Roscoe,

Tell Riaan & company that Paul and Paula sends a warm 'hello' their way. Ask Rynu if he caught anything in his traps yet. Rynu is quite the character (in a good way) for a 7-year old.

We can't wait to go back next year. Shoot a good Kudu for me (but leave me a nice one also for next year!)

Concerning the trophy animals: without trying to stir anything up (just keeping an open mind and voicing an opinion):

I'm not sure I agree that the Impala with the herd is necessarily the best breeding stock and all others are second best. He's with the herd for a reason. He's certainly a good ram. One way or another, he beat others out for this particular herd. I bet there are many factors though, not just 'quality of a breeding animal'. I'd guess that age, genes, fighting ability, mood, and others all come into play.

My PH also said something that sounds reasonable. He believes that late in the rut, the herd ram might be run off by a new one, as the one that had the herd for a while gets tired, worn out, etc. from all of the fighting and breeding. He thinks on average a herd goes through 2 rams during the complete rut.

Also, once a herd ram is shot, another takes its place. Second best? Sometimes that's probably true. Other times I bet it's just a younger one (same quality? sometimes even better quality?)

I read a good article in Magnum concerning SCI and trophy animals. One point of view is that shooting the biggest makes a lot of sense because it's an older animal, often past his prime and breeding days are over or numbered, and let the younger ones live to reach their prime.

I will be sure to post you on Rynu's trapping results. That little boy will keep his father busy in the future. I will never forget when he shot his first animal. Riaan took him along on a springbuck hunt in the Free State and after my buddy missed 3 animals Rynu asked when it would be his turn to shoot. My buddy gave him the next opportunity and the little man shot a springbuck between the eyes on his first shot. My buddy was sure it was a fluke so when the next animal was within shooting distance he told Rynu to do it again....which he did. Two head shots in a row. Rynu was just shy of 4 years old at the time!

quote:

Originally posted by Jagter:
[QUOTE]Concerning the Impala and all other game types, 'survival of the fittest' is the motto amongst wild animals.
Só, to take out the best ram amongst the ewes is degrading your future Impala stocks - [b][i][i]Therefor, shoot your ram from the ram herd or small group - much more challenging to you the hunter...

Jagter,

It was my understanding that Impala still rut in May (when Paul's hunt was conducted). Does this not mean that another stronger Ram could have come along in any event later during the rut and taken over the responsibility of breeding with the females at the end of the rut?

As for your statement that it is more challenging to hunt from bachelor herds or hunt single rams I beg to differ. Breeding herds are formed by up to 120 animals and even more (significantly larger than bachelor herds) which means more eyes and a bigger chance of getting spotted during the stalk. Does this not make the latter hunt more challenging?

I would agree that it is advisable not to shoot the breeding ram at the end of the rut in the interest of spreading superior genes but most game ranchers I know regularly introduce new stock to their properties which is also conducive to maintaining a good gene pool.

As for your earlier statement regarding what should fall under the definition of the term "game ranch" and what should not: I was under the impression that a game fenced area on which wild animals occur would be classified as a game ranch but it clearly seems that my litterary abilities are not up to standard with yours. I should mention that I know of several such fenced areas that are either adjacent to or fall inside bigger properties that are used for agricultural purposes.

I'm not having a go at you - you are entitled to your opinion as we all are to ours but I was unaware of your appointment as official Game Warden and spokesman for South Africa entitling you to "welcome clients back anytime" as per a previous post. I thought Paul hunted with another outfitter...

ChrisTroskie wrote:

quote:

I'm not having a go at you - you are entitled to your opinion as we all are to ours but I was unaware of your appointment as official Game Warden and spokesman for South Africa entitling you to "welcome clients back anytime" as per a previous post. I thought Paul hunted with another outfitter...

Surely you are not having a go at me ...... but you're uncalled-for sarcastic!

If you read all of the next bit, you will hopefully (not quaranteed though!) realise that it was said in a friendly manner towards paul55 - nothing more and nothing less!

quote:

paul55:

Again, you're not to be blamed at all!

Hope landowners and PH's learnt something from all this debate.

You're welcome anytime again and trust you will get that huge trophy Kudu bull next time - Grey Ghosts they really are!

In reply to your questions below:

quote:

Does this not mean that another stronger Ram could have come along in any event later during the rut and taken over the responsibility of breeding with the females at the end of the rut?

True, but leave that natural selection process to nature and the wild animals' motto of 'survival of the fittest' to sort it out all by themselves. They don't need human interference as you certainly don't know what is best for them.

quote:

Does this not make the latter hunt more challenging?

To track down smaller male herds is certainly much more difficult than to find a group of 120 animals. No doubt about that!
If you think that they're less alert, your inexperience is clearly reflected in your remaks made.
What's more, you conveniently left out the more important part of what I said in your partial quote, namely ...

quote:

and on top of it you help to let the fittest survive - natural selection process promoted through your hunting!

By saying the following:

quote:

I would agree that it is advisable not to shoot the breeding ram at the end of the rut in the interest of spreading superior genes but most game ranchers I know regularly introduce new stock to their properties which is also conducive to maintaining a good gene pool,

you know what is right and what not, yet you simply differ for the sake of being different and airing your views as well.

A game ranch is out and out a game ranch - nothing less and nothing more.
A farm with a game camp in it or adjacent to it is a mixed farming upset and not an exclusive game ranch. Huge difference between the two.
Think about it!

"Thinking: The talking of the soul with itself."-- Plato.

quote:

Originally posted by Jagter:
Surely you are not having a go at me ...... but you're uncalled-for sarcastic!

Yes, my sarcasm may be uncalled for but spurred by your know-it-all attitude.

quote:

If you read all of the next bit, you will hopefully (not quaranteed though!)

Now who's being sarcastic?

quote:

True, but leave that natural selection process to nature and the wild animals' motto of 'survival of the fittest' to sort it out all by themselves. They don't need human interference as you certainly don't know what is best for them.[/QUOTE}

I never claimed that I knew what was best for them as you evidently do but haven't we already interfered in nature by fencing them in in the first place?

[QUOTE]To track down smaller male herds is certainly much more difficult than to find a group of 120 animals. No doubt about that!
If you think that they're less alert, your inexperience is clearly reflected in your remaks made.

Can't recall that I claimed smaller herds are less alert - I simply mentioned that more eyes to look out = bigger chance of getting spotted. Yes, my experience is indeed limited to guiding 20+ clients per year for the last several years.

quote:

you know what is right and what not, yet you simply differ for the sake of being different and airing your views as well.

Is airing one's views not the exact purpose of this forum? As I've said: You're entitled to you're opinion as I am to mine.

quote:

A game ranch is out and out a game ranch - nothing less and nothing more.
A farm with a game camp in it or adjacent to it is a mixed farming upset and not an exclusive game ranch. Huge difference between the two.
Think about it!

Thank you for your input. Now I can eliminate the 12,000 acre property next to the 1,000 acre agricultural farm from my shopping list.

Chris, what are you trying to achieve?

If you regard that little bit as a know-it-all attitude then you are way off target as usual!

Seems to me you are a frustrated outfitter/PH being stuck behind the keyboard with no clients to take on a hunt during the peak hunting season.

You're definitely not the only guy with year's of hunting, game management and many other skills around here, just think before you jump to conclusions - could pay you to do so.

Roscoe,

We had the opportunity to hear some of Rynu's hunting stories while we were there. We also shot some good footage of Rynu helping to set the traps by cutting up the animals for bait (at one point he put a few streaks of blood on his face: his 'warpaint' I guess). Once my wife gets a chance to edit the film, we'll send Riaan a copy of the video. He hasn't seen it yet.

Enjoy your hunt!

quote:

Seems to me you are a frustrated outfitter/PH being stuck behind the keyboard with no clients to take on a hunt during the peak hunting season.

Look I didn't mean to pick a fight with you. I merely have a different opinion to you and raised it. I apologize for being personal with my post of you being the self-appointed Game Warden. This remark was out of line but it was made in jest with no harm intended.

Right now I have 2 clients out hunting and my next group is arriving in a couple of days. So your assumption that I am frustrated on account of a lack of business is incorrect.