Pretoria experience its first few drops of rain and thunder last week. We trust that it is the start of season that we will be blessed with good rain.
This newsletter is a few days late because of preparation of documents for the Congress that starts on 2 November.
Congress 2019
SA Hunters’ Congress takes place on 2 November 2019 in Pretoria. By now, most delegates have registered, and we are busy with the final arrangements. If your Branch has not yet finalised our delegation, time is critical. Please attend to it.
The NBCF will be held on 1 November, followed by the Congress dinner in the evening. It will be a prestigious event. There are still a few seats left at R350 each for guests to attend. Contact Dorothy Ras at dorothy@sahunt.co.za to book your seat.
Rifles
The Board of SA Hunters commissioned 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 two rifles are available here
For a change to win one of these rifles:
- Deposit R50 or multiples of R50 (for more chances to win) in the bank account of SA Hunters held at Absa, account number 01443990077.
- For the reference, use your mobile phone number and 7X57 or 93X62 (depending on which rifle you wish to win).
Ensure that you add the calibre of the rifle to the mobile number as reference when you transfer the money.. Entries close on 31 October 2019. SA Hunters will use the mobile phone numbers to draw the lucky winners of these rifles.
Ralph Badenhorst will hand over the rifles to SA Hunters President, Carl Arnold, at the Congress dinner on 1 November.
Memorial publication
SA Hunters turns 70 this year. By now members are aware of the memorial publication that documents the history of the Association. The book, which includes interesting facts, stories and photographs from our hunting history, deserves a place on every member’s coffee table. The editor Herman Jonker said the publication will be ready by 2 November when SA Hunters is having its annual congress. Members can start sending their orders.
The book is in A4 format and available in two versions: one with an ordinary cover at R300 per copy, and a luxury version bound in buffalo leather at R1000 a copy of which only 100 copies will be available. Members that want the luxury version should order soon to avoid disappointment.
A sample of the book can be viewed here and here.
To order your copy:
- Transfer the correct amount (R 300 for the ordinary version or R 1 000 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.
- Conservation
Monday 7 October 2019 (yesterday) was World Habitat Day and this week is National Invasive Species week. We can all contribute to conservation of South Africa’s natural habitat by eradicating at least one invasive plant. It helps to save water.
The most recent statistics on rhino poaching indicate a slight decline:
- During 2014 , 1 215 rhinos were poached
- In 2018, it dropped to 769
- From January to June 2019, 316 rhinos were poached.
It is still too many, but it does seem if the anti-poaching measures are starting to pay off. More detail is available here.
Hunting Affairs
Trophy measurement
Trophy measurement for the year, concluded with addition of seven new species records in the register. Congratulations to the hunters for paying tribute to the animals they hunted. The new record entries are Bush pig, Damara Dik-Dik, Red duiker, Steenbuck, Blackback Jackal and Crocodile.
Shooting Affairs
Bloemfontein Branch hosted the Lynx Optics/SAHGCA President Shooting Competition at the Meerkatgat shooting range near Bultfontein on 14 September 2019. Congratulations and thanks to Pieter du Preez and his team for their hard work to host this event.
Congratulations to the following winners: Open class and champion: Gerhard Coertzen of Bloemfontein Branch; Junior class: Wimpie Jacobs of Sterland Branch; Ladies class: Yvette Aggenbach of Suikerbosrand Branch; and Senior class: Gawie Hattingh of Centurion Branch.
76 shottists achieved platinum scores at this event. Congratulations!
The National Sport Shooting Championship takes place at the Excalibur shooting range in Welkom on 25 and 26 October.
SA Hunters will host the International Gallery Rifle Federation World Championship at the Excalibur shooting range in Welkom from 28 to 31 October 2019. Good luck to all our participants. They are not only representing SA Hunters, but also South Africa.
Hand delivery of SA Hunter
Members can choose to have their copies of the SA Hunter magazine delivered at their residential address. This method is more reliable than the postal service. Please check that your residential address is correct on the member administration system and send an e-mail to admin@sahunt.co.za
Anyone that experiences problems with the hand delivery service, can report it to admin@sahunt.co.za and explain the problem.
SA Hunters celebrates 70 years
We already told members about the various projects to celebrate SA Hunters’ 70th birthday.
Jewellery
There are still a few jewellery items left in the range designed and manufactured by Maryna de Klerk of M2 Jewellers. 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
There is a lively interest in the limited series of 500 knives with ivory inlays at R1000 each. 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.
Membership
The membership of SA Hunters is stable at 42 176 for fully paid-up members on 7 September after individuals have not paid their membership fees.
Recruit members and earn commission
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.
The Board also decided to appoint agents to recruit new members for the Association. If you are aware of anyone that is not a member of SA Hunters and that travels regularly, and that might be interested in recruiting members, ask them to send their contact details, residential address, the areas in which they travel, and the opportunities that they might have to recruit members for commission, to fredc@sahunt.co.za
We would like to appoint people to assist us with recruiting of members.
Dedicated Status
Members with dedicated status (hunting and sport shooting) have only the remainder of October left to register activities for the year on the online member administration system to retain their status. This can affect your right to own more firearms.
Only 11 916 from 16 901 dedicated hunters have registered sufficient activities to retain their status.
Only 7 538 from 11 357 dedicated sport shooters have registered sufficient activities to retain their status.
Ivory Project
The Doctari ivory knife project is back on track after we fell behind with orders and deliveries. This project entails the production of knives with ivory handles from the Nico van Rooyen ivory stock. Only 150 knives will be made. Place your order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 64 knives have already been ordered.
Transfer R5 500 in the bank account of SA Hunters at Absa, account number 01443990077; branch code 632005. Use Knife and your mobile number as reference. Please send the proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za
Expired firearm licences
The Minister of Police was unsuccessful in his efforts to announce an amnesty through the back-door.
Our advice to members whose firearm licences expired, remain as follows: Keep your firearm locked away in your safe and don’t do anything further about it. We expect that an amnesty will be announced in 2020.
Photographic competition
The purpose of the photographic competition is to compile a portfolio of the best photographs received from members. We upload these on the website and use it in presentations, advertisements and special events such as the annual dinner.
At the end of each month, we select photographs to add to the portfolio and publish them on www.cw.co.za Members receive recognition by means of gold, silver or bronze certificates.
The competition for the year is over. View the finalists here. We included all the photographs submitted earlier this year that there were queries on. Therefore, there are more than the usual number of entries in the most recent month’s selection.
The judges will adjudicate the entries in the various categories and the overall winner during the weekend. The winner will be announced in next month’s newsletter.
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.
We will publish information for the next competition in out next newsletter.
Commercial Affairs
We include links on our website to dealers and service providers that offer special discounts to our members.
Wildman opened a new branch in Centurion, Tshwane, with a promotion where members of SA Hunters can earn double Mybonus points on any products that they purchase at the new store during October. More detail here.
The following providers offer benefits and discounts to SA Hunters members.
- Toyota SA
- Westvaal Nelspruit
- Wildman Hunting and Outdoor
- Hokaai Slaghuis
- Die Wildshoekie Vleismark
- LAVA Vakuumverpakking
- Selftrack
- MAINSU Kragopwekkers
- Cens Digital Gehoorbeskerming
- Uitlaatstelle van De Graaf Autosentrum in Van der Hoffweg Pretoria
- Helle-messe
- Nitecore Flitse
- Fitch and Leedes
- Otterskloof
- Cassie Nienaber – Ladingontwikkeling en Herlaai
- Archers Rock Safaris
See here for more information.
HuntEx
HuntEx2020 will be held from 24 to 27 April 2020. Diarise this event and make sure you do not miss this opportunity.
SA Hunters office closes in December/January
SA Hunters is a registered employer and is legally obliged to allow staff to take leave. It has been standard practice for many years to close the national office between 16 December and 6 January.
Last year, the office was closed for a slightly longer period which caused unhappiness among some of our members.
Therefore, we inform members well in advance that the office will close on 11 December 2019 (not 13 December as previously announced) and reopen on 6 January 2020. Should you require any documents in December, please ask for it before that time
Kind regards
Fred Camphor
SA Hunters: CEO
