African Hunting Gazette

A Zambian hunter, very experienced (30-plus years) got in touch recently. Two great trophies got away, injured. “How can I write about a hunt where the leopard was wounded and the croc - a monster - got away? Client's disappointed!” Why do we think we have to have all the answers, and be in control of Mother Nature? It's simply crazy. It puts so much unnecessary stress into everything - especially when you're in the middle of Zambia's wilderness. I reminded him (and I am no hunter) that this is not like ordering a meal to go. As an industry, we tend to pride ourselves in staking ourselves against the odds; loving the chase, telling ourselves and the world that it is the build-up to the actual kill that is everything. Well, if…

Some extracts from the Press Release: “We received over 44,000 responses to this call for evidence and consultation. Based on the results, we will be banning the import of hunting trophies from: • species on Annex A and B of the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations • additional endangered and threatened species not covered by these regulations but subject to hunting and of particular conservation concern We will bring forward this new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows and will be setting out our detailed plans for action soon.“ Environment Secretary George Eustice: “More animal species are now threatened with extinction than ever before in human history and we are appalled at the thought of hunters bringing back trophies and placing more pressure on some of our most iconic and endangered animals. This would be…

English: Scimitar-Horned Oryx Latin: Oryx dammah German: Säbelantilope French: Antilope aux sabres Spanish: Órice de cuernos de cimitarra MEASUREMENTS Shoulder Height: 1.2 m (3.9‘) Weight: 200 kg (441 lb) DESCRIPTION Large and powerfully built antelope with both sexes carrying the long, curved, backswept horns, hence the common name. Cow horns are more slender than those of the bulls. Much of the coat colour is white, dirty white or creamy, with brown to chestnut hair on neck and chest. Rump and upper back legs have paler brown markings. The face is mainly white but with a broad brown blaze down the muzzle. It has a well-haired and horse-like tail. DISTRIBUTION Once occurred widely across the Sahel belt and extended northwards into the Sahara Desert, and around its northern fringes to the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea. It is now extinct in the…

Then my subconscious took over and I heard only the solid thump of the bullet. The leopard, its claws embedded in the bait, hung suspended for a few seconds, then fell down and was hidden by the base of the tree. Martin turned off the light, lent back in his chair and lit a cigarette. I followed suit. “How do you feel about your shot, Art?” he whispered. “Good,” I replied. “I might have been a little high, but I don't think so.” Then we waited for the tracker, driver and game scout to bring the Land Rover to start the recovery process. It all started simply enough. As with so many hunters to Africa, as a youngster, I had read every book on the outdoors in that small town library, and dreamed…

My day hunt for a giant eland had drained me as we had hunted hard from early morning to last light, but after a fantastic meal made by a master chef followed by a strong cup of coffee, I rebounded, and as we loaded the safari Cruiser my adrenaline slowly started pumping as I anticipated what the night could produce. We had John Mothobi our marvelous tracker who was driving, and my PH Gerhard Smit who would be shining a massive 300watt spotlight. My daughter had joined me on this safari, so she, too, added to the energy and excitement of our night hunt. We also had an apprentice PH, so we had literally a truckload of people along. We had barely started out when we caught movement as Gerhard swung the…

My other hunting partner Manno had been to South Africa many times and had hunted several farms, and once at Ratelfontein it was clear that he and Richard and Jan Pickard had a common network of business contacts which made for a very comfortable personal setting. Ratelfontein had a beautiful old homestead where we all gathered for breakfast and lunch. Each evening we met at the stand-alone bar for Negronis. We had dinners in a posh barn and then retired to the adjoining living room to sit by the fire to share stories and finish our fine South African wines. Our downtime was filled with great cigars, cocktails, and amazing hunting history; all provided by Jan. He was an accomplished hunter and world traveler, and while I was no longer an…