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Botswana Lions Closed
26 October 2007, 06:33
Bwana MojaBotswana Lions Closed
Bad news coming out of Botswana. I received this letter from Johan Calitz Safaris earlier today. I hunted there in '06 and saw a ton of lions, but government officials feel it's time to impose a moratorium (again)on hunting them.
Bwana Moja
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Dear friends
it is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that, once again, the Botswana Government has suspended lion hunting in the entire country for an unknown period of time.
Below, please find a letter received from Debbie Peake from Botswana Wildlife Management Association addressed to members, together with a short press release from the Government.
It goes without saying that concession holders, land owners, outfitters and other stakeholders in the hunting industry is not going to accept this lying down. We appeal to you to give BWMA and its members a chance to enter into negotiations with the powers-to-be in an attempt to get them to review this unexpected and unilateral decision. If you in any way can provide some constructive support, opinions, motivations etc., please feel free to let us have the same in writing as soon as possible. BWMA will gather all inputs and opinions from industry role-players and submit an appeal to the Minister without avail.
Having seen the national quota, it also seems as if the scissors were applied to leopard quotas, especially in the Kalahari regions.
We appeal to you not to act too hastily, until we are absolutely convinced that BWMA cannot get this arbitrary decision revoked.
We recommend rolling existing lion hunts secured by means of a deposit over to future dates in order of merit, depending on how long this moratorium is going to be in force
For those clients who have booked lion safaris with us in Botswana for 2008 and beyond, we hereby wish to give you the assurance that deposits will be refunded upon request. Those wishing to remain on a waiting list in order of merit (2008 clients rolling over to 2009, 2009 clients rolling over to 2010 etc., depending on when lion hunting can resume), we request that you indicate such choice to us in writing. Clients opting for a refund will unfortunately loose their place on the waiting list, should lion re-open in the near future.
Let us remain hopeful that good sense will prevail. We shall keep you informed of any new developments.
Kind regards
Tharia Unwin
JOHAN CALITZ SAFARIS
26 October 2007, 06:39
Bwana MojaThe official press release from the Republic of Botswana follows.
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PRESS RELEASE
SUSPENSION OF THE HUNTING OF LIONS
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks would like to inform the public that it is concerned by the number of lions killed in defence of livestock in certain areas of the country. As a precautionary measure, the Department has taken a decision not to issue any lion hunting quota until further notice.
The Department further wishes to assure the public that appropriate measures are being put in place to reverse the current trends.
26 October 2007, 06:47
Lhook7I wonder what this will do to lion prices in Zambia.
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"Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett.
26 October 2007, 07:29
jdollarthe lions being killed in defense of livestock are being killed in the ranches in and around the Kalahari, where NO lion hunting is allowed anyway. the Okavanga, Caprivi, Chobe, etc. concessions where lion hunting actually takes place are separate lion populations with no crossover with the populations being killed. this whole deal smacks of an anti-hunting agenda or a cave-in to pressure from animal rights activists. once again African beauracrats demonstrate their general stupidity/incompetence
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26 October 2007, 07:45
RBHuntquote:
Originally posted by Lhook7:
I wonder what this will do to lion prices in Zambia.
I have a good idea what it will do to the prices in Zambia and everywhere else. I guess we will know in January when the safari shows roll around.
26 October 2007, 14:25
500nitrothrow into the mix the basic closure of bred lion hunting in SA as from February next year, lions are going to become high $$$$ items.
26 October 2007, 17:44
butchloctrophy fees in zambia are going up by 50% next year
26 October 2007, 17:59
Bwana BundukiSo much for unwilling Tanzania hunters who don't want to pay the new increased rates...
Jeff
26 October 2007, 18:05
Safari-Hunt500nitro,
Do you really think they are going to stop canned lions at once in SA ? That would be great but I really doubt it since our top government are corrupt how much are the guys at the bottom I'm sure it would take a while to take effect.
But in the end no matter what happens lions are going to become expensive and I wont be surprized if lions will surpass elephants in trophy fee no matter where you hunt them.

Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.
26 October 2007, 18:10
PSmithBwana Moja, good thing your fine lion is in the salt.
Paul Smith
SCI Life Member
NRA Life Member
DSC Member
Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club
DRSS
I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas"
"A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck
26 October 2007, 18:52
jcbarthJdollar,
There actually is (or was prior to this new closure) lion hunting conducted in the Kalahari. To be specific, there are four government blocks that I know as recently as this year offerred one of the best trophy opportunities in Africa- the official block numbers are KD1, KD2, KD 12 and KD 15. And each block had a quota of 1 lion.
These were the lions that sold for 120K plus.
Regards,
JB
26 October 2007, 19:50
500nitroSafari hunt,
Corruption, here? never, just ask our estemmed president,

26 October 2007, 22:11
yukon deltaThat's too bad and it will likely send ripples through the whole system. I got an email from Calitz's company this morning but no mention of the lion closing. Why would they consider reducing the leopard quota?
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27 October 2007, 03:02
AtkinsonThe African plot thickens. The dominos are falling.

Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
27 October 2007, 06:08
RBHuntI'm glad I went ahead and got my lion a few years ago, Bodington did a seminar at DSC a while back about hunting the big five, and predicted that a good lion was going to soon be the hardest of the big five to get; I had been putting it off for some time, but decided to go ahead and book while I had a chance. Looks like he may have been right. The doors are closing quickly for the average hunter.
27 October 2007, 09:10
jdollarquote:
Originally posted by jcbarth:
Jdollar,
There actually is (or was prior to this new closure) lion hunting conducted in the Kalahari. To be specific, there are four government blocks that I know as recently as this year offerred one of the best trophy opportunities in Africa- the official block numbers are KD1, KD2, KD 12 and KD 15. And each block had a quota of 1 lion.
These were the lions that sold for 120K plus.
Regards,
JB
4 government blocks with a total kill of 4 lions is not the same as the lions killed in defense of livestock in the cattle posts of the kalahari and certainly doesn't impact the population. technically you are correct that lion hunting does occur in the kalahari, but in practical terms(especially at $120k) there is basically no lion hunting in the areas where most lions are killed to protect livestock. this is just another example of corrupt government officials make game management decisions based on ulterior movements
where most lions are killed to protect livestock.
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27 October 2007, 09:11
TerryRI've been to Botswana 3 times, each time the available quota, including plainesgame, has been smaller than before. I believe that Bots is heading towards a day when elephant is available, but anything else would have to come off a private ranch. In 1998 there were few private ranch hunts there, today it seems that everyone is into game ranching. If the only opportunity to hunt the Okavango Delta is a high ticket elephent hunt, we will have lost something special.
01 November 2007, 01:15
Bwana MojaYup-Thanks Paul. New DVD should be out by end of next month. Delta Royale: Botswana's Perfectly Shot Dangferous Game." simba, tembo, lechwe, eland, kudu, couple buffs, helluva bird shoot and much more.
Moja