in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa, account number 01443990077.
Use your member number and Book as reference. Check that you enter your member number correctly to ensure that we can process your order.

Buck Knives

There are only 220 items left in this limited series of 500 Buck knives at R1 000 each. These knives have ivory inlays on the handle with the SA Hunters logo engraved. Transfer R1 000 by EFT into SA Hunters back account at ABSA, account number 01443990077. Use your member number and Knipmes as reference. Send proof of payment, your member number and contact details to Realda Goosen at realda@sahunt.co.za

Special Offers

SA Hunters negotiated special discounts for its members with various dealerships.

Sale at SA Hunters’ Shop

SA Hunters decided to reduce the clothing stock in its store and to change its product range. Various items are available at discounted prices. Enquiries: Rene at (012) 8089300 of rene@sahunt.co.za

Humansdorp Koöperasie

In December 2020, Humansdorp Koöperasie offers 10%discount on all Lapua shells and points, and an additional 10% discount on Hornady points and shells. This is a considerable discount of 15% on their regular price. Confirm your SA Hunters membership when you place your order.

Support to Members

Many of our members have been adversely affected by Covid-19 circumstances. Below are some opportunities from members to members. Please support them:

Good quality, dry bushveld firewood available at reasonable price in Pretoria area. More information here.
Compuknit Ranger hats, Fishermans caps, camo and ZA caps and neck scarfs – all the head protection you need for the summer! Also see the new range of fun “emoji” reusable face masks.
Game meat recipe book: Members qualify for R50 discount per copy. Ouma Leonè de Lange gives R50 discount and donates R50 to SA Hunters for every recipe book sold on https://www.ouma-se-wildsboek.co.za Use the “SAHUNT” promotion code when placing your order. This recipe book is perfect for the hunter, includes 220 recipes to make around the camp-fire, with conversion tables for weights and oven temperatures, and the velocity of several calibres.
Toyota and Mybonus

If you purchased a new Toyota since June 2020, remember to send detail of the transaction to Mybonus to qualify for your points. More information is available here.

Hunting Affairs

Archers Rock Safaris sponsors hunting opportunity

Archers Rock Safaris offered a hunting opportunity to the value of R50 000 that members can win with a lottery ticket of R50. The hunting package is available for either rifle, bow or a combination of both. It includes:

One kudu bull up to 52 inch, one blue wildebeest bull up to 29 inches, two impala rams up to 22 inches, and one warthog with up to 12 inch tusks; free accommodation in five star lodge for two hunters or one hunter and one guest for four nights and five hunting days; and a free spa treatment. All meals, transport, cool room facilities and guides are included.

Archers Rock Safaris agreed to postpone this hunting opportunity to next year. Anyone that bought a ticket already will still stand the chance to win, while others have more chance to buy tickets.

There is still a chance for more people to buy their tickets for this prize. Read more about Archers Rock Safaris hunting opportunity here. We thank Archers Rock for moving this hunting opportunity to next year. With the restrictions on hunting from 28 July, it would not have been possible to use this opportunity now.

To stand a chance to win this prize:

Transfer R50 or multiple amounts of R50 (for more chances to win) electronically to the bank account of SA Hunters at ABSA, account number 01443990077.
Use your mobile phone number and Archers as reference.

Entries close on 30 March 2021.

Direct any queries to Boetie Kirchner at boetiek@sahunt.co.za This hunt will be available from June to August 2021

Membership

Recruit members for commission

SA Hunters has 42 683 members. Our membership is increasing again to reach 43 000.

The Board agreed that a member or a branch that recruits ten or more members per year, can earn commission of between R100 to R150 per member. More information is available here.

SA Hunters distributed membership application forms at various dealers. Any member that wish to receive the same material, can enquire with Dorothy Ras by dorothy@sahunt.co.za

Commercial Affairs

In November 2019, SA Hunters signed an agreement with Humansdorp Koöperasie that gives 5% discount on the regular prize of a range hunting and shooting products to members of SA Hunters. See the links below for information about the discounts.

Please note that delivery could take longer than usual.

Visit the following websites for more information:
1. humkoop.co.za
2. co.za
3. co.za
Place orders telephonically or with e-mail.
You must be a paid-up member and provide your member number to enable Humansdorp Koöperasie to check your status.
Place your orders with Eduan du Toit, Cheryl Coetzee or Riaan Vermaak at any of the following numbers ore -mail addresses:
1. Telephone numbers
  1. (042) 2910431
  2. (042) 2951501