Hi,
I'm new to the board and don't know if you've done this one to death yet, but I'm wondering what you thing of practices such as shooting from the vehicle?
When talking to Afrikaners in RSA it seems that most biltong hunters use this practice and many also spotlight the game...many visiting hunters use this tactic too as can be seen on certain websites.
I know it is easy to preach when you don't have a 56" kudu staring at you on the edge of the road, but I still believe that an animal bagged on foot after a stalk can be classified as a true trophy.
Another practice is the spotlighting of leopards on the bait, some say this is because in some areas it is impossible to shoot one at dusk due to poaching/overhunting and is necessary for any chance of success...on the other hand, I always believed the charm of leopard hunting was whether the animal would come early/stay late enough to present a good shot etc.
Any ideas welcome for the young hunter still deciding on personal ethics....

Boghossian, suggest you contact Worldwide Ethical Hunters through the Byseewah Safaris website. (Regret that I am now in Baghdad and don't have the website, but a google search should find it...) Ken Morris in Namibia established the organization. I'm one of the Directors. We do not shoot from vehicles; nor at waterholes, even for bow hunting. Look at it. Can't say we live up to the principles all of the time, but the members, who include Zimbabwe's PH John Sharp, try.
Believe you should also look at the ethics elements of Safari Club International membership. Principles are sound, but many southern african outfitters violate them regularly and with relative impunity. This ethics question is one you have to settle yourself. Regards, Tim Carney

From the point of view of this Professional Hunter, I believe that good hunting ethics are the most important aspect of hunting. I don't rule out shooting from a hunting vehicle, but it should only happen when the hunter is unable to hunt on foot due to some kind of infirmity or handicap...... other than that all my clients have to hunt on foot and all hunting takes place strictly to the rules of fair chase..... I also apply the same rules to shooting game at or near waterholes.

The guy's you mention who are shooting for meat (from the vehicle) are meat shooters, not hunters. What they do has no more to do with hunting than going to the butcher shop.
I also believe that leopards should only be shot on bait using whatever natural light is available.

I have a quote from Sher Jung on the front page of the hunters handbook that we give to our clients when they book which says. "The jungle is the place to test one's mettle and one's skill. It is a place for personal and individual adventure. To tackle the adversary on the ground of it's own choosing is the real joy and thrill of hunting"....... that in my opinion says it all, and it's how I conduct all my hunting both personal and professional. However every hunter must decide in his own mind what is ethical and acceptable and what is not, after all it's the hunter alone that squeezes the trigger.

You came to the wrong place to talk about ethics. Most of the people here seem to feel that Ethics are what ever an individual defines them as whenever he feels like defining them.

In other words, if it is not illegal it must be ethical.