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One of Us |
Just in time for DSC and SCI conventions (SCI is mentioned in the article), they have started naming PH's (Style brothers -- who are supposed to be at the SCI convention) and hunting operations (Out of Africa) being investigated by the US Gov't for ties to Mugabe's cronies. I'm not picking sides since I don't know enough (haven't been following it), but it looks like wants it to come home on us. Dan http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10841107/site/newsweek/
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One of Us |
That is an excellent article. Thanks Dan for picking up on it. It should be required reading for all hunters considering a hunt in Zim. | |||
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[/QUOTE] Jesus Christ! Is that the Lacey Act? Zim really is a problem. There are some excellent companies with very good hunting and even better prices - but you have to be soooo very careful about whom you do business with. | |||
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Steve, Here are the penalties for violating the Executive Order (doing business with the banned individuals or companies): Criminal fines for violating the Executive Order or regulations to be issued pursuant to the Executive Order may range up to the greater of $500,000 or twice the pecuniary gain per violation for an organization, or up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain per violation for an individual. Individuals may also be imprisoned for up to 10 years for a criminal violation. Knowingly making false statements or falsifying or concealing material facts when dealing with OFAC in connection with matters under its jurisdiction is a criminal offense. In addition, civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation may be imposed administratively. If a hunter also imports trophies, taken in violation of the Lacey Act, the penalties would be: Fine of up to $250,000 and a jail term of up to 5 years. Regards, Terry Msasi haogopi mwiba [A hunter is not afraid of thorns] | |||
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The article did not specifically name the concessions, but I believe this is correct: Matetsi Unit 1 - Webster Shamu Matetsi Unit 3 - Inyathi Hunters Matetsi Unit 6 - Mrs. Chiwenga Cabelas has been the booking agent for Inyathi Safaris. Buffalo Range Safaris (Rob and Barry Styles) have hunted on Matetsi Unit 6 in the past. Regards, Terry Msasi haogopi mwiba [A hunter is not afraid of thorns] | |||
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One of Us |
And there are others connected, albeit quite smartly through double strand red-tape, to Shamu as I alluded to on a previous thread. jorge USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
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one of us |
The Newsweek article conveniently fails to point out that when the Styles were hunting on Matetsi 6 Jocelyn Chiwenga was not on the "prohibited list". Or, that they have not booked any hunts there since the list was published. Les | |||
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One of Us |
In the interest of injecting even a little more reality, in a recent conversation with Barry Style, I asked about hunting on Unit 6. His reply was "No, being an American, you absolutely cannot hunt there." There was no attempt to mislead, minimize the issue, or disguise the problem in any way. It's a shame that the article appears to smear a really fine family by putting them in the same category as Out of Africa. On the unethical outfitters operating in Zimbabwe, you might see an earier post from me on that outfit - "wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole." I've encountered them "operating" in Zimbabwe, formed my own opinion, and will never have anything to do with them. Glad they're out of there, at least. Just my two cents. | |||
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One of Us |
It is unlikely that the Styles would be involved in any hanky panky. They are old, (third generation), reputable and honest operators. I was pleased and relieved to read HT's post. I would expect nothing less from Rob and Barry. However Inyathi Hunters and many others so far unmentioned have a lot to answer for. Zimbabweans operating like Inyathi Hunters are even more morally corrupt than foreign rapists such as Out of Africa. My two cents too, but these are big and important issues. | |||
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one of us |
Thanks Terry, Penalties seem very severe - can someone tell me if anyone has actually been prosecuted for doing business with the wrong person and if so, what the outcome was? with penalties like that one would need to be ultra careful about exactly who one does business with......and I wonder how one could do that.......for example if Joe US Citizen took a hunt with a company who were not on the list but that same company actually sub let (or even, sub, sub let) an area "owned" by someone on the banned list would that mean that Joe US Citizen could then be prosecuted? | |||
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one of us |
I am posting this on here too: Posted Jan 14, 2:10 PM Ok, it's time I step up and make my thoughts known about Buffalo Range Safaris and the Style Brothers, Barry and Rob, I've spent over 100 days with this crew! On the hunt in Zimbabwe and at my home in New Jersey, and they are welcomed at my home anytime! I consider them good friends, incredably hard workers, and top Professional Hunters. And I can tell you one thing, Both brothers are a class act, you won't find a nicer more trust worthy company then BRS, I've been on 6 safaris with them,and plan on setting up a 7th safari with them at Reno! I have had nothing but great times, hell everyone of you AR members have seen my reports on safaris I went on with them! this 5 star company goes back over 50 years, have built a impeccable reputation as a world class safari company, they are very conservation minded, They keep very tight reins on their quota on animals, What they have done for conservation and hunting should be rewarded not treated like criminals!! This whole thing I conceder bull shit! As for their hunting in Matestsi, Jocelyn Chewinge was not on the list of sanctioned officials, when they were booking safaris there. they are booking hunts in their other areas of Zimbabwe. Which I plan to go on! And my final thought, well for now, I'm sure I will have alot more to add to this, I believe in these two briothers and I will continue to go on safari with them as long as they will have my sorry ass! Final thought! Don't even think about comparing Buffalo Range Safaris to Out of Africa! Barry and Rob hunt on their land, they take only their quota on that property, Very ethical hunters, they follow the law to the T, remember, this is not here say, I've been there I've done that enouph to know who this family is! They aren't even on the same page, no that's not true, their not even in the same book as OoA! If anyone would like to talk with me about this outstanding safari company PM me, email me, call me, come visit me! I'm here! Thank you! "America's Meat - - - SPAM" As always, Good Hunting!!! Widowmaker416 | |||
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One of Us |
There's lots at stake in this -- good folks are likely to get caught in the gears... then there's folks just trying to hang on, maybe making choices that later end up putting them on the wrong side. Then there's just shady operators. For some regular web participants on this forum from Zimbabwe, I've noticed they've gone quiet for the most part... and they almost never make anything but very neutral political comments. I've sometimes worried for their safety. I didn't post this to provoke pissing matches, or to demean folks like the Styles. The article is -- like most news articles -- drawing *short* lines of dots inviting you to connect them, even though it doesn't *exactly* say they are implicated -- such as the Styles. Anyone who has found themselves quoted in the press knows exactly how much that opens your eyes to the way news is reported, and how much you can trust it. Nevertheless, the report DOES indicate there is some serious stuff coming about Zimbabwe's repatriation program and its abuses, and how the land issues are going to affect hunting opportunities. There are going to be anti groups who would love to take this and use it against all African operations -- if they can. Its likely to be a problem. Dan | |||
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I wholeheartedly agree with everything H T and widowmaker have said about Buffalo Range Safaris. I was standing right next to H T when Barry Styles told him: "being an American, you absolutely cannot hunt there." There is so much bullshit going around about Zimbabwe now, that it makes your head swim. 95% of it is from people who have never even been there, or never want to go there. Sorta like Ted Kennedy preaching about morals. I have personally hunted with Buffalo Range Safaris twice within the past two years. Once at Buffalo Range and once in Kazuma. Both of them came off without a hitch, both of them delivered more than I was promised, and both of them were hunts of a lifetime. I have never hunted with more ethical people. Barry, Rob, and PH Brent LeesMay who works for them are all honest as the day is long. All of them have always been upfront about what you can expect, have never promised more than they can deliver, and have never exagerated any aspect of their operation, the conditions of the country, or anything. I took my wife with me in May of 2005, and she never once felt that she was in any danger, or that we were not in "good hands". It makes me sick that people who have never met the Styles impune their reputation with lies and inuendos that they pass off as "fact". Have the Styles hunted Matesi #6? Yes of course. But at the time they hunted it, it was a very viable operation, under no restrictions. To classify Buffalo Range in the same mold with Out of Africa is absolutely repugant to anyone who has ever dealt with Buffalo Range. I will continue to book with Buffalo Range. They are a class outfit, and I have never been disappointed with them. They have earned and deserve my respect. | |||
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One of Us |
Whether or not the PHs operating there are good guys or not is not the question. The issue is simple. Do you feel it morally and ethically correct to contribute to such an oppressive and corrupt regime by even going there? "When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all." Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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Answer: YEP. | |||
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I personally believe that every hunter has the right to make his own decision about that.... or more precisely, no-one has the right to make that decision for someone else. Zim has a lot of problems and it's fair share of dodgy operations but it also has some extremely good and honourable people and outfits. We don't operate in Zimbabwe because we made the decision that things can go wrong too easily nowadays...... but that was a business decision. I certainly wouldn't condemn someone for deciding to hunt there......at the end of the day, it's their decision. That said, even if it were the most effecient country in Africa I still wouldn't allow my business to spend a single cent that might find it's way into that mad bastards pocket. | |||
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One of Us |
Does anyone realistically expect an NBC writer to come up with anything postive on the hunting industry? Or even objective? Wouldn't we expect innuendo and accusations, and not fact-based, even-handed discussion? Anything other than the bias in their tone would indeed leave me shocked and amazed. I hope we all take that into account in reading what they put forth. Agree with Shikari up to the point of going (or not) to Zimbabwe. So long as I'm spending my money in a way that rewards people I respect and helps people that need it, I'm not going to worry about the "trickle effect" going to that baboon they call their president. So thanks, Shikari, for pointing out the right to individual choice in this matter, guided by our own conscience. Seems that a hunting forum ought to reflect significant emphasis on the freemom to choose that you describe - well done! And thanks to Jeff Alexander for confirming my story about Barry Style. Small point of clarification - although Jeff was technically standing next to me, being a couple of hours into the evening, he was listing some 15 degrees to port. Glad his wife was there to drive him home.... | |||
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one of us |
Actually, Whilst I said I wouldn't condemn anyone for hunting there, I gues I should have also said that I would condemn them if they hunted on illegally seized land etc. The problem is that a lot of hunters don't know enough about the political aspect of their sport. I met some hunters last year who were on their way home from a hunt with OoA and they very obviously didn't have a clue about the Lacey Act etc etc....... | |||
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HT. Great point! Did you notice the animals in the article a Leopard and a Giraffe, two animals that would catch the most attention! "America's Meat - - - SPAM" As always, Good Hunting!!! Widowmaker416 | |||
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The Style family and Buffalo Range Safaris are pioneers and legends in the Zimbabwe hunting community. Rob and Barry's granfather, George Style, was one of the first to develop modern day hunting in Zimbabwe. He is prominently mentioned in Craig Boddington's "African Hunter II" in the "Zimbabwe" section. Their reputation and professionalism is above reproach. I have had the personal pleasure of meeting and getting to know the Style brothers and Brent Lees May over the past 4 years. I was introduced to them through a mutual friend and long time repeat client of Buffalo Range Safaris. We have talked at length on hunting in Zimbabwe and the current environment affecting that country. The perspective from them is vastly different from the media's. This article shows the medias slant and bias. As others have said, the article has many factual errors. Not surprising. Widowmaker, Jeff A. and others who have been there and hunted with Buffalo Range know the truth. To have them, Buffalo Range, in the same article with OOA is damn disgrace. Bottom line is that I believe in Buffalo Range Safaris, Rob and Barry Style and am willing to back my words. This week, my hunting partner and I booked a 10 day buffalo and plains game safari with Buffalo Range Safaris for 2007. I can't wait! If you are attending SCI and have any questions or would like to meet Rob and Barry, stop by their booth. Be prepared to meet two of the most likeable, unassuming and professional hunters that you can imagine. I can't wait to share a camp and hunt with them. Regards, RCG | |||
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One of Us |
We're not the ones you need to convince. It's the Government that you need to speak to. IMO you are taking a big chance in booking Zim in 2007. That's a long time when you consider the Government over there is now rolling up the Conservancy's. | |||
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One of Us |
I have known the Style family for over a decade and have hunted with them many times, and yes in Matetsi. Curious of the timing of this article and its intent. In regards to Jocelyn Chewinga she purchased the lease at an open auction in 1998 well before any sanctions were applied and before any farm invasions took place and yes Buffalo Range sends clients there. However, since Mrs. Chiwenga has been blacklisted no more hunts have been booked and hunts that have been booked will be moved to other areas. Buffalo Range itself is over eigthy thousand acres. If the Styles are in partnership with people as powerful as the Chewinga's why has their once pristine property been literally destroyed by squaters. Most of the vast number of animals have been poached and land cleared of trees that have taken decades to grow have been cut down.Their six hundred hectre cane population has been virtually wiped out with only fifty hecters under cultivation. The same can be said for all of the othr crops that were once grown on this property. Buffalo Range is also home to one of the biggest herds of Black Rhino which are looked after by game scouts twenty four hours a day seven days a week. Curious someone whose family has been in Zim for over one hundred years would be breaking the law and in partership with people who have virtually destroyed their country. To bad the writer of this article did not go back far enough and do his homework. | |||
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