Inyathi Park News August 2022

Dear colleague

In Pretoria we have been experiencing very good weather with cool evenings but pleasant daytime temperatures. A few cold fronts can be expected though. Although Spring is in the air, snow in September in the northern parts of SA is quite possible. The 2022 hunting season has come and gone.

Structure of newsletter

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

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

New messages

Hunting affairs

1.1 Western Cape hunting proclamations for 2023

The Western Cape will start reviewing its hunting proclamations for 2023. On 22 August, Cape Nature invited interested parties to submit written comment on Hunting Notice No 141/2021 as published in the Government Gazette on 12 November 2021. Anyone is invited to use this opportunity to comment on the daily bag limits and prohibited hunting methods for a specific species in the Western Cape for 2023.

1.2 Foot and Mouth Disease

On 16 August 2022, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development announced a total ban on the transportation of cattle as a strict measure to control the spread of Foot and Mouth disease. Read the notice here. These measures will be valid for 21 days, but will be reviewed weekly. For your benefit, an interpretation of the regulations is available here.

Members should note that although this announcement refers to cattle only, the current ban on the transportation of wildlife and game meat in the declared foot and mouth controlled areas of Limpopo and KwaZulu/Natal as announced on 25 May 2022, is still valid. The fact that 122 different diagnoses of the disease were made in six provinces since 13 June, is of great concern and requires urgent attention. The full report on the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease is available here.

The Director of Veterinary Services of Botswana also placed a total ban on the move and transportation of all cloven-hoofed animals in Botswana. This includes the transportation of all cloven-hoofed animals, their meat and raw animal products.

1.3 Northwest University’s survey of biltong hunters

Northwest University’s school for Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES) will again conduct a survey on the contribution of biltong hunters to the country’s economy in 2022. The 2018 survey indicated that the local hunting sector contributed approximately R13 billion to the economy. Members are requested to complete the survey which is available here.

1.4 Opportunity to hunt a buffalo

SA Hunters in collaboration with SA Jagter/Hunter and Rhino Bullets offer an opportunity to hunt a buffalo in the Coutada 11 hunting concession in Mozambique during the last week of November 2022. The prize includes all costs. Read more about it here Buy tickets at R100 each to stand a change to win. You can enter as many times as you wish.

Transfer R100 or multiples of R100 in the bank account of SA Hunters at Absa, account no 01443990077; branch code 632005. Use your mobile number and buffalo as reference. Send proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za

This hunting opportunity includes:

One trophy buffalo bull
One trophy Lichtenstein Hartebeest
One trophy Suni
All travel costs
All accommodation in the hunting camp for 7 nights
Taxidermy

Shooting Affairs

2.1 Browning-SA Hunters National Shotgun Championship 2022

All shotgun regional shooting events for 2022 are completed for this round. However, shotgun shooting will continue during the rest of the year. The results of all forthcoming regional shotgun shooting events between now and 31 July 2023 will be considered for the 2023 competition.

Congratulations to every shottist that qualified to receive an invitation to the Browning SA Hunters National Shotgun Championship on 17 September 2022 at Hippo Creek. Look out for your invitation in your e-mail. Invitations to participate in the national championship will be sent to the top 100 shottists.

During 2022, the interest in shotgun shooting activities exploded with 14 regional shooting events in 10 regions with 458 participants. This phenomenal growth and the high scores demonstrate members’ commitment to the sport.

Congratulations to the 65 shottists that qualified to receive SA Hunters’ regional colours for shotgun shooting. Shottists that score 85% at the National Shotgun Championship and who already received regional colours, qualify to receive SA Hunters’ national colours for shotgun shooting.

2.2 National President Shoot and Inter Branch Team Shoot

The National Inter Branch Team Shooting and the President Shooting Competitions were held on 19 and 20 August 2022. The Team Shoot was held on 19 August. Congratulations to Edelvalk Branch’s Swartwildebeest team that won the event. Thanks to Safari Outdoor that sponsored the day, and to Free State Sandveld Branch that hosted the event. Full results here.

The Bloemfontein Branch hosted the National President Shooting Competition on 20 August 2022. Congratulations to the champions in the following classes:

Open class – CCJ Bester from Edelvalk Branch. Full results here.
Ladies class – CJ Kilian from Brits Branch. Full results here.
Junior class – FJ van Heerden from Diamant Branch. Full results here.
Senior class – HH Louw from Riemland Branch. Full results here
56 shottist earned national platinum colours. Full results here

Thank you to the L&O Group for sponsoring the day and to the host, Bloemfontein Branch.

The 2022 Inter Branch CHALLENGE Team Shooting Competition at regional level is also done and dusted. (There is no national competition.) Congratulations to Vaalharts Trigger Fingers that won this competition. Full results are available here.

2.3 National Sport Shooting Events

Thanks to all the sport shooters that supported the regional sport shooting competitions. Qualifying shottists will receive their invitations to the national championship in September. The dates for the various national championships, are as follows:

National Junior Competition (7 & 8 October 2022)

September 2022 – Invitations to be sent
19 September 2022 – Entries close

National Limited Bolt Action Competition (15 October 2022)

14 September 2022 – Invitations to be sent

26 September 2022 – Entries close

National MDS Competition (19 – 22 October 2022)

21 September 2022 – Invitations to be sent

3 October 2022 – Entries close

National Sport Shooting Competition & IGRF (27-29 October 2022)

21 September 2022 – Invitations to be sent

3 October 2022 – Entries close

All the best to all the shottists for the final preparation. Direct any queries about the sport shooting championships to Nic Roets on (012) 808 9300 or nic@sahunt.co.za

Conservation

3.2 Feral Domestic Cats Harm Biodiversity

Recent research on the impact of stray domestic cats in Cape Town and Table Mountain National Park, indicated that city cats kill 27.5 million prey animals per year, including 203 000 from the park. The average Cape Town domestic cat kills between 59 and 123 animals per year. Reptiles and birds make up 74% of the prey that are mostly killed during the night. Members should take note of this threat to biodiversity and assist in reducing the impact by:

refraining from feeding stray cats;
limiting the number of pet cats and neutering cats they have as pets; and
attempting to limit night-time movements of pet cats to surrounding environments.

More details on the research available here

3.2 Conservation of Ground Hornbills

SA Hunters participated as a member of the Ground Hornbill Working Group in discussions with other role players on the future conservation of the species. There are currently less than 400 breeding females left in the wild.

Although habitat degradation and killing of birds for traditional beliefs are threats to the birds, intensive monitoring of reintroduced ground-hornbills led to the first documented cases of wild ground hornbills showing lead toxicosis. In this instance the source of the lead poisoning was lead fragments in offal left in the veld. Ground hornbills seem to have a higher sensitivity to lead than vultures. This study was done at the Mabula Ground Hornbill project.

Each ground hornbill family group needs an average of approximately 100 km² and members are requested to assist in securing large enough areas that are safe for the birds and free from any lead particles in the veld.

Notice of SAHGCA Congress 2022

SA Hunters’ annual congress will be held on 5 November 2022 at 08:00 from the national office at Inyathi Park in Pretoria. This is a virtual meeting on the Zoom platform. Please note the following important information and deadlines:

5 September 2022 is the closing date for submitting discussion points.
20 September 2022 is the closing date for submitting nominations for the election of board members.
20 September 2022 is the closing date for delegates to register attendance
By 5 October 2022the complete set of congress documents will be send to branch chairpersons for dispatch to delegates.

Flying with firearms to and from Bloemfontein

SA Hunters received a notice from Marakalalo Vuurwapens, a courier that receives firearms at the airport for passengers flying to and from Bloemfontein with their firearms. Marakalalo requires prior notice of four (4) days to provide this service. Please make arrangements well in advance. Read the letter here.

Special Offers

A few new suppliers that offer discounts to members have been added.

6.1 Shanin Weir

Shanin Weir prints trophy photographs on A3-size wood for hunters and fisherman. Members of SA Hunters qualify for R30 discount per photograph. More information is available here.

6.2 Humansdorp Koőperasie

In September 2022 Humansdorp Koöperasie offers 10% discount to member on the purchase of all Walther barrels

Repeated messages

Membership

Recruit members and earn commission

SA Hunters has 43 018 members.

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 wants to receive the same material, can enquire with Dorothy Ras by dorothy@sahunt.co.za

The Board also agreed that branches that succeed in resigning up lapsed members, will also benefit from the commission. More information has been sent to Branch chairpersons.

Photography Club

The photography club is still gaining popularity. Read more about the club, training opportunities and monthly competitions and prizes here. It also provides information about the Photographer of the Year competition.

Doctari-knives

The Doctari ivory knife project will end soon. A limited quantity of knives was made with handles from ivory from the Nico van Rooyen collection. There are only 15 knives left. Place your order now for that special Christmas gift, to avoid disappointment.

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

Only copies of the memorial books with the hard covers are still available at R300 per copy.

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 42 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