Free Range, Fair Chase & Fenced.

06 February 2015, 20:26

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by Mark R:
quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
There is excellent hunting to be had across Africa from vast open concessions to much smaller high fenced estates.

There are many variables and much has to do with budgets, time, family constraints, personal ethics, physical disabilities etc etc.

I understand that and appreciate that. Not the question though with all due respect.

Cheers,
Mark.

Since when does anyone on AR offer a plausible answer to a question?

Cheers

Andrew

06 February 2015, 22:48

A.Dahlgren

quote:
Originally posted by Beretta682E:
What would people consider the Save Conservancy or Bubye ?

Mike

Save some parts is open, but If you hunt elephants there you know that its 0% to find a 100 pounder if you go a few miles to Mahenye or Malipati you can find them and both areas have shot 100 pounders the last years. For me it takes away a bit of the mystique what you can find around the next corner.

Bubye is closed around what I can understand.

06 February 2015, 23:01

Labman

My hunt last year was a cull hunt in Botswana on a fenced property of 100,000 acres. Upon arrival we drove through the fence to the lodge. In 7 days of hunting we only saw the fence once. That was when we went to hunt another property across the road. It was somewhat smaller. Only 70,000 acres. Only saw that fence when we entered and left.

To me hunting behind a fence is fine as long as it's a large property. Would I book a hunt on a 1,000 acre property - NO.

Don't write off a hunt just because it is fenced. The size of the property should be the deciding factor.

06 February 2015, 23:20

P-A Åhlén

For me "free range" is no fences what so ever

06 February 2015, 23:44

High Desert

I am not interested in hunting behind a high fence for personal reasons. Others are fine with it. There are many good low fence/no fence operations so why compromise if it bothers you? Why go all the way to Africa if you feel you will have to explain that the animals behind that 10' high fence on a 5,000 acre property really are wild and free ranging. The fact is that the fence isn't there because it improves the view. It exists either to keep animals in or people out or both. Assuming the former, the question of "free range" is answered.

07 February 2015, 16:31

Karoo

Getting back to the original post, there is a big difference between fenced and put and take. Put and take involves animals that do not breed within the area, such as males caught and translocated for the sole purpose of hunting.
This does happen but forms a very small part of game ranching.

07 February 2015, 16:58

Andrew McLaren

quote:
Originally posted by Karoo:
Getting back to the original post, there is a big difference between fenced and put and take. Put and take involves animals that do not breed within the area, such as males caught and translocated for the sole purpose of hunting.
This does happen but forms a very small part of game ranching.

I agree 100% with the statement that put and take forms " a very small part of game ranching."

And I also agree that put and take forms "a small part of hunting on most game ranches."

Furthermore I also agree that put and take forms " a part pf hunting on some game ranches."

But, finally I, and also the AR readers should, also agree that put and take forms "a major part of hunting at some ranches."

It is up to those hunters who does mind being involved in put and take hunting to avoid becoming a client at the last mentioned - admittedly a small % of the total number - of game ranches!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren
Professional Hunter and Hunting Outfitter since 1974.

http://www.mclarensafaris.com The home page to go to for custom planning of ethical and affordable hunting of plains game in South Africa!
Enquire about any South African hunting directly from andrew@mclarensafaris.com

After a few years of participation on forums, I have learned that:

One can cure:

Lack of knowledge – by instruction. Lack of skills – by practice. Lack of experience – by time doing it.

One cannot cure:

Stupidity – nothing helps! Anti hunting sentiments – nothing helps! Put-‘n-Take Outfitters – money rules!

My very long ago ancestors needed and loved to eat meat. Today I still hunt!

07 February 2015, 20:33

tysue

Free range has never meant no fences at all. Fenced hunts used to mean an area of 40 acres or something, not 40,000 acres. I have friends in Namibia with 100,000 acre ranch. Has fences because it's a working ranch, but also has a lot of game. object should be that the game has a fair chance of escaping the hunter, or avoiding them. even a 1000 acres plenty big enough for that. The fences in Africa there to keep poachers and stray animals, ie: the neighbors cattle, off your place, not so much to keep the game in. A test was done some years ago on something like a 100 acres known to have quite a few deer. In a week, 10 hunters managed to get a couple. This fair chase thing can be taken to extreme. I'm big on it myself and feel SCI and B&C should NOT allow any game shot on a game farm from being entered into the records. But an Nyala hunted on a 1800 acre ranch in Africa has a huge chance of avoiding you, as does any other game there. not a slam dunk, walk out and shoot something deal at all. I think the more proper term for a non-fair chase hunt was called a "canned" hunt, where the animal was released into a small enclosure and shot, not really hunted.

07 February 2015, 21:04

P-A Åhlén

quote:
Originally posted by tysue:
Free range has never meant no fences at all. Fenced hunts used to mean an area of 40 acres or something, not 40,000 acres. I have friends in Namibia with 100,000 acre ranch. Has fences because it's a working ranch, but also has a lot of game. object should be that the game has a fair chance of escaping the hunter, or avoiding them. even a 1000 acres plenty big enough for that. The fences in Africa there to keep poachers and stray animals, ie: the neighbors cattle, off your place, not so much to keep the game in. A test was done some years ago on something like a 100 acres known to have quite a few deer. In a week, 10 hunters managed to get a couple. This fair chase thing can be taken to extreme. I'm big on it myself and feel SCI and B&C should NOT allow any game shot on a game farm from being entered into the records. But an Nyala hunted on a 1800 acre ranch in Africa has a huge chance of avoiding you, as does any other game there. not a slam dunk, walk out and shoot something deal at all. I think the more proper term for a non-fair chase hunt was called a "canned" hunt, where the animal was released into a small enclosure and shot, not really hunted.

I really disagree! Me and some friends went to Scotland some years ago for free range red deer. We were extremely disappointed when it showed that we were hunting inside a fenced area. I will never pay for hunting a fenced area regardless of it size and if the outfitter market the hunt as free range there should be no fences what so ever. I am not against hunting in fenced areas (I own a game enclosure myself and I know from personal experience that it often is more difficult to hunt within the fence than outside) but will personally never pay to hunt in one. The outfitter have a big responsibility to be clear on this matter.
Free range = No fences