As everyone knows, Zimbabwe has some of the most stringent rules and regulations when it comes to professional hunters and guides.

We will be conducting a pre proficiency course at the Rifa Educational camp on the Zambezi river.

Details below, if anyone feels like they would be interested in joining us please get hold of myself or Sally Bown, soaz@mweb.co.zw it is open to the public, however there are only 30 candidates.

Please note that there are no certificates, and non residents are not allowed to conduct any hunting for reward in Zimbabwe once they have attended this course, it is merely an educational course.

DETAILS:


RIFA COURSE – Dates arrive pm 11th to depart am 17th Sept 2011

COST OF COURSE: US$ 600 per member $ 800 per non member

There will be a non trophy elephant and buffalo available.

Shooting of Elephant and Buffalo will be raffled off: $ 100 per ticket.

No special diets catered for.

Incidentals for each person to bring for themselves:
Personal snacks, drinks – 20 ltrs bottled water, cokes, beers etc.
No laundry done – bring enough clothing
Bring bedding.
Writing materials & Notebooks,
Skinning knives
.375> rifle, 40 rounds ammo.

ACCOMMODATION:
In the dormitories which sleep 30 TOTAL.


COURSE TO COVER:


General knowledge:
Habits and Habitats
Ballistics and firearms
Legislation
First aid
Basic mechanics
Photography

Trophies:
Identification
Measurement

Shooting:
Jungle lane
Target shooting – still
Target shooting - moving
Safety precautions
Marksmanship principles
accuracy and speed.

Camping:
Camp setting
Camp hygiene and control of fires
Catering
Entertainment
Standards of dress


Guiding, hunting, bush craft & game products:
Hunting;
Tracking ability
Spoor and signs id
Attention to wind
Stalking ability
Trophy selection
Safety of clients
Self defence
Weapon handling
Shooting of animal

Baiting of cats;
Choice of site
Siting of blind
Siting and positioning of bait

Guiding;
Identification of animals
Identification of plants
Knowledge of animal and plant habitats
Knowledge of cultural resources in the area
Knowledge of rocks and soils
Spoor and signs identification
Safety of clients
Self defence
Weapon handling
Shooting of animals

Bush craft :
Knowledge of the area
Observance
Endurance
Survival skills

Game products:
Knowledge of skinning and caping
Preservation of trophies and meat
Recovery of ivory
Safekeeping of products
Butchery hygiene
Dispatching products


There will be qualified and experienced persons in each field to lecture and brush up your skills!



BOOKING FORM

ZPHGA EDUCATION PRACTICAL COURSE
AT RIFA 11TH SEPT TO 16TH.

NAME:………………………………………………………………………………..

Hunter / Guide…………………………………………..

MEMBER @ US$ 600 ………………

NON MEMBER @ US$ 800……………..

Please have payment made soonest to Sally Bowen in Harare at the SOAZ Office or to
Candy Pieters at Bulembi Safaris office in Bulawayo to book your place. There are 30 places available only.

When you have registered for the course, please email your details to:
Ernie Van Staden – zimph414@gmail.com to get specific instructions.
I will attempt to coordinate travel to minimize costs for you.

Now that would be fun.

quote:

Now that would be fun.

And extremely interesting, not to mention entertaining!

In my third life I would like to be a PH.

Going to be a blast - like the "no special diets catered for" priceless!

I would love to try, if they would let non-Zimbabweans get an actual PH license!

Aaron, you could come along and teach a few of the ' boys' a bit about lion hunting!!

Mart

And just what would Aaron know about Lion hunting???????

Guys, I'm not gonna try to teach, or pretend to teach, Zim boys anything! I just wish it could be possible to get a license. If so, I would come for sure, and see if I could pass?

I was being serious

Aaron, I think we all know your experience and time put in to hunting would stand you in good stead in passing the Zim licence, in all honesty you have more knowledge than a few PH's I know !!!

Aaron: US citizens CAN indeed, get a Zimbabwean PH license:

John Cadd (1994, #426) and Lon Denney (2009, #523) both are US citizens.

Controversial!!

why so protective about a Zim PH license??

The regulations don't absolutely forbid non-residents from obtaining a license (if I read my last appy's study guide correctly), but it certainly isn't a right. It seemed to me to be an "applied for" exception to the rule subject to descretion of some gov't official (and what the heck does "descretion" mean with government appointees in Zimbabwe?).

In other words, if anyone (non-resident) wanted to go through the three year process, they could. They may, or may not pass the various stages of licensure, but some dude in the gov't would have the final say and not the examiners (even if they passed the guy). And... the exception allowing a non-resident a license could be resended any darn time the government wanted to, with no recourse.

Am I right, Martin?

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
The regulations don't absolutely forbid non-residents from obtaining a license (if I read my last appy's study guide correctly), but it certainly isn't a right. It seemed to me to be an "applied for" exception to the rule subject to descretion of some gov't official (and what the heck does "descretion" mean with government appointees in Zimbabwe?).

In other words, if anyone (non-resident) wanted to go through the three year process, they could. They may, or may not pass the various stages of licensure, but some dude in the gov't would have the final say and not the examiners (even if they passed the guy). And... the exception allowing a non-resident a license could be resended any darn time the government wanted to, with no recourse.

Am I right, Martin?

Judge - Lots of good points/concerns. I would be very interested in going for the exam, but I would want to know more about the points you raise, especially the 3 yrs?? Is the 2-3 yr apprenticeship mandatory? Not that I think it isn't important or unnecessary. But for me, I simply could not devote that much time to it, and this point in my life. With previous DG hunting/guiding experience, I was allowed to sit for the 2-day PH exam in TZ last year. Worked out fine, and I got my license.

However, I understand the Zim exam is much more involved/intensive. I would like to try and pass the exam, but only if its for real!

Martin - Who now operates the exam? Zim PH association or Nat Parks???

quote:

Originally posted by tsibindi:
Aaron: US citizens CAN indeed, get a Zimbabwean PH license:

John Cadd (1994, #426) and Lon Denney (2009, #523) both are US citizens.

I missed this one, that's interesting!! Are both born in the U.S.???

Aaron, it is run by the JEC, joint examination committee, National parks and ZPHGA.
* The 2 year apprenticeship is mandatory

First you attach your self to a PH and do a minimum 2 year apprenticeship, pass the learners exam ( written ), and then you will need to have the following before you will be considered for the practical exam.

Here is what is needed once you have done your minimum 2 years :


Zimbabwean ID or residence permit
Receipt of payment for the practical
Current ADVANCED first aid certificate ( 5 day course )from one of the following:
Redcross
Pacmed
Mars
Emras
St Johns
Letter from your tutor stating that he feels you are ready for the practical.
Log book complete with photographs.
Completed and passed the mandatory shooting test ( held twice/ year )
Minimum 2 years in Zimbabwe with an LPH
Minimum 2 year apprenticeship in Zimbabwe under a fully licensed professional hunter.
Hunters, 5 dangerous game animals shot in Zimbabwe yourself after obtaining your LPH
Guides, minimum 4 dangerous game animals shot in Zimbabwe yourself after obtaining your LPH/G

Once you have the above , you attend the interview and hopefully you will be invited to attend the 7 day practical which is held once / year.

Judge, you have to be a citizen or resident to attend the exams, non residents are not considered.

Mart

Jonnerthan Cadd does hold a valid license. He has been a Zim Perminant resident as long as I can Remember. He is a pilot with Mission Aviation Feloship and has always used hunting to supliment his salary.

Lon Denney is proof that corruption is creaping back in- he has never been on an exam and has simply bought a license from either the DG or the minister.

Thanks, Martin, for your response. I think I used "non-resident" improperly. I guess I meant "non-citizen, but resident".... kind of like the "green card" resident (but not citizen) in the U.S.

In any event, I think the Zimbabwe ordeal really produces really great P.H.'s. The appy/L.P.H. system nurtures (with some pretty tough love) folks who have learned to do everything from fixing old and tired Land Cruisers to perfectly skinning a ton of buffalo to not pissing their britches when irritated elphants get cheeky.

I have had the priviledge to have multiple LPH's in camp with me. Every time, the mentor P.H. would be very demanding of the learner, making sure that his tracking skills were well-learned, client needs were met, safety was paramount, good leadership of the other employees was practiced, even how to get a truck out of a ditch... you name it, appys learned it.

When a guy (or a girl?) gets a full license in Zimbabwe, you can bet your bippy that they have been tried and found true. The system (absent a few examples of indigenous interference) is a damn fine way to make sure that a Zim P.H. is truly a "Professional" Hunter.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Thanks, Martin, for your response. I think I used "non-resident" improperly. I guess I meant "non-citizen, but resident".... kind of like the "green card" resident (but not citizen) in the U.S.

In any event, I think the Zimbabwe ordeal really produces really great P.H.'s. The appy/L.P.H. system nurtures (with some pretty tough love) folks who have learned to do everything from fixing old and tired Land Cruisers to perfectly skinning a ton of buffalo to not pissing their britches when irritated elphants get cheeky.

I have had the priviledge to have multiple LPH's in camp with me. Every time, the mentor P.H. would be very demanding of the learner, making sure that his tracking skills were well-learned, client needs were met, safety was paramount, good leadership of the other employees was practiced, even how to get a truck out of a ditch... you name it, appys learned it.

When a guy (or a girl?) gets a full license in Zimbabwe, you can bet your bippy that they have been tried and found true. The system (absent a few examples of indigenous interference) is a damn fine way to make sure that a Zim P.H. is truly a "Professional" Hunter.

Judge - Agreed! Zim does it right, and most everyone licensed there is fully qualified.

Its some of the requirements listed above, that would stop me from proceeding, mainly the 2-yr apprenticeship/residency. At 39, and with an established business and family here in Colorado. I'm a bit too late for moving to Zim for 2-3 yrs. Darn!!! I would like to get a license in Zim, or at least try.

Are non-indigenous still allowed to graduate and get their license?.....those of Boer, French,English, German etc ancestry are not considered Africans even tho being there for 4 or 5 generations...

If you are a citizen or permanent resident, you can get your license.

The snoring coming from thirty half-drunk limeys in one dormitory room?

Oooh, too pricey.

Martin,

Do Ph's there follow a Code of Ethics? If so is there a reference to it?

Thanks

Andrew

Hi Andrew

Yes, we do have a code of ethics, sally Bown, soaz@mweb.co.zw can send them to you, remeber, not all PH's are members of the association and therefore do not have to abide by any code of conduct/ethics. We are currently working with SCI to make it a necessity for any outfitter/PH/exhibiter to be a member in good standing of a reputable association in their country to be able to market/attend the SCI show.

Martin

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
Hi Andrew

Yes, we do have a code of ethics, sally Bown, soaz@mweb.co.zw can send them to you, remeber, not all PH's are members of the association and therefore do not have to abide by any code of conduct/ethics. We are currently working with SCI to make it a necessity for any outfitter/PH/exhibiter to be a member in good standing of a reputable association in their country to be able to market/attend the SCI show.

Martin

Sounds like a plan. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
Hi Andrew

Yes, we do have a code of ethics, sally Bown, soaz@mweb.co.zw can send them to you, remeber, not all PH's are members of the association and therefore do not have to abide by any code of conduct/ethics. We are currently working with SCI to make it a necessity for any outfitter/PH/exhibiter to be a member in good standing of a reputable association in their country to be able to market/attend the SCI show.

Martin

good luck on that one Mart!!!. as long as SCI gets their exhibitors fee and "voluntary" donation, methinks they could give a flying shit about ethics or membership in the host countries PH association. think Out of Africa and their expulsion from Zim( and later from the PHASA) and you see the reason for my doubts.