Posts Tagged ‘south africa game hunting’
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
What is a Rhino Dart hunt?
Accompanied by an experienced PH (professional hunter) and a wildlife veterinarian, the hunter enjoys safari tracking a rhino on foot. A Rhino Dart Hunter enjoys all the thrills of a real hunt and more, stalking the rhino much closer than any rifle hunter normally would feel comfortable with, to the point where he can get a clear shot. The dart is usually shot using a 32-guage rifle, immobilizing the animal within minutes.
Once down, the rhino undergoes certain procedures such as photographs, measuring and micro-chipping. The wildlife veterinarian monitors the rhino while all these procedures are taking place. After the rhino is given the antidote, the hunting party is well out of the way, when the Rhino gets back on its feet and off it goes.
All things considered, darting safaris have created a win-win situation for all, while the rhino owner and hunter also derive income.
The client is able to complete his “Big Five” at a more affordable rate as Safari Club International recognizes this form of hunting for the SCI record book. In addition the rhino owner benefits as his animal is micro-chipped, thereby ensuring effective monitoring and anti-poaching.
Darting a rhino is now an affordable hunt in the $9000 range by comparison to the traditional hunt costing $20,000 to $50,000 or more. This is a once in a lifetime hunt. For info on a Rhino Dart Hunt, contact Bob Anderson at 307-473-1268 or visit us on the web by clicking here.
About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc.
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience. We hold integrity, ethics and honesty in high regard and deal with each client in a one on one basis. Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our outfitters and guides with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.
Tags: Africa Big 5 Hunting, africa game hunting, african game hunting, dangerous game hunt, dangerous game hunting, green hunting, rhino dart hunt, Rhino Hunting, south africa game hunting
Posted in Africa, Conservation, Dangerous Game, Hunting Destination, Miscellaneous, Rhino Hunting, South Africa |
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
A number of sources have reported that rhino poaching in the Republic of South Africa has surged. The cause is reported to be Chinese use of the horn in medicines and as an aphrodisiac, despite scientific proof that horn does not contain such medicinal properties. Scientifically, horn is no more than keratin, which is the protein found in hair and nails. There is no evidence that biting one’s nails improves one’s sexual capacity. Then again, why are there very many nail salons? Ha.
Last year 120 rhino were poached. So far this year, 124 have already been poached for a total of 244 in one and one-half years. This is more than the whole decade before 2009. For instance, only 10 were poached in 2008.
The South African authorities are not idle as they have already made 42 arrests this year. Unfortunately, some of those reported arrests include professional hunters. The poaching is also occurring on private lands by sophisticated means such as helicopters and soundlessly with crossbows. It is crucial that private landholders not lose their incentive to maintain their populations due to the heightened risks. – John J. Jackson, III.
Reprinted with permission from The Conservation Force Bulletin, produced by John J. Jackson, III of Conservation Force and published by The Hunting Report.
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Consultant Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience. We hold integrity, ethics and honesty in high regard and deal with each client in a one on one basis. Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our outfitters and guides with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.
Tags: Conservation Force Bulletin, Global Sporting Safaris, GSSafaris, Hunting, hunting consultant, hunting consultants, Poachers, rhino poaching, South Africa, south africa game hunting, south africa hunting, south african hunting, The Hunting Report
Posted in Conservation, Hunting Destination, Miscellaneous, Poaching, South Africa |
Friday, July 9th, 2010
The information below is an answer for a Client requesting a short duration group Leopard Hunting Safari. Our GSS Hunting Consultant Africa Specialist, Bob Anderson, wrote the following response.
Based on your conversation with Rick yesterday concerning a short leopard hunt for three to four hunters, let me give you my perspective on this.
Most, if not all, leopard hunts are a minimum of 14 days in length and are conducted one on one. To have 3 to 4 hunters in one camp that all want leopard at the same time will be virtually impossible – so somebody would go home empty handed. One of my best outfitters has a success on leopard that runs around 85% on 14 day hunts – cut that time in half and the odds of being successful go way down. The outfitters set the length of these safaris based on the amount of time reasonably necessary to take the targeted species.
That is not to say that you couldn’t book a 14 day leopard hunt with the caveat that your group would, by necessity, have to be split up so that your hunts are not competing against one another and if you were all successful in less than 14 days, then you could leave once you had collected your cats. You can also increase your odds of success by pre-baiting where the outfitter sets approximately 15 different baits per hunter in the hopes that one or more baits will be active upon your arrival. Most outfitters will not charge you extra to pre-bait other than the bait fees themselves which run $100/animal for bait impala. I have attached a photo of a leopard that was just taken on the first day of the hunt by using the pre-baiting approach, but this is the exception, not the rule and you are still running the risk that one of you will come home empty handed (when talking four hunters). The outfitters will not even consider a shorter hunt as leopard is in fairly high demand and they can sell the hunt to someone else for the full 14 days and these hunters will likely take trophy plains game species as well.
The best time to hunt baited leopard in April until mid May so you have missed the best time this year and this outfitter has already sold all of his leopard hunts for 2010 anyway, so we would be looking at 2011 at the earliest. I have an enquiry into another one of our outfitters in Zimbabwe to see if he has any openings left for this year, but it is highly unlikely at this late date – particularly for three or four hunters.
Insofar as hunting with dogs, there are very few good houndsmen available, they are typically all booked well in advance, and to try and bay four mature male leopards in five to seven days is also virtually impossible. Hunting must be done very early in the morning while the spoor is still fresh and it becomes increasingly difficult as the morning progresses to find fresh spoor that can be tracked by the dogs – so this is hit or miss, takes time, and is not something that is conducive to a group hunt in a short period of time either. Just being honest!
Now, there is another alternative that fits right into your hunting plans and that is lion hunting in South Africa. These are captive raised lions that are behind fences in pastures that are thousands of acres in size. There is no baiting involved, you are not trying to lure lions to a bait placed outside of a national park - the lions are there, they know how big they are, and it is fair chase hunting in that you will track the lions on foot until the lion is located and a shot presents itself and it can be dangerous. Following is an excerpt I received from my outfitter in South Africa this morning:
“I had 2 clients last year who hunted lion. The 1st client from New Jersey hunted a lioness. The 2nd client from Austria hunted a male lion. We hunted in the North West province near the border of Botswana. The owners have a property of 30,000 acres and the area where the lions are is about 11,000 acres. This was one of the most exiting hunts I have ever done. The PH who went with us was very professional. The area is very sandy. The evening before the day of the hunt, just before dark, they broom the roads. Early in the morning of the hunt we drive on the roads and search for tracks. Once we found the tracks we have to walk from there on. We follow the tracks on foot till we find the lions and then we hunt them. This is a fair chase and very exciting. It is really a fantastic adrenaline rush because the lion can at any time be behind any bush. Our 2 hunts were very successful and the hunters shot well.”
The outfitter advises that he can arrange lion hunting for three to four hunters at the same time. The trophy fee on a male lion would run between $30,000 and $50,000 depending on the size of the mane. I have attached pictures of a male lion in the $35,000 price range. The daily rate of $450/day per hunter is not included in the price and he currently has openings this year as follows: June 1-10, July 5-15, September 2-14, or anytime in October.
If you would prefer to take a lioness (just as exciting, but no “MGM” manes), the trophy fee would be $9,500 and she would be hunted under the same conditions. The normal plains game would also be available on the hunt at the published trophy fee rate.
If you have a group that wants to hunt the big cats and only have a limited amount of time – this will be about the best that I can do.
Let me know if you have any questions or require any additional information in this regard.
Sincerely,
Bob Anderson
Certified Wildlife Biologist
Hunting Consultant & Africa Program Director
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc.
Tags: Africa Lion Hunting, African Lion Hunting, bow hunting south africa, Global Sporting Safaris, GSSafaris, hunting booking agent, hunting consultant, leopard hunt, leopard hunting, plains game hunting, south africa game hunting, south africa hunting, south african hunting
Posted in Africa, Dangerous Game, Hunting, Hunting Destination, Leopard Hunting |
