quote:

Originally posted by Gusteaux:
Texas Blue D

You need to be a bit more specific in your question i.e. PG vs. DG.

PG hunting on private game farms can be done year around. It's up to the land owner if they want to have and "off season". In Botswana, a private game farm is required by law to be enclosed by high, game proof fences. Don't be too put off by this as these farm/ranches are tens of thousands of acers and larger. Some of these farms cater to mostly biltong/meat hunters with a lot of them coming from RSA. Some of these farms/ranches raise game for live game capture and export as well as supplying meat to the local markets. Again, don't be too put off by this as the "trophy" quality can be very, very good since biltong/meat hunters are only after meat and not interested in paying premium fees for horns they can't eat.

DG hunting does have a formal season imposed by the govt since this is done nearly exclusively on govt/community concessions. Opening and closing dates vary from year to year but, generally open in early April and close the end of September or early October. These concessions usually have some limited PG quota available but, the TF's are usually significantly higher than same species on farms/ranches and quantity/quality may not be a good as on farms/ranches due primarily to poaching.

I've been going to Bots once or twice a years since 2018. Primarily hunting PG at several locations in the Tuli Block along the Limpopo river. My wife and I, spent a month doing what we called the "Great Circle Tour" of Bots via a self-drive around the perimeter paved highways. Love the country and the people are friendly. The govt is stable and safe. The Okavango Delta is interesting but, the country overall is not as scenic as Namibia as far a sight-seeing but, the quantity of elephants you'll see up in the NW part of Bots is staggering. Easy to see the problems the overpopulation is causing.

Heading back to Bots again at the end of Aug for 10-days with a couple of guys. One went with me last year and had such a great time he's going again and the other is a first-timer.