16 February 2014, 10:46
jkhunterPROFESSIONAL TROPHY HUNTING PROTOCOL
AS TAKEN FROM:
THE PROTOCOL FOR THE UTILISATION OF THE WILDLIFE RESOURCE BY THE ASSOCIATED PRIVATE NATURE RESERVES
(Revised April 2012)
All utilisation of the natural resource will be governed by the underlying principles of ecological sustainability, taking into consideration economic and social requirements. Professional (commercial) hunting is conducted in the APNR with the only goal of providing the income to contribute to the management of the environment in a manner in line with each reserves objectives and the best sustainable practice possible.
In determining off take numbers, due regard will be taken of the population dynamics and general well- being of the particular species. All decisions must be based on accepted techniques and methodology and be in the realm of accepted conservation practice.
This will be based on recent, up to date and relevant data on the particular population. As far as possible the population should be seen in the broader APNR context and even in the greater KNP context and not merely on a farm or Reserve basis.
Bearing the above in mind, the protocol will be adapted as new information becomes available.
All hunting will be undertaken in a responsible, professional and ethical manner.
THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES MUST BE ADHERED TO:
PROFESSIONAL HUNTING
All hunting activities in the APNR will be subject to the respective Reserve Warden’s/management discretion, subject to the APNR hunting protocol. All hunting clients must be under the control of an authorised Hunting Outfitter or Professional Hunter (where applicable) and be accompanied by an authorised registered Professional Hunter as well as a suitable Reserve representative.
With regard to hunting of the potentially dangerous species listed below it is recommended that both Professional Hunter and Reserve Representative make use of the dossier compiled on species specific age determination and trophy estimation. All reasonable attempts will be made to adhere to the following:
Elephant
• No elephant may be hunted from breeding herds.
• The hunting of any collared elephant is totally prohibited.
• The categories of elephant that may be hunted are:
20 – 30 yrs old with a maximum tusk weight of 30 lbs per side.
30 – 40 yrs max. 40 lbs per side
45 yrs and older, max. 40 lbs per side
50 yrs and older, max 60 lbs per side
(These categories may be revisited from time to time through the Joint Committee to ensure sustainable off-takes)
• Each of these classes would be assigned a maximum tusk length, which should aid the hunting outfitter/professional hunter and reserve representative to stay within the weight/age classes.
• The Joint Committee shall jointly agree upon which of the categories of elephant are available for hunting in the respective Reserve.
• Permit condition will state: Animal to be hunted in accordance with APNR protocol and in accordance with the approved off-takes.
• In the hunting of the elephant, it is preferred that the client shoot for a ‘Brain Shot’ with his/her initial shot. By doing this it will be immediately apparent whether the elephant has been wounded or not.
• If the animal falls to the initial brain shot a further shot will be shot at all times to ensure that the animal is dead, either by client or PH.
• If the animal does not immediately fall to the initial brain shot the Professional Hunter and Reserve representative shall both immediately put in a heart/ lung shot and then while the wounded elephant is still visible shall continue to fire further back-up shots, either lung, brain or disabling shots, as preferred.
• Before the initial shot is taken by the client the Reserve representative shall move into a position (clear shooting lane) to enable a clear back-up shot. Only once the PH has received confirmation of this from the Reserve representative shall he advise the client to shoot when comfortable.
• If a heart/ lung shot is preferred as the initial shot by the client the PH and/or the reserve representative will fire back-up shots.
• Within a distance of 1km from the KNP boundary a brain shot will be mandatory for the first shot.
• A coup de grace shot will be done at all times to conclude the hunt.
Buffalo
• Only fully mature buffalo bulls with fully hardened bosses, of 12 years or older may be hunted. Bulls younger than this are in all likelihood still breeding animals. These 12 yr and older individuals can be identified by outward appearance using the dossier provided as a guide.
• The following categories of Buffalo bulls may be hunted in the APNR:-
Trophy bulls, 40” (Rowland Ward spread) and above.
Classical buffalo bulls, 38” spread and less.
‘Dagga Boy’ buffalo bulls, 37” spread and less.
• Mature cows without dependant calves may also be hunted.
• A back-up shot by either the Client, PH or Reserve Representative or preferably all, will be shot at all times to ensure that the trophy animal is not lost.
Lion
• Only male lions of 6 years and older may be hunted.
• The aging of the lion should be done according to the aging structure by Viljoen and Packer et al.
• Reasonable steps should be taken to gain knowledge of the males with pride affiliations and their ages. Thereby ensuring that pride males under the age of 6 years are not selected.
• Males should not be hunted in the presence of females.
• Lions should not be baited using dead bait and all prohibited hunting methods stipulated in the TOPS regulations (2007, Item 26) should be adhered to.
• All normal accepted hunting ethics should apply including those stipulated in the TOPS regulations (2007, Item 24) (Appendix 3).
• Lions showing the recessive Leucistic gene, commonly known as ‘White Lions’ may not be hunted.
Leopard
• Only adult male leopard may be hunted.
• The baiting of leopard and hunting on the bait is permitted under Provincial policy and TOPS regulations (Appendix 3).
• It is recommended that the lodges and land owners be consulted in this process since they have a sound working knowledge of leopard in their traversing areas.
White Rhino
After consultation with rhino experts, the following were deemed to be reasonable guidelines to practically apply to white rhino hunting.
• Only adult bulls may be hunted.
• The bull should adhere to the following criteria:
o The back horn length should not be less than 8 inches.
o The SCI (Safari Club International) total score should not be less than 88.
• Animals may not be hunted in the presence of other rhinos (within sighting distance).
• All TOPS regulations related to white rhino should be adhered to.
Hippo
It is recommended that only adult or past-prime hippo bulls be considered for hunting. Fully-grown, adult males are usually easily recognised by their bigger heads and relatively thicker necks. Such individuals generally also have clear scars as a result of regular or occasional territorial conflicts.
• Animals should be single individuals in dams or pools away or not near other hippos, particularly breeding groups. This will ensure that other hippos are not disturbed, especially when young calves are present, this will ensure that the animal is a past-breeding bull.
• Hippo may be hunted while in a water body.
• It is preferred that hippos be hunted in dams away from rivers (Olifants & Klaserie) or on land.
• Hippo bulls that show clear signs of territorial disputes should be selected.
RESERVE REPRESENTATION
• The reserves representative should be appropriately qualified and experienced, and fulfil the following criteria:
Legally Competent with the appropriate firearm (SAPS Competency certificate) that is mentioned below, for back up on dangerous game and should have passed the ‘FGASA’ or ‘KNP Advanced Rifle Handling for Guiding’ qualification.
The individual should have at least 5 years Professional Working Experience as a Game Ranger, FGASA DG Guide or Professional Hunter that includes the pursuit of Dangerous Game.
Must have a good working knowledge of the reserve including roads, camps, boundaries and other infrastructure
A Landowner or his direct family cannot be a reserve representative and must be an employee of the reserve. It is the reserves prerogative to elect the reserve representative.
The final decision on the suitability of a selected trophy animal (size and age class) lies with the reserve representative.
The animal can only be shot with consent from the reserve representative.
ETHICS
• The obligation is acknowledged to respect animals and appreciate that they are sensitive to pain, respond to stress and may remember such experiences.
• The APNR acknowledges the legitimacy of hunting animals from wild animal populations subject to compliance with the highest moral and ethical standards in recognition of a reverence for life and good sportsmanship.
• To comply with the prerequisites of good sportsmanship, hunting should be conducted according to set rules to ensure that the spirit of fairness is honoured.
• A fair hunt may be defined as a competition in which the tracking and shooting skills of the hunter are pitched against the evasive abilities of the hunted.
• Professional and owner hunting must be executed on foot with only limited artificial aid.
• The hunter must preferably be physically fit and able to cope with climatic and environmental conditions.
• The animal must be within its natural habitat under free-roaming conditions and must be in a position to escape the hunter.
• An aircraft may not be used for the location of trophy animals immediately prior to or during the hunt.
• All precautions should be taken to ensure that the possibility of wounding an animal is limited to the minimum.
• The weapons and ammunition used must be adequate to ensure quick and humane kills and that the hunter and the PH must prove his/her proficiency in the use of the weapons before commencing the hunt.
• A minimum of a .375 H&H Mag is required for elephant, buffalo, lion, hippo & rhino.
• The minimum calibre approved for leopard hunting is .270 with standard ballistics of the .270 Winchester cartridge or greater.
• The minimum weight requirement for bullets for the hunting of elephant, rhino and hippo is 286 grain or heavier bullet of monolithic solid or full metal jacket construction.
• It is recommended that both PH and Reserve Representative carry larger and more powerful calibres than the minimums listed above.
• The code of ethics of the South African Hunters Association should be strictly adhered to (PHASA).
• At all times only the highest levels of professional conduct should apply.
GENERAL
• This protocol will be discussed by the Warden or his representative and agreed upon before commencement of the hunt with the professional hunter and his client, furthermore this protocol will be signed by professional hunter and his client prior to the commencement of the hunt.
• This protocol will be attached to all tender documents as well as landowner permits.
• It is imperative that the hunt be conducted as professionally and clinically as possible.
• It is thus incumbent upon the Warden or his representative to ensure that the professional hunter back his client up and if in the Warden or his representative's assessment, this still isn’t adequate to ensure a swift death, he will immediately endeavour to destroy the animal himself.
• Due cognisance will be taken of owner and lodge sensitivities to hunting and the hunt will be conducted in a way which has the least impact upon these vital components the Reserves.
• Communication between management and landowner (calling on and informing him of their presence on his property) and management and the lodges (informing them of the hunt beforehand and of the potential impact it may have on their operation if it so develops; by radio during the hunt) is vital to the sustainability of professional hunting in our Reserves.
• Daily hunting cut - off times will be at the discretion of the Warden or the Reserve representative accompanying the hunt.
• Hunting of any collared animals is prohibited.
• All hunted animals should be covered with a canvas when transported to slaughtering facilities.
HUNTING OUTFITTERS
Due to the sensitivity of the hunting industry, the APNR reserves will only do business with reputable outfitter companies and take effort to ensure that outfitter companies are not involved in illegal activities associated with the hunting industry. The following steps should be taken to ensure this:
• Hunting outfitter that is in good standing with PHASA & provincial authorities will be favoured during the tender process.
• Individual reserves should get clearance from PHASA on every outfitter company before tenders are awarded.
• The outfitter must be registered with the relevant province.
• The outfitter remains responsible towards the client in terms of trophy size.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The APNR shares a common boundary with the Kruger National Park and a concession has been granted by the KNP with regard to the reserves utilising the KNP boundary road during hunting operations as this road falls within the KNP. Any reserve misusing this concession runs the risk of foregoing this privilege. In line with the above the following must be adhered to:
• The boundary road is only to be used for traversing from one point to another and for locating tracks. No hunting is to take place from the boundary.
• All weapons are to be bagged and out of view when traversing this road.
• The Wardens of the Reserves and the Kingfisherspruit Section Ranger are to communicate with one another regarding hunting parties in the APNR and conflicting activities in the KNP.
• If an animal is wounded on a hunt and seems to be heading towards the KNP border the Reserve representative on the hunt must contact the Kingfisherspruit Section ranger in the KNP and the MTPA and inform him/her of the situation.
• The Kingfisherspruit Section Ranger will then contact the relevant KNP Section Ranger into who’s Section the wounded animal has crossed.
• Should the animal cross over into the KNP the hunt stops at the boundary and the Kingfisherspruit Section ranger must be summoned to do the follow-up. The animal may not be pursued into the KNP.
• The Kingfisherspruit Section ranger, at his discretion, may invite the Reserve representative and/or a tracker to accompany him (without a firearm). The hunter can be invited, BUT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SHOOT THE WOUNDED ANIMAL, or carry a firearm. This invitation is at the discretion of the Section Ranger.
• The Kingfisherspruit Section ranger will do the follow-up and destroy the animal with or without the Reserve representative/hunter or anybody else being present.
• Once the animal has been destroyed in the KNP, or if it is proven to be wounded when/on crossing into the KNP, a penalty of up to 50% of the total hunt price may be imposed on the Reserve at the discretion of the KNP. If the animal was bought as part of a package then value of the trophy animal shall be determined as tender prices of single animals within the reserve.
• The final decision on making the trophy available to the reserve rests with the KNP, until the penalty has been paid in full.
• Any expenses such as helicopter time etc will be for the account of the Outfitter/Hunter, if such is required to locate a wounded animal
• In the event that a wounded animal crosses into the KNP, the Kingfisherspruit Section ranger and the Reserve manager will investigate the incident and submit a detailed report to KNP management.
Signed in acceptance of the outlined conditions presented above on
this……………....…. day of ……………………..…….. 20…………………..
Professional hunter / outfitter …………………………………………………
(Print name and sign)
Client ……………………………………………………………………............
(Print name and sign)
Reserve representative ……………………………………………………………………..
(Print name and sign)
Witness (2) …………………………………………………………………….
(Print name and sign)
