Video: Tips for a First-time African Safari from Tom and Olivia Opre

Award-winning film director and hunter Tom Opre has a few tips for the newcomers to African safaris. Following in the footsteps of his father, a noted outdoors columnist, Tom has dedicated himself to filming and exploring the wilder places the world has to offer. After several trips to Africa himself, Tom has seen his fair share of first-time blunders. Hopefully these videos from his video blog will help you avoid the same.

Some general tips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClTfTn7vak

Why you should use a hunting consultant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hTowXIJv2U

Read and join the discussion on Video: Tips for a First-time African Safari from Tom and Olivia Opre at OutdoorHub.com.

Hunting Klipsringer: The Lord of Rocks

This is the story of a very special safari. The pursuit of a coveted trophy finally obtained through the diligence and skill of a good friend.

In late April I returned to Africa with the intention of bringing down a Klipspringer. Who would have told me that I would take a seat in the very last IB6051 from Madrid to Johannesburg. In a plane filled to bursting point, I finally reached my destination. From there I took a domestic flight to Polokwane, my final destination in the Limpopo Province.

At the airport waiting for me was my friend Luis Diez and Tabengwa. An eternal smile, deep eyes, and several tribal scars make up the face of this exceptional tracker from Old Days Safaris, with whom I have the pleasure of sharing hunting days in the last few years.

“Hi Moses. Is everything okay? Today is going be a bloody day!” he said laughing.

This is their way of wishing me luck. We climbed in the Toyota and headed for the “koppies,” the name used to describe small rocky hills that dot the savanna here and there. They are home to klipspringer, dassies, and of course, leopard.

On a sandy track, about five kilometers from our destination we left Tabengwa at the vehicle. We would not see him till later in the morning, when the sun beats down hard on the sandstone ledges, forcing every living creature, human or animal, to seek shelter under the shade. Moving in silence, following the footsteps of Luis Jnr, my professional hunter, who moves like a fish in water through the sea of thorny acacias and mopane trees that separate us from our first objective, a group of five small koppies in the shape of a “U” where we have previously spotted klipspringers.

We started the climb with caution, avoiding stepping on loose rocks that may roll and alert animals of our presence. We peeked over the summit ever so carefully but this time we were unlucky, nothing but silence. Luis threw stones at the trees below us to see if something was lying in the shade. Only a hornbill flew up alarmed. We climbed down and made our way back over all the koppies again with the hopes of locating some animal bedding down, which would allow us to creep close enough for a shot.

The first hour-and-a-half passed by unnoticed. We climbed a koppie that was somewhat higher than the others. From here we could see a small rocky hill, which gradually descended. At the foot of the hill several hundred feet away, a herd of impala were drinking at a ground dam. To our left, on a rocky ledge, there was a group of dassies. They were lying on the rocks basking in the sun.

“Try one,” Luis approached me and said.

“Which one?” I replied.

“The one on the left.”

To the left of the group, I could see a dassie that stood out from the rest in both size and  colour. The dassie lay on a large slab of rock. I ranged the distance: 45 meters separated us from them, my maximum shooting distance. Luis urged me to try it. This was a matter of trust; he wanted to know if I would be able to take the chance if a klipspringer presented itself. Before going to bed I had repaired the damaged scope with adhesive tape, fixing a nail in place of the damaged screw. The following morning I tested the bow at the shooting range without problems up to 30 meters, but 45 meters at a steep angle was something else. In short I had to try, so without thinking twice I pulled the string, aimed gently, and let the arrow fly. I saw the bright blue feathers impacting behind the shoulder.

“Perfect shot, Moses!”

Shortly after taking some pictures, we climbed another koppie where Luis assured me we would find a couple of klipspringers. We see the two animals feeding below us, for a long time we thought about how we could stalk closer but the place where they were was very difficult to approach, so we decided to relax and enjoy watching their movements between the steep cliffs while preparing the strategy for the following day.

The morning was very windy, with some clouds but no rain. Before 5 am we were in the Toyota on the way to the koppies. We again left Tabengwa at the Toyota and continued on foot. The sun was beginning to creep over the horizon when we reached the top of the Koppie where we had seen the klipspringers the previous day. We made no noise, peeking over the edge we could see one klipspringer. It was a female and took off as soon as it saw us, once it was a safe distance away she stopped and made her alarm call. Immediately the male appeared at the same spot where the female had been standing.

I must confess that the sudden appearance of the ram caught us by surprise. I immediately nocked an arrow and drew the bow without ranging the distance or taking the steepness into account. The first arrow flew five feet above the head of the klipspringer, who still had no idea what was happening. It was then that I ranged the distance. The animal stopped on a large rock 68 meters away, but the angle was so steep that the actual distance separating us was only 42 meters. Hastily I knocked a second arrow and shot again. This time the arrow impacted underneath him. The element of surprise was lost.

The klipspringer started jumping from rock to rock, speeding away through the bushes surrounding the base of the koppie were we were. Then Luis blew his little whistle that he had just pulled out of his pocket. The animal stopped immediately and retraced his steps. I nocked a third arrow. I aimed at the klipspringer, which was still coming closer; finally he stopped on a large rock and stared at us. I let the arrow fly and it flew directly towards its target. The klipspringer ran into the thicket disappearing behind the bushes. The release had been so fast that I wasn’t sure what had happened. I thought the arrow had nicked the klipspringer’s neck before falling onto the ground. Luis looked through his binoculars repeatedly, while I tried to nock another arrow on the bow.

“Moses, look through your binoculars!” Luis exclaimed. “Look at the sand beneath the rock where it stood.”

“That’s a lot of blood, right?” I asked.

“Yes, and there is an even bigger puddle a little higher up.”

It took well over 20 minutes until my nerves calmed down and we decided to climb down. When we arrived at the spot where the shot was taken, we saw numerous blood drops, the shot could have been much better than what I had originally thought. Luis followed the blood past the tree behind which the klipspringer had disappeared, it lay a few meters further. He lay on his left shoulder seeming to rest peacefully awaiting our arrival. The embrace with Luis will be something I won’t ever forget. Together we had defeated the “lord of the rocks.”

This article originally appeared on The Adventurous Bowhunter and is republished with permission.

Read and join the discussion on Hunting Klipsringer: The Lord of Rocks at OutdoorHub.com.

Hunting Klipsringer: The Lord of Rocks

This is the story of a very special safari. The pursuit of a coveted trophy finally obtained through the diligence and skill of a good friend.

In late April I returned to Africa with the intention of bringing down a Klipspringer. Who would have told me that I would take a seat in the very last IB6051 from Madrid to Johannesburg. In a plane filled to bursting point, I finally reached my destination. From there I took a domestic flight to Polokwane, my final destination in the Limpopo Province.

At the airport waiting for me was my friend Luis Diez and Tabengwa. An eternal smile, deep eyes, and several tribal scars make up the face of this exceptional tracker from Old Days Safaris, with whom I have the pleasure of sharing hunting days in the last few years.

“Hi Moses. Is everything okay? Today is going be a bloody day!” he said laughing.

This is their way of wishing me luck. We climbed in the Toyota and headed for the “koppies,” the name used to describe small rocky hills that dot the savanna here and there. They are home to klipspringer, dassies, and of course, leopard.

On a sandy track, about five kilometers from our destination we left Tabengwa at the vehicle. We would not see him till later in the morning, when the sun beats down hard on the sandstone ledges, forcing every living creature, human or animal, to seek shelter under the shade. Moving in silence, following the footsteps of Luis Jnr, my professional hunter, who moves like a fish in water through the sea of thorny acacias and mopane trees that separate us from our first objective, a group of five small koppies in the shape of a “U” where we have previously spotted klipspringers.

We started the climb with caution, avoiding stepping on loose rocks that may roll and alert animals of our presence. We peeked over the summit ever so carefully but this time we were unlucky, nothing but silence. Luis threw stones at the trees below us to see if something was lying in the shade. Only a hornbill flew up alarmed. We climbed down and made our way back over all the koppies again with the hopes of locating some animal bedding down, which would allow us to creep close enough for a shot.

The first hour-and-a-half passed by unnoticed. We climbed a koppie that was somewhat higher than the others. From here we could see a small rocky hill, which gradually descended. At the foot of the hill several hundred feet away, a herd of impala were drinking at a ground dam. To our left, on a rocky ledge, there was a group of dassies. They were lying on the rocks basking in the sun.

“Try one,” Luis approached me and said.

“Which one?” I replied.

“The one on the left.”

To the left of the group, I could see a dassie that stood out from the rest in both size and  colour. The dassie lay on a large slab of rock. I ranged the distance: 45 meters separated us from them, my maximum shooting distance. Luis urged me to try it. This was a matter of trust; he wanted to know if I would be able to take the chance if a klipspringer presented itself. Before going to bed I had repaired the damaged scope with adhesive tape, fixing a nail in place of the damaged screw. The following morning I tested the bow at the shooting range without problems up to 30 meters, but 45 meters at a steep angle was something else. In short I had to try, so without thinking twice I pulled the string, aimed gently, and let the arrow fly. I saw the bright blue feathers impacting behind the shoulder.

“Perfect shot, Moses!”

Shortly after taking some pictures, we climbed another koppie where Luis assured me we would find a couple of klipspringers. We see the two animals feeding below us, for a long time we thought about how we could stalk closer but the place where they were was very difficult to approach, so we decided to relax and enjoy watching their movements between the steep cliffs while preparing the strategy for the following day.

The morning was very windy, with some clouds but no rain. Before 5 am we were in the Toyota on the way to the koppies. We again left Tabengwa at the Toyota and continued on foot. The sun was beginning to creep over the horizon when we reached the top of the Koppie where we had seen the klipspringers the previous day. We made no noise, peeking over the edge we could see one klipspringer. It was a female and took off as soon as it saw us, once it was a safe distance away she stopped and made her alarm call. Immediately the male appeared at the same spot where the female had been standing.

I must confess that the sudden appearance of the ram caught us by surprise. I immediately nocked an arrow and drew the bow without ranging the distance or taking the steepness into account. The first arrow flew five feet above the head of the klipspringer, who still had no idea what was happening. It was then that I ranged the distance. The animal stopped on a large rock 68 meters away, but the angle was so steep that the actual distance separating us was only 42 meters. Hastily I knocked a second arrow and shot again. This time the arrow impacted underneath him. The element of surprise was lost.

The klipspringer started jumping from rock to rock, speeding away through the bushes surrounding the base of the koppie were we were. Then Luis blew his little whistle that he had just pulled out of his pocket. The animal stopped immediately and retraced his steps. I nocked a third arrow. I aimed at the klipspringer, which was still coming closer; finally he stopped on a large rock and stared at us. I let the arrow fly and it flew directly towards its target. The klipspringer ran into the thicket disappearing behind the bushes. The release had been so fast that I wasn’t sure what had happened. I thought the arrow had nicked the klipspringer’s neck before falling onto the ground. Luis looked through his binoculars repeatedly, while I tried to nock another arrow on the bow.

“Moses, look through your binoculars!” Luis exclaimed. “Look at the sand beneath the rock where it stood.”

“That’s a lot of blood, right?” I asked.

“Yes, and there is an even bigger puddle a little higher up.”

It took well over 20 minutes until my nerves calmed down and we decided to climb down. When we arrived at the spot where the shot was taken, we saw numerous blood drops, the shot could have been much better than what I had originally thought. Luis followed the blood past the tree behind which the klipspringer had disappeared, it lay a few meters further. He lay on his left shoulder seeming to rest peacefully awaiting our arrival. The embrace with Luis will be something I won’t ever forget. Together we had defeated the “lord of the rocks.”

This article originally appeared on The Adventurous Bowhunter and is republished with permission.

Read and join the discussion on Hunting Klipsringer: The Lord of Rocks at OutdoorHub.com.

Taking Zebra with a Bow: A Tough Task

To the locals, they are little more than a striped donkey, but for me the zebra are beautiful animals. I think they make one of the best pedestal mounts of all the plains game. I have hunted both species on several occasions and have come away with a lot of respect for this cunning animal.

I consider the zebra to be one of the most difficult animals to take with bow and arrow. Their sense of smell is right up there with any of the plains game and their hearing and eyesight are phenomenal. Couple all of this with the fact that they usually water at night and even then, not with regularity. When they do come to water holes during daylight hours, they usually come running in when other species are watering, providing them cover and early warning systems. They come to water very nervous and seem to be constantly moving. They drink quickly and run away as fast as they appeared.

This pretty much sums up my appraisal of bowhunting zebra: they are a tough animal to take with a bow. Perhaps I’ve just been unlucky or hunted them in the wrong places at the wrong time, but I’ve hunted them in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and all over South Africa with the same results. I have taken three females of the species with a bow, but have yet to anchor a stallion. It may never happen, but I will die trying!

My first experience hunting zebra came in Zimbabwe where I was to hunt leopard over bait. I had heard that zebra was a preferred table fare for leopard and I wanted every advantage I could get. After five days without even getting close enough for a decent bow shot (less than 35 meters), I gave up and took a warthog for bait. I probably should have asked my professional hunter companion to pop one with a rifle so I could get on with the leopard hunt, but I think that killing “bait” animals is all part to the hunt and something that should add to the total experience of a leopard hunt.

Stalking zebra has to be one of the most difficult ways to take one with bow and arrow. Consequently, it must be the most rewarding. I say “must be” because I have not yet been successful with stalking. This is probably because my stalking capabilities are woefully inferior to any local tracker. If the terrain lends itself to stalking, this has to be the ultimate achievement for a bowhunter. It is also helpful to stalk them early in the season, when leaves are still on the trees and brush. At least the foliage will conceal your approach for most of the way.

Probably the best way to take a zebra with a bow is from a pit blind. Two of my zebra kills have been from a pit. Tree blinds are also successful but movement is more difficult to conceal, and probably more importantly the angle of the arrow flight is not conducive to maximum penetration and vital organ shots. When shooting from a pit blind, the angle of the shot is “up” and the rib bones are more thin and soft at the lower part of the animal.

I did take my last zebra from ambush, which was a fun way to hunt. By observing spore, we determined that a specific herd of zebra used the same passage to and from water. This was a natural funnel with thick thorn bushes protecting both sides. Rather than dig a pit blind (which is time-consuming and hard work), I decided to try a ghillie suit made by Rancho Safari of Ramona, California. I have used this camouflage garment successfully in North America for pronghorn antelope, deer, and elk and knew it worked very well to conceal a bow hunter in open spaces.

I simply found a good background of thorn bush and sat on a three-legged stool with a swivel seat, allowing the ghillie suit to drape over my legs and the stool like a full-length dress. I mention this stool because it has been a very important part of my hunting gear when using the suit. Besides the obvious comfort provided by sitting on a stool rather than on your knees, this stool allows me to turn and shift positions without making noise or showing any quick, awkward movements that are a dead give away to all game animals.

I purchased this collapsible stool in America at Cabela’s for $50 US. It is expensive but weighs only five pounds and the legs telescope in for easy carrying. The seat has a fiber bushing that allows for noise-free movement. I’m a real believer in the combination of this stool and the ghillie suit. I will mention that this suit is not something you would want to walk in for any distance–it becomes very hot and it catches on every thorn you walk by.

With this combination of equipment I was able to situate myself a mere 15 meters from where I suspected the herd of zebra to cross. I had a tracker make a big circle, upwind from where we had earlier spotted the zebra herd. Within 15 minutes, I could hear the thundering of hooves coming my way.

Because the gap I had chosen for a shooting lane was quite narrow, the zebra had to pass in single file. The first three animals came by on a run so I never had a chance to take a shot. However, the good news was that they did not pay any attention to my position as they passed. The next zebra came by at a slow walk and I placed a wooden arrow just behind the leg crease as it extended its leg for the next step.

I’m embarrassed to say that I had no idea if it was a stallion or a female (to me, the sex of a zebra is difficult to determine unless both sexes are standing next to each other). Once the arrow had stuck, it produced a panic alert to the rest of the herd and five more came flying by at Mach 1, leaving me in a cloud of dust. However, I was able to determine that the last animal in the group was obviously a stallion. His thick neck and jughead made him stand out. I kicked myself for not waiting for the obvious male to present a shot, but I was pleased to have taken any zebra with a bow under those conditions. It was very exciting!

If the truth be known, I just didn’t have the patience to wait for the “trophy animal.” I just took the first good shot opportunity I had. Perhaps on a future zebra hunt I can put it all together and finally anchor a stallion. Meanwhile, the female zebra graces a favorable spot in my trophy room. She had made it only 60 meters before piling up with a slice through the heart. Once in a while everything works the way it should!

Read and join the discussion on Taking Zebra with a Bow: A Tough Task at OutdoorHub.com.

Photos: Millionaire Safari Hunter Turns Home into Animal Museum

Canadian businessman Georges D’Aoust, 75, made his millions in construction but his heart remains that of an avid hunter. Now, after 40 years of hunting, D’Aoust is turning his home into a tribute to the animals he’s taken. Hundreds of animals like rhinos, antelope, and cheetahs were prepared by expert taxidermists and put on display.

According to The Sun, the businessman first embraced hunting in his native Canada on the shores of Lake Caniapiscau, where he shot caribou.

“From there, I went to British Columbia for two other hunting trips before I was bitten by the Africa bug,” D’Aoust said. “Since then I have never stopped traveling the world in search of game as diverse as possible. I’ve hunted in more than 40 countries worldwide.”

Three-hundred animals decorate D’Aoust’s home, reminders of his globe-trotting adventures that are estimated to be worth roughly $6.8 million. The hunter is considering donating the collection to a national museum.

“Life has blessed me by giving me everything–today, at age 75, I have to get ready to step aside for others,” D’Aoust told The Sun. That, however, doesn’t mean that the hunter will be sitting it out. D’Aoust plans to visit Ghana for his next safari, possibly in the pursuit of royal antelope.

Read and join the discussion on Photos: Millionaire Safari Hunter Turns Home into Animal Museum at OutdoorHub.com.

Traditional Pig Hunting Revived in Spain, Meets Opposition

“Pigsticking,” or hunting pigs with long spears and lances on horseback, has been part of European hunting tradition for thousands of years. However, with the advent of firearms, the sport steadily declined until it underwent a recent revival in Spain. The provincial government of the Castilla-La Mancha caused a stir when it added the ancient sport to its hunting regulations, allowing four-person parties of armed hunters to pursue boars on horse.

Now, according to the LA Times, the same animal rights movement that brought an end to bullfighting now have their eyes set on a new task.

“It’s something I think most Spanish citizens are not aware of. If they were, I’m sure a great percentage of them would be against this kind of cruel sport,” said Animal Equality spokeswoman Sharon Nuñez.

Hunters, however, say the sport is a source of cultural identity and advocate spear hunting as a challenging and traditional method of harvesting pigs. For these sportsmen, spear hunting is not only ethical–it is a true test between man and beast.

Boars are dangerous quarry and more than capable of injuring or killing a hunter. Supporters of pigsticking eschew firearms in preference of long, bladed spears, which bring both hunter and mount within range of a potentially dangerous charge. For this reason, cross guards are often seen on hunting lances to prevent dying pigs from maiming hunters.

Here in the States, hunters also maintain a tradition of using throwing spears against destructive feral pigs.

It is not just tradition that needs preserving however. Spain’s rural area has been in the process of depopulation due to a lack of local jobs in an increasingly urban Europe. Of the nation’s 46 million citizens, only a small proportion live in the interior countryside. Most reside near the central capital of Madrid or near the large coastal cities. Many hope to revive rural regions with the possibility of hunting reserves, which also serve to lower the risk of wildfire.

“We are the lovers of the hunt and the sport, and we are the people who really protect nature,” said hunter Jaime Patino. “You cannot understand how nature works if you don’t see what’s going on.”

A demonstration of horseback pigsticking can be seen below:

WARNING: The video below contains some graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm-MhpPy3FI

Read and join the discussion on Traditional Pig Hunting Revived in Spain, Meets Opposition at OutdoorHub.com.

Nation of United Arab Emirates Offers Its First Luxury “Hunting Resort”

Dubai-based Mourouj Hotels and Resorts has their eye on building a hunting experience that is anything but conventional. Scheduled to open in September, the Barai Hunting Resort will offer hunters a chance to hunt exotic game such as gazelle from the comfort of a luxury villa. Of course, the price is steep. At over $3,700 USD per day, the hotel earns its exclusive status on price tag alone.

“It’s going to be a very boutique hotel,” Mourouj director Tarek Elsherif told The National.

The accommodations are equally extravagant. A soft bed and clean sheets are one thing, but Mourouj tacked on a swimming pool, sauna and hot tub in each of the resort’s 15 sprawling villas. A staff of cooks await nearby to cook whatever the hunters bagged so guests will always have fresh meat, providing that they didn’t come back empty-handed.

“It’s going to be an exclusive resort for people looking to hunt, so it is not going to be like a family resort,” said Elsherif.

The resort was originally planned to open two years ago but was delayed. Local petitions have sprung up from residents to bar the resort from opening. Animal rights advocates and some sportsmen have voiced concern regarding the treatment of the animals on the hunting reserve, and the ethical ramifications of the hunt. Regardless, the resort cleared regulations with the United Arab Emirates’ environmental agency and is planning to open seasonally from September to April.

Typical packages include lodging, the hunting excursion, and use of provided firearms.

Read and join the discussion on Nation of United Arab Emirates Offers Its First Luxury “Hunting Resort” at OutdoorHub.com.

American Hunters: Necessary to Save African Lions

A recent article in the New York Times has drawn attention to the plight of the lion population in Tanzania, and the part that American hunters have in saving the species. The article, penned by Tanzanian Wildlife Director Alexander N. Songorwa, is paradoxically titled “Saving Lions by Killing Them.” Songorwa states that while the lion population in his country is not endangered (according to him, Tanzania has roughly 40 percent of all lions in Africa and the biggest concentration in the world), a loss of American hunters would be devastating to conservation efforts.

Why would American hunters leave the country? Is there something in the water? No, it is rather a petition by five animal rights groups that are pushing for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to list the African lion as endangered. This move would make it illegal for American hunters to transport trophies home. Americans comprise nearly 60% of the African nation’s trophy hunters.

Opponents of lion hunting say that far too many lions are being shot for sport. Songorwa argues that Tanzania has very strict regulations that forbid the shooting of females and males under the age of six. Additional measures are taken up to crack down on poachers and illegal activity. Dr. Luke Hunter, executive vice president of the wild cat conservation group Panthera also believes that lion hunting is necessary for conservation. Although Dr. Hunter is not a lion hunter and does not wish to endorse lion hunting, he recognizes that sportsmen contribute significantly to protecting the magnificent animals.

Hunter writes, “If American hunters, by far the largest market for big game safaris in Africa, can no longer hunt, lions and other wildlife will probably lose out.”

Statistics gathered by Safari Club International, an advocacy group for hunters and wildlife conservation, show that sport hunting in Tanzania employs 3,700 people annually and supports 88,000 families. Over $30 million is generated from hunting each year, with at least 25 percent of government retained revenue going back into wildlife protection. Other uses for the funds are local development and habitat conservation. Hunter sponsored programs such as SCI’s SafariCare Program also bring much needed medical supplies to those in need.

In an interview with Outdoor Hub, SCI Foundation’s Director of Science-Based Conservation Programs Melissa Simpson further argued that “the management of African lions should be left to Africans, not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. [...] The people and communities in Africa have the greatest incentive to manage their wildlife sustainably; and hunters, particularly American hunters, supply the necessary finances to support anti-poaching and conservation work needed throughout the continent.” She added, “Our organization and all of our colleagues are asking the U.S. government to incentivize conservation funding in Africa rather than inhibit that success that could be achieved by Tanzania.”

All of this is under threat if American hunters abruptly leave the country. Songorwa emphasizes that if hunters head elsewhere, an incredible strain will be laid on the nation’s economy–with wildlife protection programs among the first to be affected. Programs that target poachers and illegal hunting as well as employing wardens will also be diminished.

“As Tanzania’s highest-ranking wildlife official, I ask on behalf of my country and all of our wildlife: do not list the African lion as endangered,” wrote Songorwa. “Instead, help us make the most from the revenues we generate. Help us make trophy hunting more sustainable and more valuable. In short, please work with us to conserve wildlife, rather than against us, which only diminishes our capacity to protect Tanzania’s global treasures.”

Read and join the discussion on American Hunters: Necessary to Save African Lions at OutdoorHub.com.

SCI Invited to Play Major Role in Future of Zambia Hunting

Calling for “collaboration and support” with and from Safari Club International and SCIF, the Honorable Sylvia T. Masebo, MP, Zambia Minister of Tourism and Arts, addressed the SCI Board of Directors at the Convention in Reno Thursday, January 24, 2013.

Recently, Zambia halted much of its hunting pending development of accurate data about the numbers and status of wildlife in that Southern African country.

“As a representative of the Zambian government, I’m here first of all to learn and understand more on the safari hunting industry on a global perspective. Secondly, we wish to use this opportunity to clarify the measures taken by our government to ban hunting of big cats and suspend the granting of safari hunting concessions in some of the hunting area…. Last but not the least, we are here to request for collaboration and support in addressing the problems of poaching and inadequate information on the populations of wild animals in Zambia,” she told the SCI Board.

During her address, the Minister explained the status of hunting that is not affected by recent actions that put certain hunting on-hold.

“We have currently other outfitters who still have valid licenses or hunting licenses for some other hunting blocks, and these outfitters, their licenses are not expired because they had different terms and conditions. Some of them, the licenses may be expiring in this year 2013, and others maybe next year. And so, the suspension of hunting does not extend to those who still have licenses that are still running and to the end of that time,” she explained. “The fact of the matter is, for the last 15 years, Zambia has not conducted a scientific survey on these species, including the cats. And so even the quotas we have been giving out in the past were not based on science, and so we thought it was only responsible that we stop in order to give ourselves time to do what needed to be done.”

Looking forward, Minister Masebo shared her thoughts about the recent hunting ban, noting that the government will be take a close look at the entire subject:

“The question is, is this ban forever or not?” she asked. “The answer is simple—this ban, this suspension, is meant to give government time to re-look at the policy structure; to re-look at the institution that has been mandated to manage the wildlife in Zambia, which institution clearly has several challenges which need to be addressed by government; to re-look at the core issue of the communities benefiting and participating effectively in the management of the wildlife so that they can be the ones to conserve and protect the wildlife for future generations; and also to ensure that the government and the communities derive benefits for the good of the country from this industry.”

Minister Masebo told the SCI Board that she and her government need time to do the necessary policy reviews to protect wildlife, noting the previous permits were not based on science.

Minister Masebo then told the SCI Board that SCI is the “body that has the know-how” to help her government have the scientific data necessary for them to make the best decisions. She added that in some respects, SCI has more data and information than the government does.

“I come to you today appreciating that you are the body that has the know-how, that may even have more information than government, especially those that have been to Zambia, that have hunted, or that have participated in the wildlife sector in Zambia. I want to appeal for collaboration between yourselves and government in using this period of the ban to do the following:

“First, to do a scientific survey on the viability of these species, in particular the lion and the leopard; to also support us in our effort to review our legislation, to review our policy and come up with sustainable legislation that will bring about sustainable wildlife and hunting; thirdly, for support against poaching because even as I speak now, I want to tell you that I am clear in my mind that every day, more animals are being poached, in particular the elephant, the lion and the leopard,” she said.

“As a country, we can not manage the 20 national parks, plus the 56 game management areas, the two animal sanctuaries, the one main sanctuary alone as government without the cooperation of the private sector and therefore, we want to appeal to you to come on board and support us as a country in our endeavor if indeed we have to have sustainable hunting in the future. Without taking the necessary steps, especially of protecting the animals where those animals are, in a country that is large, whose wildlife estimate covers over 250,000 square kilometers, where manpower is very low, where tools to protect the animals are not available, where the resources are not enough, there will be no hunting to talk about in the next few years.  There will be no difference between this ban, and the actual ban that is self-inflicted from the fact that all of the animals have become extinct,” the Minister noted.

“The issue at hand here is for us to take stock of the animals that we have, to put the necessary measures that will help us increase our populations for the purpose of hunting,” she said.

Steve Chancellor, member of the Hunter Legacy Fund, stressed to Board members: “Her mind is open,” noting that this “certainly is a tenuous moment” in hunting. As Chancellor pledged his support, he emphasized that “we could lose all of Africa–If Africa goes,” the anti-hunters will focus on other continents.

Dr. Paula White, who has been conducting lion research in Africa, told the Board that following her discussions with Minister Masebo, “we’re very hopeful she will re-open hunting next year.”

The minister also has called for continued interactions between the hunting community and the anti—poaching rangers to improve enforcement throughout the many national parks and game reserves in Zambia.

“Safari Club International is incredibly appreciative of Minister Masebo taking the long journey to Reno, Nevada, to address the conservation-focused hunters of our organization,” said SCI President John Whipple. “Her commitment to work collaboratively with SCI and the entire hunter-conservationist community is truly welcome.”

All charitable donations go to the SCI Foundation Wild Lion Conservation warchest.

SCI President Whipple also asked that all SCI members at the Convention attend the Saturday evening function where they will be able to make a crucial difference in the future of hunting. Focus of a special segment of the Saturday evening events at the Peppermill Hotel is the African lion and lion hunting.

Read and join the discussion on SCI Invited to Play Major Role in Future of Zambia Hunting at OutdoorHub.com.

Minister Addresses State of Hunting and Conservation in Zambia

Before an audience of more than 200 international conservationists, the Honorable Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo of Zambia outlined her country’s vision for sustainable-use conservation at the Safari Club International (SCI) meeting in Reno, Nev. Over the past two days, the Honorable Minister Masebo has met with the leaders in lion conservation, the leaders in big game conservation, and ardent hunter-conservationists in order to better understand the symbiotic relationship between rural communities in Zambia and the wildlife dynamics.

The audience of conservationists recognized the true dedication the Honorable Minister Masebo has made to ensure that wildlife and conservation will remain a priority for the Zambian government. The Minister also noted that the hunting community, the hunters themselves, will be the most dedicated of conservationists in helping to fund the most accurate population surveys for the country’s big game species. The Minister has also called for continued interactions between the hunting community and the anti-poaching rangers to improve enforcement throughout the many national parks and game reserves in Zambia.

“Safari Club International is incredibly appreciative of Minister Masebo taking the long journey to Reno, Nev., to address the conservation focused hunters of our organization,” said SCI President John Whipple. “Her commitment to work collaboratively with SCI and the entire hunter-conservationist community is truly welcome, and SCI’s members are today committing hundreds of thousands of dollars to conduct the necessary scientific research that is needed for Zambia’s big game species.”

The Honorable Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo concluded her remarks to the members of SCI with a standing ovation from all in attendance at the Annual Hunters’ Convention.

Read and join the discussion on Minister Addresses State of Hunting and Conservation in Zambia at OutdoorHub.com.

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