Some of you are old enough to remember, still others may be old enough and fortunate enough to have actually been.

India used to be a most lusted after safari destination, rivaling many countries in Africa. I remember when I was a little guy. When someone was planning a safari, the first question they were asked then was "Africa or India?"

What happened?

The world model is important to all hunter's causes. We should know and be able to discuss it intelligently.

In any country the first animal made extinct by the ignorant is always hunters.

The British left. The wealthy Maharajahs were disenfranchised and the 'masses' took over. A danger of hunting cultures where only the rich or a niche population hunt. Socialism, dislike of private ownership of firearms and worship of animals.

As I recall it and I was around back then...The Safari business in India was never very big, and was mostly by invitation from local business men and rich Maharagas, mostly for Tiger hunts, with some other animals like Nilgai tossed in..It was always a jet set thing..It has never been what I would call a game rich area, and everything was and is undeveloped or over developed, depending on your status...

there is pig hunting ( sorry no old style pig sticking) in pakistan that may give you the feeling of the old days.

There is still all sorts of hunting in Pakistan and India. Want a tiger, you could have one if you paid enough. Want elephant, probably.



Want to hunt sambar, chital, nilgai, hog deer, black buck, many can be legally hunted in Pakistan.



In India they can also be hunted if you have the right connections and are willing to flout the law.



Boar hunting is still possible in some parts of India but about the only big game possible.



I was invited to hunt in India once but the thought of a long jail sentence if caught makes one think. Many of the smaller big game are NOT endangered and merely hunting is banned because of philosophical and maybe religious reasons. An invitation to hunt Pakistan is intriguing but maybe not till some other difficulties are removed.

My family were keen shikari’s in the old day. They ran a shikar company “spots & stripes†in India till the ban on hunting came into effect in the 70’s.

Destruction of natural habitat is one of reasons for the decline. Till the 60’s there were no shortage of tiger & leopard 30 miles from where I live, today you would be lucky to see a hare. In the old days herds of 700- 1000 blackbuck frequently seen.

On the brighter side population of Bluebulls ‘Nilgais’ have rocketed, one can see 200-300 in an hour drive. Leopards are doing well in a lot of areas.

Have pictures of the good old days. Will post them here.


Lynx

Lynx-Please do post them.

Lynx,

Good to see you here, my friend. Please send the pics to our friend for posting here.

Mehul

pwm, NitroX,

Lynx and RHB could give considerably more information than I could but I learned from them that recently the Chhatisgarh government issued boar licenses to non Indians for the first time in almost 30 years at $ 50 a head.

There are fairly high numbers of Nilgai in some parts especially in Rajasthan and Haryana and a leopard overpopulation problem in Himachal Pradesh but India is still a country where PETA's Jason Baker is a national calebrity who dines with Cabinet Ministers and it is going to take a lot of effort and damage to crops and livestock before both these species will be hunted.

Some of the worst hit islands in the recent tsunami, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had more than a little hunting but it was only allowed to residents. The state of KAshmir also allows pheasant hunting but again, this is for residents only.

As far as sheep and other animals are concerned, I would personally suggest Nepal as a better destination than Pakistan as it would definitely be safer to whoever hunts there than Pakistan would. Like every SOuth Asian country it has it's own law and order problems but there is no possibility of foreigners being targeted by the Communists fighting to overthrow the monarchy there. In Pakistan, any western hunter could soom become hunted by some of the fundamentalist groups.

Good hunting!

quote:

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Originally posted by mehulkamdar:
I learned from them that recently the Chhatisgarh government issued boar licenses to non Indians for the first time in almost 30 years at $ 50 a head.

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Hot damn! I suppose that one must rent a gun from whoever is running the hunt? Or, wonder of wonders, could I manage to import my beloved .318 Westley Richards?

Ah, 'cn see it now, don'tcherknow, a spot of pig shootin' at sunset followed up by a gin an' tonic, curry, and port and cigars on the veranda. One could almost imagine that the Spirit o' Khaki still lived in Inja.

Lynx

I have been urging my wife that India is our next overseas holiday destination. Even put the Taj Mahal as a background on all our PCs as subtle brainwashing.

If a short hunt for nilgai and boar could also be done, I would be in raptures.
!!!

PM on the way.

Nitro X,

Wait for a year - max. Lynx is turning his place into a heritage resort. I am not pushing his pad because he is my friend but because I have seen it and know for a fact you will like it. Their hunting library alone can keep you in reading material for a lifetime.

Boars have been wiped out in his area and besides which his family only permitted pig sticking. Shooting pigs was considered cowardly.

More details via PM. Please confirm receipt.

Rustam

Hello there, Sarge!

You can bring your rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition.

I have lost the link to this place but recall that they had converted an old mansion into a hunting lodge - only four bedrooms, if I am not mistaken.

Definitely had an old world charm about it.

Cheers!

Rustam

quote:

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Originally posted by NitroX:
Lynx

I have been urging my wife that India is our next overseas holiday destination. Even put the Taj Mahal as a background on all our PCs as subtle brainwashing....

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Go for it. You won't regret it. My wife is from Kerala in the south. When we got married we went to the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Agra.

Rustam,

Its Kawardha Palace where one can stay for wild boar shoot.



Kawardha, 140 kms to the north of Raipur, is situated at the edge of the Maikal Hill range. It is an isolated town still possessing reminders of India's cultural heritage. This region is predominantly tribal with the Gond and the Baiga tribes still inhabiting the inaccessible areas of the Gondwana land, south of Jabalpur. In some easily accessible tribal villages one can get a feel of tribal life. The main tourist attractions include Kawardha Palace, Bhoramdeo Temples, Saroda Reservoir, Sahaspur Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.


Lynx

Lynx I would love to see these pictures as well. Hope to see them soon.

Lynx,
I just spent a few weeks in Panipat, Haryana. I did see a few pigs but no Nilgai. I am supposed to return to Panipat around the middle of January and work for a few months or more. I expect to have the weekends off. What are the hunting prospects like? What about rifle, ammo and permits?



Nitro X,
There is plenty to see in India. I have managed the Red Fort in Delhi and Hanyuman's Tomb which is quite impressive. I'm hoping to visit the Taj Mahal on my next visit.


Eric

quote:

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Originally posted by Lynx:
Rustam,
Its Kawardha Palace where one can stay for wild boar shoot.

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Thanks, old chap. Would you by any chance still have a digital copy of the newspaper article that mentioned boar shooting in that area?

Rustam

quote:

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Originally posted by Belarus:
What are the hunting prospects like? What about rifle, ammo and permits?
Eric

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Eric,

Unless you hunt on a farm or private estate by invitation, your chances are close to nil. Only Schedule 5 (vermin) animals/birds can be shot without a licence.

As far as I know, you can bring in a rifle/shotgun and fifty rounds but since hunting is illegal (barring boar in Chattisgarh), I don't see how you can justify it. Probably best to borrow your host's rifle/gun and ammo. The majority wont accept payment for the ammo, so a small token gift may be appropriate.

Unless you know your host well, I wouldn't chance it. Pig and hare are a possibility. Nilgai, if at pest levels, is also a possibility but anything else (on four legs) is just courting serious trouble. Restrict yourself to private land.

Haryana was a game rich area but the land is mostly agricultural now.

Rustam Bana

quote:

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Would you by any chance still have a digital copy of the newspaper article that mentioned boar shooting in that area?

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Dont have a copy, I did post it on the airgunbbs, a search did not show any results!!

Lynx

Punjab may allow hunting of neelgai, wild boar

The Punjab Wildlife Department is in the process of finalising a proposal that will allow for the hunting of neelgai and wild boar in the state. The department has claimed that the population of the two animals has grown substantially and they were causing huge losses to farmers (see PA Update 46).
According to the proposed plan, Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) will be authorised to issue permits to hunters identified by panchayats of villages where the crop is being affected. The Chief Wildlife Warden of the state is reported to have said that census figures have indicated an excess population of neelgai in the districts of Mansa, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur, and Bathinda. As per official estimates there are 7000 neelgais in the state.
A number of conservationists have however opposed the proposal and have suggested that a better way to deal with the problem would be to compensate the losses that farmers incur due to these animals They have pointed out that in the absense of a proper census it would be difficult to determine the number of animals to be killed. Fears have also been expressed that once shooting permits are issued to individuals, it would be difficult to ascertain whether the same is used to kill the animal for which it has been issued. The CWLW has, in response, assured that the laws will be very strict, and that the killed animal will have to be handed over to the Wildlife Department. Sources in the Wildlife Department itself have however said that they lack the infrastructure, including vehicles for this purpose.

Source: Aditi Tandon. 'Punjab may allow hunting of blue bull, wild boar', The Tribune, 20/08/04.

URl link - here



Lynx

Nilgai from Ultimate Ungulates


http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Images/Boselaphus_tragocamelus/B_tragocamelus3.html

Thanks for the link.

If the Indian Nilgai population is truly around the 10,000 mark, I wouldn't want them being shot unless it was genuinely for crop protection.