I have recently returned from Zimbabwe and during my time there talked to a person in the hunting industry (to remain nameless) who matter of factly stated that he has hung bait on the border fence seperating Zimbabwe from Botswana in an effort to get lions to come across.

I have hunted in that area and have seen the border fence he was talking about. It is not in good shape due to elephant damage. I have also been a non hunting tourist on the Botswana side of that fence (Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris) in the Mashatu game reserve. I have had conversations with Mashatu employees where they have been very irate with the hunters on the Zim side as many of their more photogenic lions have been shot by them. I always just shrugged my shoulders in response and told them that the lions don't care about the border fences and they will wander where they will wander.

However, I do think hanging meat on a border fence in an attempt to lure lions across to be hunted to be a wee bit too agressive and very likely to inflame the anti-hunters to our own eventual detriment.

Is this type of tactic (hanging bait meat on a border fence) acceptable to the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters' Association? If not, shouldn't it be?

On the fence is ridiculous, but one can have scent travel over the boundary from 100yds. or more away and draw the lions over the border. They probably even cross it back and forth. Never knew any animal who knows where the boundary is...

Mike

When I hunted Matetsi Unit 3, we drove the boundary road every day looking for elephant and buffalo crossing into our concession from Botswana. The animals knew that the Bots side of the road was "safe" (photo safaris) versus our side. They also knew that there were pans full of water in our concession which is why they would cross over. Given that these animals' home range encompassed both countries, I think it would be hard to argue that one side had more right to them than the other. I would think they belonged to whichever side they happened to be on.

While I don't think it's unethical, the danger in putting up a bait right on the boundary happens after the shot. If the animal crosses the boundary and dies a foot over the line, you're out your trophy.

Pete

Well, at least you wouldn't have to pay the trophy fee.

I would bet you would have to pay the trophy fee. I'm also pretty confident the Parks guys would let you recover the animal.

As far as baiting along the fence, I have no problem with the practice. No matter where you bait, the point is to draw the animal from where it was to where you are waiting.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
I would bet you would have to pay the trophy fee. I'm also pretty confident the Parks guys would let you recover the animal.

As far as baiting along the fence, I have no problem with the practice. No matter where you bait, the point is to draw the animal from where it was to where you are waiting.

you draw blood, you pay the trophy fee- period! as far as the Parks guys go, whose PARKS GUYS? DO YOU REALLY THINK THE BOTS. PARKS GUYS ARE GOING TO LET YOU CROSS THE BORDER TO TRACK A WOUNDED ANIMAL? somehow i doubt it. more likely you will get arrested. if its in Bots, the Zim authorities have no say in the matter. you would be SOL( AND OUT AN EXPENSIVE TROPHY FEE). every hunting contract i have ever seen stated that if you drew blood, you paid- regardless of the eventual outcome.

My only experience was when a friend shot an elephant that crossed from the conession into Gonerezhou National Park. The Park's crew went to look for the elephant, but never found it. The trophy fee was paid however.

I shot an elephant near the Doma safari area and it crossed into the area and was lost to me. I understand the body was found later. I paid the trophy fee. There was no question about it.

I have no problem with hanging a bait where it is legal, assuming it is in/between hunting areas.

Hanging bait in the boarder between a hunting and non-hunting area is bad business, IMO.

I could not care less if animals are enticed out of a non-hunting area to be killed in a hunting area. But I can guarantee the photo safari D-Bags will blame hunters if their clients don't get to see the animals the want while PHs are actively baiting their animals.

Zim law is quite clear ...SI 362 states that no baits may be hung within 400m of a boundary...be that to a national park or an international border.

The botswana police are very zelous about picking folk up who cross over 'illegally' from zim inclusding our own game scouts getting water....Illegal rifle, no visa, hunting without a permit...I think the local BDF man would have a field day. IF the bots authorities are notified a wounded animal has crossed the border they are usually very good about following it up themselves. Returning the trophy is a different matter- some do, some don't and I have never worked out why (it is not a case of a bribe)

As Ganyana said, in TZ the minimum distance where one can bait from a Park boundary is 2 km (The Act states 1km and the Regs state 2 km ). No limit between 2 adjacent hunting blocks.

I think some sort of limit is a good thing for the above reasons highlighted by other posters.

The fact that many operators focus on the boundary for their hunting, whether baiting or picking up tracks, in itself is evidence enough to me that certain animals do indeed know where boundaries are . It would also indicate to me that hunting pressure in the hunting concession might be excessive?

The fact that many operators focus on the boundary for their hunting, whether baiting or picking up tracks, in itself is evidence enough to me that certain animals do indeed know where boundaries are . It would also indicate to me that hunting pressure in the hunting concession might be excessive?[/QUOTE]


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