Hunting School Opens Window of Opportunity



New Era (Windhoek)

July 30, 2004
Posted to the web July 30, 2004

Chrispin Inambao
Windhoek

OVERLOOKING the scenic Bismarck Mountains some 30 km outside Windhoek is the Eagle Rock Hunting School, whose current course in hunting is definitely making an impact on the hunting industry.

The hunting school was built on Etango Ranch, a guest-farm just a stone's throw from the Hosea Kutako International Airport.


Thousands of well-heeled foreign clients had the opportunity to experience and often admire the hunting capabilities of hunting assistants, when it comes to the tracking, sighting of game, and skinning or salvaging a successfully hunted trophy animal.

Due to a lack of formal education, however, these blacks remained as "hunting assistants" while whites were employed as hunting guides as there was no professional hunting education for blacks.

But remarkably these Namibians are elevating themselves from untrained hunting assistants to the level of hunting guides, a registered profession that is fully acknowledged by the State.

At this school previously disadvantaged black Namibians, mainly farm hands are taught hunting ethics, skinning techniques, tracking theory, trophy hunting legislation, game and environmental management, as well as the food preferences of various game species. Skinning is vital because applying the wrong technique can ruin an otherwise good trophy, the 13 trainees have recently learned at the Eagle Rock Hunting School.

Some of the 20 game species whose distribution, habitat and behaviour are scrutinised at this school are: zebra, kudu, eland, harte-beest, gemsbok, elephant, jackal, giraffe and cheetah.

Table etiquette and pro-tecting clients from "harm" also form part of the training that further stresses the importance to Namibia of portraying a professional image.

Targeting the right trophy, namely an adult male instead of a female or lactating animal or a calf is essential as it forms part of these ethics, says Volker Grellmann, the owner and chief instructor at Eagle Rock, that is located on a family ranch.

Grellmann, a highly pro-minent personality in the multi-million dollar hunting industry says the course is unique in that previously disadvantaged blacks can take the examinations orally in Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Afri-kaans or Khoekhoegowab.

Interpreters are also allowed and interestingly the previously disadvantaged have passed the course with flying colours as their pass rates have averaged 80 percent, exceeding even those with a secondary or tertiary education, Grellmann told New Era.

He says the level of enthusiasm and participation from the course attendants has been remarkably high, hence the excellent marks.

Another aspect of the recent training involves the use of small calibre weapons such as .22 magnum to the high calibre .458 rifle used for bigger huntable game species such as elephant, rhino, etc.

Americans from the Schickar Club donated several small calibre weapons used for training purposes at Eagle Rock Hunting School.

So far 72 black Namibians have completed this unique course that has the blessing of the Ministry of Environ-ment and Tourism. Members of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) developed the course's unique curriculum.

One black Namibian woman recently attended this course.

What this veteran Safari operator terms as "outcome-based education" has even attracted guest students from Nigeria, Kenya and from the Polytechnic of South Africa.

Some Americans have also shown a keen interest in sending their offspring to Eagle Rock Hunting School to learn how "to hunt properly in an African environment".


Grellmann, who is the co-owner of both Anvo Hunting Safaris and Wildlife Safaris of Namibia, serves as the chairman of the Ethics Committee at NAPHA. He is also a board member of various hunting clubs in Africa and the United Sates of America. He together with his lovable wife Anke, have been in the industry since the late 60s. They have in the meantime been requested to avail the course to people from other countries in the SADC region.

The course was initiated five years ago after the then Prime Minister Hage Gein-gob lamented that the pro-fession of hunting guides and professional hunters was exclusively the domain of white Namibians. At the time the Swapo politician said there was a need to darken the complexion of what was seen as too white an industry.

Kathi,
I spoke with a PH in Namibia last May about the experiences some hunters have had with black PH's. He heard that the hunting part was alright, but after the days hunt was over the black PH and the white sportsmen had little in common. The result was that they separated until the next day, leaving a gap in the total experience of an African hunt.

I still think its a good idea to increase the number of black PH's as many of the candidates are skilled hunters to begin with. Over time they should be able to relate more with their clients socially. I'd be interested to hear from anyone that has hunted with a graduate of Eagle Rock Hunting School.

I hunted with a black PH in Zimbabwe, and also socialized with him after hours. He has a very outgoing personality, and is definitely not bashful nor retiring. He is an excellent gentleman to know.

For those who aren't accustomed to the social side of the hunting, perhaps the school could have social "knife and fork" lessons as we used to do in Navy Officer Candidate School with the Wardroom Etiquette training. Plus a little urging from the outfitter of course.

jim dodd