Inyathi Park News November 2022

7 December 2022

Dear colleague

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

Buffalo hunt competition

The lucky winner of the Buffalo hunting competition, Lawrence Meintjes, used his opportunity to hunt in the Coutada 11 concession in Mozambique. He successfully hunted a buffalo bull, Lichtenstein hartebeest bull and a Suni ram. Read more about his experience in the next edition of SA Hunter. There are photographs of his experience available on the SA Hunter Facebook page.

Thank you to everyone that supported this competition. Maybe we can do it again next year.

SA Hunters Shop

The SA Hunters Shop that has been doing business at Inyathi Park for many years, has been revamped recently, and reopened its doors on 14 November 2022. We are partnering with Humansdorp Koöperasie to offer a wide range of products with regular special offers.

Please support your own shop, especially in view of suitable Christmas gifts for the whole family. Members’ whose membership are fully paid-up, will receive 10% discount on any purchase. Visit our website and the shop’s Facebook page to see what is available – click here.

Photography Club

This year’s entries in the photograph competition were of an exceptional quality. For the first time, more than 100 photographs were awarded gold certificates and qualified as category winners. Three well-known photographers were among the judges that received high resolution photographs without knowing who the photographers were. It took them four weeks to finalise their decisions. Congratulations to all the winners whose photographs have been included on the shortlist.

The winning photograph of the year was Chaos at the vulture hide taken by Pierre van der Berg, a member of Pretoria East Branch. He also won the Photographer of the Year Award. Pierre won 48 gold awards during 2022. Congratulations Pierre! Your valuable contribution to the photography competition and SA Hunters’ photo portfolio made a significant difference. We sincerely appreciate it. Click here to view the winning photograph of the year.

The photography newsletter with the names of all the 2022 category winners, has been distributed. Click here to read the newsletter in Afrikaans and here for the English version.

Loadshedding, thunder and telephone lines

With varying levels of loadshedding, we also experience thunder and lightning in Pretoria during the summer season that affect our telephone system. If you cannot reach us on the regular office number (012 808 9300) try any of the following mobile phone numbers:

Reception: 082 848 8547
Firearm Helpline: 066 256 2916
Training: 082 658 6680,
Finance: 082 727 5158
Hunters Shop: 066 231 8185

SA Hunters’ offices close in December

SA Hunters’ loyal staff also deserve a holiday. Because our activities are vastly reduced during December, our offices will close on 14 December 2022, and reopen on 9 January 2023, to allow staff to take leave.

The server will be switched off from 20 December 2022 to 4 January 2023 for maintenance which means we cannot serve our members as usual. Staff will deal with queries and requests for endorsements, etc. until 20 December 2022 and again from 4 January 2023.

Shooting Affairs 2023

The regional shooting programme for 2023 (including sport shooting competitions) and the Universal shooting rules and competition rules are available for information about hunting based shooting competitions click here:

President Shoot
Inter Branch Team Shoot
Team shooting challenge

The detail about the regional sport shooting competitions will follow later. The software that supports our shooting competitions is being amended. We will send the information as soon as it is available.

Conservation news

7.1. Policy position about the environment

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment erred in its revised draft white paper, which often dictates legislation. Our privilege to hunt is seriously threatened, not only by the Firearms Control Act, but also by senseless views and actions of so-called conservationists.

The draft white paper includes the term well-being with reference to animals and is defined as follows: “The holistic circumstances and conditions of an animal or population of animals which are conducive to its physical, physiological and mental health and quality of life, including its ability to cope with its environment.” This term is also included in the policy that deals with sustainable use of natural resources.

How on earth expect the Department to assess the mental health and quality of a chicken that is slaughtered for food, or of a swarm of locusts that is being poisoned for destroying crops? This absurd notion most probably stems from the pressure by animal rights groups. SA Hunters objected to the inclusion of these references, and we also issued a media statement in that regard. Read the media statement here.

7.2. Cheetah survey

The authority’s conservation strategy often does not consider the fact that most predators occur outside national parks and on private land, and that landowners (not government) are the custodians that provide habitat for the conservation of these animals, often at great cost and incurring huge losses in livestock and game.

We invite members and landowners to participate in a national survey to determine where free-roaming cheetahs occur. This survey is the initiative of two universities, the Cheetah Trust and Ashia Cheetah Conservation, supported by SA Hunters. Any information provided, will be strictly confidential.

It is essential that landowners and game managers support this survey to enable us to develop meaningful strategies that will benefit cheetahs. Simultaneously, we must address the farmer/predator conflict at grassroot level. This survey is an opportunity for members to provide their input. See the survey here.

We request members to assist us with meaningful information and to complete the survey when they spot cheetahs.

Repeated messages

Membership

Recruit members and earn commission

SA Hunters’ membership is at 42 724.

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

SA Hunters distribute member application forms to various dealers. These forms are also available from Dorothy Els by dorothy@sahunt.co.za

Doctari knives

The Doctari ivory knife project will end soon There are only 7 knives left.

A limited quantity of knives was made with handles from ivory from the Nico van Rooyen collection. 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

Buck knives

There are only 17 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