Tanzania Quiz

26 May 2005, 03:12

Michael Robinson

Tanzania Quiz

Okay guys and gals, here's an East African quiz for you.

Which of these activities is prohibited in Tanzania? (Note: Assume that all shooting is done by a tourist hunter in a non-emergency, normal hunting situation.)

1. Shooting a female zebra.
2. Setting fire to grass and brush in the Selous.
3. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks weighing less than 25 kg. per side.
4. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks less than 1.75 m in length.
5. Growing tomatoes in the Selous.
8. Hunting at night, meaning before dawn or after sunset.
9. Shooting a lion less than six years old.
10. Shooting a lioness.
11. Shooting an African wild dog.
12. Grazing cattle in the Selous.
13. Hunting with a semi-automatic shotgun.
14. Hunting dangerous game with a caliber less than .375 H&H Mag.
15. Using a night vision device for any purpose, even game viewing.
16. Shooting a cape buffalo, with none left on license, for meat at the direction of a game warden or scout.
17. Shooting from a vehicle.
18. Shooting a cape buffalo, with one or more left on license, with the game scout's FAL.
20. Shooting from a vehicle while driving on the right side of the road. (I had to include a gimme.

)

I think, but am not sure, that I know the answers to most, if not all, of these questions. But I'm no expert.

Anyway, this is an exhibition, not a competition, so the winner gets . . . bragging rights only.

26 May 2005, 04:56

RBHunt

My guess - all of the above.

26 May 2005, 05:35

bull1

Shooting the female zebra is a no-no

Trust me...I know.

Bull1

26 May 2005, 05:37

DRB

Yep, All the above!

26 May 2005, 05:56

JBoutfishn

All of the above

26 May 2005, 06:39

kudude

[quote]Which of these activities is prohibited in Tanzania? (Note: Assume that all shooting is done by a tourist hunter in a non-emergecy, normal hunting situation.)
3. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks weighing less than 25 kg. per side.
4. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks less than 1.75 m in length.

I'd say that these two elephants would make lots of folks really proud.

I'd also say shooting camp meat at the direction of the game scout is OK, or at least no one is going to turn you in. Kudude

26 May 2005, 06:39

Michael Robinson

quote:
Originally posted by mrlexma:
Okay guys and gals, here's an East African quiz for you.

Which of these activities is prohibited in Tanzania? (Note: Assume that all shooting is done by a tourist hunter in a non-emergency, normal hunting situation.)

1. Shooting a female zebra.
2. Setting fire to grass and brush in the Selous.
3. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks weighing less than 25 kg. per side.
4. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks less than 1.75 m in length.
5. Growing tomatoes in the Selous.
8. Hunting at night, meaning before dawn or after sunset.
9. Shooting a lion less than six years old.
10. Shooting a lioness.
11. Shooting an African wild dog.
12. Grazing cattle in the Selous.
13. Hunting with a semi-automatic shotgun.
14. Hunting dangerous game with a caliber less than .375 H&H Mag.
15. Using a night vision device for any purpose, even game viewing.
16. Shooting a cape buffalo, with none left on license, for meat at the direction of a game warden or scout.
17. Shooting from a vehicle.
18. Shooting a cape buffalo, with one or more left on license, with the game scout's FAL.
20. Shooting from a vehicle while driving on the right side of the road. (I had to include a gimme. )

I think, but am not sure, that I know the answers to most, if not all, of these questions. But I'm no expert.

Anyway, this is an exhibition, not a competition, so the winner gets . . . bragging rights only.

Okay, I can see that this was much too easy.

Now, for the real question.

Which of these are honored more often by breach than observance?

26 May 2005, 06:50

Michael Robinson

quote:
Originally posted by kudude:
[quote]Which of these activities is prohibited in Tanzania? (Note: Assume that all shooting is done by a tourist hunter in a non-emergecy, normal hunting situation.)
3. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks weighing less than 25 kg. per side.
4. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks less than 1.75 m in length.

I'd say that these two elephants would make lots of folks really proud.

I'd also say shooting camp meat at the direction of the game scout is OK, or at least no one is going to turn you in. Kudude

Sorry, but can't do any of those things. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go.

This ain't about what you can get away with, you know.

26 May 2005, 11:00

Bwanamich

quote:

Which of these activities is prohibited in Tanzania? (Note: Assume that all shooting is done by a tourist hunter in a non-emergency, normal hunting situation.)

1. Shooting a female zebra. According to the Wildlife Act one can shoot females AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT OBVIOUSLY PREGNANT OR ACCOMPANIED BY YOUNG; so in strictly legal terms, it is allowed BUT commonly accepted that no female of any species should be shot!
2. Setting fire to grass and brush in the Selous. NO
3. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks weighing less than 25 kg. per side.It is allowed. New minimums are 17Kgs or 1.70 m
4. Shooting a bull elephant with tusks less than 1.75 m in length.as above
5. Growing tomatoes in the Selous.No - but you can grow marijuana
8. Hunting at night, meaning before dawn or after sunset.NO
9. Shooting a lion less than six years old.Not passed into law just communicated to outfitters at the stakeholders meeeting. You won't get into trouble if you do
10. Shooting a lioness.No
11. Shooting an African wild dog.no
12. Grazing cattle in the Selous.no
13. Hunting with a semi-automatic shotgun.no - but I would use one when going after wounded leopard
14. Hunting dangerous game with a caliber less than .375 H&H Mag.no
15. Using a night vision device for any purpose, even game viewing.no
16. Shooting a cape buffalo, with none left on license, for meat at the direction of a game warden or scout.no
17. Shooting from a vehicle.no
18. Shooting a cape buffalo, with one or more left on license, with the game scout's FAL. no - let him shoot it
20. Shooting from a vehicle while driving on the right side of the road. (I had to include a gimme. )

26 May 2005, 17:40

shakari

I agree - but to me the funniest one is that they now allow bowhunting in Selous but at a vastly increased trophy fee - of course no bowhunters will take a rifle and a bow in and give the game guard a few dollars to say everything was shot will they?

27 May 2005, 01:15

Atkinson

27 May 2005, 01:23

Michael Robinson

Thanks Bwanamich for the clarifications on the rule changes.

Now for the extra credit question:

Can you shoot a 17 kg elephant with a .338 while smoking the game scout's marijuana?

shakari--

27 May 2005, 02:37

shakari

I also liked the Lion's age thing - I guess they expect the PH to either ask the Lion how old he is or alternatively throw him a birthday cake with the correct number of candles and if the Lion just blows them out the client shoots him......if the Lion looks puzzled everyone walks away quickly and leaves the Lion is peace.

Mrlexma,

In answer to your question - you can't shoot a 17 KG Elephant - even a baby weighs more than that!

27 May 2005, 02:57

Phil Lozano

mrlexma,

Just so you know, no one got them all correct.

Very close, but no cigar.

Best,
Phil
http://www.go-on-safari.com

27 May 2005, 03:29

Michael Robinson

Phil,

Don't tease.

I must say that I thought it was illegal in Tanz to kill any female of any species. Is that the the one?

Or is it shooting from a vehicle? Is that legal?

Or is it the shotgun question? I know one safari company that gets special permits from the gov't for its PHs to use semi-auto shotguns--Benellis--for following up leopards. Is that the technicality?

Come on . . .

27 May 2005, 06:12

Phil Lozano

mrlexma,

Bwanamich was the closest. What he says is true. I think to quote the regulation, "you cannot shoot young, or females accompanied by young, or females aparently pregnant". So if not 'apparently' pregnant, I would say that you can shoot them, even Lioness' and cow ele's. Will the Game Scout have a stroke, yes. Will you find yourself at the Game Post with the Head man, yes. Is it against the law, not how I read it.

However, it is just not worth it, trying to prove a point.

One problem is the regulations were written in English and when translated, "apparently", becomes "may be" in Swahili. Maybe that female is pregnant, maybe she got bred on the other side of the hill. Maybe she is 5 minutes pregnant. So the Game Scouts don't take any chances and say you cannot shoot them.

Regarding the semi auto. The law says that only one round can be fired with one pull of the trigger. I know many P.H.'s that have semi autos. They were brought in just like all the other weapons. Were checked by Customs and given the OK.

Sometimes you have to read the fine print, and not go on hearsay.

Best,
Phil
http://www.go-on-safari.com

27 May 2005, 06:26

kudude

With the amendment of the rules for elephants, I guess I get a "Get Out of Jail Free" card!

Puts me closer than I thought. Kudude

27 May 2005, 07:42

Phil Lozano

kudude

No amendment of the rules, as they are quite firm. Interpretation is the thing here that will get you into trouble.

When you enter the Selous, the Chief Game Officer gives you a sheet with the same regulatons I quoted.

I asked him, 'according to these regulations the clients can shoot females'. He read them and said ' Yes, they can'. I asked him again. 'Can the clients shoot females ?' He said, 'NO !' 'They cannot'. We spoke for about 5 minutes on the regulation. The final word was No, you cannot shoot females.

How badly do you want to prove your point ? Yes, you can file a court case against them, and maybe, it will come up for mention in 3 years. They may remand you in custody until then as well.

Your call.

Best.
Phil
http://www.go-on-safari.com

27 May 2005, 17:51

Michael Robinson

Thanks, Phil.

Yes, kudude, it seems you may be out soon, if you can get a good lawyer.

27 May 2005, 23:03

KINO

I have questions about #2. Is that to say that there is no burning of grass allowed in the Selous only or not by hunters. I understand that grass is burned regularly in Tanzania. Is that in another area like Kilombero? And can a hunter start that fire?

Or are all fire not allowed?

27 May 2005, 23:30

shakari

All those fires start by natural combustion-

Which is a good thing as it gives the game new grass and it's illegal to start a bush fire.....so it must be natural combustion....

27 May 2005, 23:34

Michael Robinson

KINO,

shakari is not making fun of you.

He, like me in this thread as a whole, is making fun of one of many things about hunting in Tanz.

More to the point. KINO, you are correct.

Grass IS burned regularly in the Selous.

And it IS illegal to burn grass in the Selous.

27 May 2005, 23:47

shakari

Quite right - no offense intended. I was just having fun with the game laws. Tanzania is my favourite place to hunt but like all African countries it has it's fair share of strange game laws. However it also has particularly sensible ones that will ensure the success of it's game populations well into the future......

27 May 2005, 23:50

KINO

Either way, I know when I make the trip to Tanzania I want to be there to see the fires. Maybe lend a hand.

27 May 2005, 23:53

shakari

I don't know how true it is but I did read somewhere that it's possible to see them from space.......any clever buggers out there who could verify this or otherwise??

28 May 2005, 07:26

JudgeG

DISCLAIMER!

On a video of my hunt Selous hunt in 2003, therein is a fellow who looks somewhat like me... old, fat and with a big white mustache.. setting grass afire.

IT IS NOT ME! It is my evil twin, Skippy.

As an aside, I recently sent my passport to the Tanzanian embassy for a visa. I totally had my head up and locked when I sent it and forgot some of the required information. I got not one, but two calls very politely asking that I provide information and explaining my screw-ups. They put my application aside to await my corrected and complete info. Even with my failures and after Fed Ex'ing the stuff I forgot, I got the visa back within 10 days of my originally mailing it. Hats off the the professional and polite employees of Tanzania. Nothing like a good experience with bureaucrats who seem to give a flip. I guess they wisely like tourists/hunters and their bucks. I wish all of Africa was so dad-gum polite and helpful (and U.S. minions, too!)

29 May 2005, 02:17

Seq

Shakari,
Check out the time delay video clip (the 4.3 MB one) at
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=1505
Blazing inferno on some days.

S.Southern Africa Fires

29 May 2005, 11:28

shakari

Seq,

Thanks for that - Those particular images are for southern Africa but if those fires can be seen from the satellites then the Selous fires surely will.

Many years ago I got caught up in a BIG bush fire in the Zambezi Valley (Mozambique side) and for a while thought I'd had my chips. - we got out of it OK but it's something I'll never forget.......