South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has issued proposed regulations pertaining to hunting in RSA. There are several areas of concern, including the elimination (for clients) of problem animal control (P.A.C.) hunts, as well as darting. But the previous will have much less impact than a prohibition of:
bowhunting; and
elimination of shooting from a vehicle.

Sorry; Cut myself off there.

The Ministry is looking for public comments. I urge everyone interested in hunting in South Africa to comment via the SCI website. www.safriclub.org Perhaps, they will consider our opinions.

The proposed regulations only deals with endangersd game, scarce game and large predators. Bow hunting will be allowed if the province allows it and you have a permit to hunt one of the above with a bow. In Kwa Zulu Natal it is prohibited by law to shoot from a bakkie.

I had a long discussion with a person from Phasa. One must look at the proposals as a whole and keep in mind what it is intended for.

Posted to the web on: 09 May 2006
Lucrative hunting free-for-all set to be tamed by proposed industry regulations
Linda Ensor

Political Correspondent


IT COSTS about R180000 to bring a hunted lion to its knees, which is why captive breeding stations have been established around the country to ensure a steady supply of game and put money in the bank.

However, government plans to exert a tighter grip over the lucrative hunting industry, which generates an estimated R410m annually for hunting companies. Until now, however, they have been allowed to do what they liked.

In future, listed captive-bred animals such as lions, leopards and wild dogs will have to experience at least two years in the wild before they can become hunting prey.

This is no mere nicety. What this proposed rule will introduce is the principle of a fair chase, something missing when captive animals are released to certain death in a confined space.

These proposals are contained in the draft hunting regulations for threatened and protected species, as well as draft norms and standards for the regulation of hunting, which were promulgated by the environmental affairs and tourism department in the Government Gazette earlier this month. The public has been given six weeks in which to comment on them.

The draft regulations aim to simultaneously prevent abuse yet not deplete an industry that drew about 7300 foreign visitors to SA in the year to the end of September last year. SA offers the largest number of mammal species in the world, between 60 and 90, available for hunting.

Foreign hunters, mainly from the US (54%) and Spain (8,5%), devoted 36000 days in total to hunting, and killed 39000 animals in that year.


According to departmental figures, the foreign hunters spend about R410m directly on their hobby. Of this, R370m is for the daily hunting rate and booking fees, and R40m for killing the animal.

Add in air fares, hotel accommodation, taxidermy services and other related services, and it is easy to see why the hunting tourism sub-sector is worth about R2,5bn, with an estimated 9000 wildlife production units employing about 63000 people servicing about 200000 resident hunters through the estimated 1000 operations involved in selling hunting packages.

According to departmental figures, 209 lions were hunted and killed in 2004.

To bring a male lion down, hunters have to pay, on average, between $28000 and $32000, which includes a four-day hunt and the trophy animal.

According to the Professional Hunters Association, the average price tag for a slain male leopard is about $85000 for a 14-day hunt, with a further $3000 for the trophy.

In comparison, the trophy fee for killing a kudu is R4500, with about R2000 extra charged as a biltong-making fee.



With such lucrative rewards and a regulatory system full of holes, abuse has been widespread, in particular in the form of canned hunting, or the captive breeding specifically for the hunting of large predators such as lions, leopards and wild dogs.

The department says there are about 110 captive breeding facilities in SA, mainly in Free State and North West. These will be severely affected by the proposals.

Deputy director-general Fundisile Mketeni says the department will negotiate a transitional strategy with the captive breeders so they can get rid of their existing stock over a two-year window period.

Rural communities that benefit from the hunting industry will not be adversely affected by the restrictions, he says, as they are mainly involved in activities associated with hunting for antelope such as impala and kudu.

The draft regulations emerge from a long process of consultation and deliberation by a panel of experts appointed by Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

The panel, chaired by the department’s former director-general, Crispian Olver, gathered the views of a wide variety of organisations and communities including the Professional Hunters Association of SA, South African Game Farmers, game rangers, and the South African Association of Hunters and Conservationists. It received 41 written and 28 oral submissions and four commissioned research papers.

Mketeni says the regulations could come into force this year if no substantive comments are made by stakeholders during the six-week period. Enforcement capacity has been strengthened in the form of the Green Scorpions — the department’s environmental inspectorate division — and the training of officials.

A permit system will be introduced for the breeding, hunting, trade and transport of species identified on a national list of threatened and protected species. All captive breeding facilities, nurseries, scientific institutions, sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities will have to be registered within three months of the regulations coming into force.

Hunters will also have to be registered with recognised hunting bodies and a national hunting register will record how many animals have been hunted, for what purpose, where, and by what method.

According to Van Schalkwyk, a big advantage of the proposed system is that it will have national application and will replace the diverse provincial ordinances which currently govern the management of hunted species.

This lack of uniformity and inconsistent enforcement, he says, created gaps and thus the potential for easy abuse.

I have no interest in a canned lion or any other animal hunt. If it rattles your chain, go for it.
I do have a problem with the sentence..."Hunters also will have to be registered with recognised hunting bodies."
Do these hunting bodies charge a fee? Could they perhaps raise that fee now that they are required?
Are these hunting bodies regulated by the government?
What does this sentence have to do with Fair Chase?
A local hunter will now have to belong to a hunting body before they can hunt?

This will eliminate any alien from hunting in RSA with out a PH.
I wonder if the hunting bodies or PHASA had something to do with this sentence in the regulation? It will definately add money to their pockets.

TJ,
You are correct, that all local hunters wanting to hunt protected and endangered species as well as the large predators must get a permit and you cannot get a permit unless you are a member of a hunting organisation. It will have no affect on foreighn hunters as they are accompabied by a ph who must be registered.

The only way to control hunting in RSA is trhrough recognized hunting organisations.

A Umbrella body consisting out ot amateur and profesional hunting bodies was established last year.

Biggametv,

Your point out the following:

" But the previous will have much less impact than a prohibition of:bowhunting; and elimination of shooting from a vehicle"

Not sure where you got this, but Bowhunting is definetly not prohibited!

Perhaps you misinterpreted the infro - Clause 14 No. 2a (vi) of the proposed regs relates to bow hunting, and unless you understand how bowhunting is regulated it may seem that it spells the end of bow hunting in South Africa.

However, nothing could be further from the truth.

The clause itself reads:

...Hunting permits authorising the hunting of a listed animal, in addition to other conditions the issuing authority may impose, be issued subject to the following conditions:

The animal may not be hunted by means of -
- poison
- traps
- snares
- a firearm other than a rifle or handgun specifically designed for hunting
- spears
- a bow and arrow, except where specifically permitted by provincial legislation

Note the emphasised part of the quote, which specifies that bow hunting may take place if permitted by provincial legislation.

As all provincial legislation caters for bow hunting of plains game at present, there is, as such, no ban on bow hunting at all.

Some provinces are however, at their discretion, withholding permits for thick skinned herbivores like Rhino, Elephant and Hippo, but this choice is not formalised, nor part of provincial legislation, but solely at the discretion of the relative authorities, and can be decided on a case by case basis if they so choose.

Hope this clears up the issue.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ:

This will eliminate any alien from hunting in RSA with out a PH.
I wonder if the hunting bodies or PHASA had something to do with this sentence in the regulation? It will definately add money to their pockets.

For as long as I know no foreign hunter is allowed to hunt without a ph and the hunt must be organised through a outfitter. That is a regulation made by the goverment and not by Phasa or any of the other hunting bodies.

In RSA we have 2 national amateur hunting bodies, Chasa that consist out of various local hunting organisations and SA Hunting and Game Conservation Ass. We have one profesional hunting body namely Phasa. If it was'nt for the hard work of these bodies, our laws would be more difficult. It is also due to the work of these bodies that there will be changes in our gun laws.

I am a member of two of the organizations.

If more people joins these organisations they will have more power and membership fees will become cheaper. Only about 20% of the amateur hunters in RSA belongs to a hunting body. A larger membership will give a lot more negotiating power to the organisations.

SAHGCA provides lots of courses and training in all respects of hunting, from junior level to senior hunters. Their courses are of a vey high standard and are endorsed by IHEA of who SAHGCA is full members.