2012 Statistics by Dr Herman Els

■10 years ago, there were less than 5 000 game farms in South Africa
... ■Today (2012) there are 12 000 game farms in South Africa
■10 000 of them has exemption for hunting
■20 million hectares of land is in private ownership representing about 70% of land use for wildlife conservation, the other 30% is government owned national and provincial game reserves
■Government owned game reserves cannot conserve all the wildlife in South Africa effectively and rely heavily on game and hunting farmers to assist them
■The hunting industry has generated R 7.7 Billion in 2011 - .25% of SA's national GDP
■R 3.1 Billion per year was generated from around 250 000 biltong hunters in South Africa
■R 2.1 Billion per year was generated from around 15 000 trophy hunters from abroad
■The balance was generated from add-on services, food and accommodations
■Trophy hunting has a lesser impact on wildlife than biltong hunting
■Hunting is by far the largest revenue generator for game farmers
■The sale of animals represents only around 5% of the revenue generated by game farmers
■There are over 500 luxury lodges with staff on private game reserves in South Africa
■60% of all wildlife in South Africa are owned privately outside of national and provincial parks
■Game & hunting farmers are the largest contributors towards the conservation of wildlife
■Game farms creates three times more employment than on a normal livestock farm
■Over recent years more than 70 000 jobs were created on newly established game farms
■By 2020 the industry will have created an additional 220 000 new jobs
The industry has seen species like Rhino, Sable and Roan, breeded by game farmers, returned to its habitat in healthy numbers. Hunting played a role in providing game farmers with the needed income to sustain the breeding of these animals.



Hunting provides the needed funding to assist with effective wildlife conservation as in many cases is an extremely costly exercise. Hunting also provides employment to the many unemployed in Africa and is a main source to look at for future food security as arable land use for agriculture is under pressure due to population growth. Game meat is a serious food source to consider for our future generations.



We observe the fact that there are difference in opinion between hunters and non-hunters alike and respect the views of the non-hunter. We do however urge the non-hunter to be objective and try to understand the positive impact hunting has on our society at large by assessing issues such as the economic impact for the conservation of our wildlife, the re-introduction of previously dwindling species, employment and food security. All of these are important points to consider when the hunting industry is being scrutinized.

Hard to argue against the facts.

Thanks. Interesting, and good. TTT

Good informative post Mr. Keith.

Even though we do not like or want to admit it, ther hunting inmdustry in South Africa and Namibia along with the hunting ranches in Texas and parts of South America, I feel at some point in not the too distant future, will be the only hunting left.

I know many won't agree with that and I do not blame them, but, and some lof this comes from the audio tape PHC made with Ken Wilson a few years back, goverments, Third World or World Powers simply have more to worry about than wildlife management or conservation.

Private Land/wildlife ownership may be or is the only viable solution both for hunters and game animals. JMO.

Crazyhorse - You're not the only one saying this, there are others, even on AR, who are saying this. But it bothers me when guys say these type things, because it sounds as if we hunters have resigned ourselves to the possibility of only ranch hunting in the future (and are in a way accepting it).

I have been to Africa many times, and I will NOT accept this scenario as the future of hunting in Africa, and no other hunter should either, and I therefore feel we should never utter these words. A very strong case can be made, and has been made, about the ECONOMIC value of sport hunting in all African countries where hunting is allowed, and some of these countries have very few fenced ranches. If a sports team resigns themselves to losing, they will lose. The same applies here. Having a defeatist attitude does NOT help.

Molepole, your post is correct, But a happy co-existance of both needs to happen . Many that think your thoughts, and I'm not saying you, raise their vioce high against fenced ranches. If you ask that we support your ideals then in turn we ask that those so dissaproving of these operations in turn support our ideals.

L. David,
Is it one quarter of one percent of SA GDP?

Tom

Artistry of Wildlife - Maybe I didn't make myself clear. I SUPPORT ranch hunting and have done it several times and will continue to do it. All I am saying is that we should not throw up our hands and say that the writing is on the wall and that high-fenced hunting is the future of ALL hunting in Africa. There is money to be made by the countries who have hunting on large tracts of basically unfenced land, as well as fenced ranch hunting, and these countries should recognize this. There is room for ALL types of hunting in Africa. To have a defeatist attitude about the future of African hunting is to give in to the people who want to stop all hunting.

Yes, I agreed with all your points and we are on the same psge.

I didn't want you to take it like you were agianst it, there is room for each to grow.

quote:

I have been to Africa many times, and I will NOT accept this scenario as the future of hunting in Africa, and no other hunter should either, and I therefore feel we should never utter these words. A very strong case can be made, and has been made, about the ECONOMIC value of sport hunting in all African countries where hunting is allowed, and some of these countries have very few fenced ranches. If a sports team resigns themselves to losing, they will lose. The same applies here. Having a defeatist attitude does NOT help.

Your right to feel how ever you choose, no problem there. there is however a difference between understanding reality and having a defeatist attitude.

A defeatist gives up immediately when hearing less than perfect news, a realist understands the situation, continues doing business as usual and developes a new game plan as things change.

What is going to happen is going to happen regardless what you, me or anyone else thinks. The hand writing is on the wall and I will adjust as neccessary to continue enjoying hunting, whatever it may be like in the future.

If you want to be an optomist, that is your right as an individual. If I or anyone else chooses to view the evidence available and prepare ourselves for the changes that are and will be taking place, that is our right, and it does not make me or anyone else a defeatist.

A defeatist would run out and sell their guns the instant they read anything about what may happen in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:

quote:

I have been to Africa many times, and I will NOT accept this scenario as the future of hunting in Africa, and no other hunter should either, and I therefore feel we should never utter these words. A very strong case can be made, and has been made, about the ECONOMIC value of sport hunting in all African countries where hunting is allowed, and some of these countries have very few fenced ranches. If a sports team resigns themselves to losing, they will lose. The same applies here. Having a defeatist attitude does NOT help.

Your right to feel how ever you choose, no problem there. there is however a difference between understanding reality and having a defeatist attitude.

A defeatist gives up immediately when hearing less than perfect news, a realist understands the situation, continues doing business as usual and developes a new game plan as things change.

What is going to happen is going to happen regardless what you, me or anyone else thinks. The hand writing is on the wall and I will adjust as neccessary to continue enjoying hunting, whatever it may be like in the future.

If you want to be an optomist, that is your right as an individual. If I or anyone else chooses to view the evidence available and prepare ourselves for the changes that are and will be taking place, that is our right, and it does not make me or anyone else a defeatist.

A defeatist would run out and sell their guns the instant they read anything about what may happen in the future.

Thanks for your expertise on South African Hunting.How many trips have you made there?

Hunting is hunting and worldwide it is facing the same issues, loss of habitat, increasing human populations and the demands that creates on ther land, regardless of where that land is, changing attitudes about hunting and wildlife by not only people in general but by the various goverments.

Add to that unstable goverments in many areas, unstable economies world wide, all a person has to do is pay attention, what is happening, is happening everywhere, someplaces just at a more accelearated rate than others. As I have said many times, I have never hunted anywhere in Africa, but that does not mean that I cannot form an opinion based on the information I gather from various sources.

As I said at the start of this response, hunting is hunting world wide, the basic concept is the same, and the same basic problems are affecting hunting worldwide.