POLICY POSITIONS AND CODE
BELEIDSTANDPUNTE EN KODE
Responsible hunting - Our Focus
SA Hunters – The Hunters’ Code
A declaration of responsibility founded on respect for life and for nature
As SAHGCA members, we accept that all animals are sentient creatures and should not suffer unnecessarily when we hunt them. We endeavour to kill the quarry with one shot and ensure the sustainable use of the hunted animal.
Having positively identified the animal and knowing that it may be legally hunted, we only take a shot when we are sure that:
- It is safe to do so
- The animal is within range of the hunter’s personal shooting capability
- The firearm and cartridge combination is appropriate for the type and size of game
- The firearm and cartridge combination is appropriate to ensure a one-shot-kill over the given distance
- Hunted game can be tracked and recovered
We further declare that we:
- Have a respect for life
- Hunt with self-restraint
- Condemn killing for the sake of killing in the strongest possible terms
- Condemn any non-use of hunted game in the strongest possible terms
- Always endeavour to track and recover wounded game
- Avoid public displays of hunted game
- Condemn the awarding of competition prizes for the killing of game in the strongest terms
- Keep photographs of our hunts for our private collections and only publish those that show clear respect for dignity of hunted game
- Condemn pictures that display hunted game covered in blood or heaps of hunted game or gamebirds
During the hunt, SAHGCA members put safety first and undertake to act within the scope of the following guiding principles:
- A dead animal can never compensate for hurting, maiming or killing a fellow hunter.
- We do not shoot at game we cannot identify positively and see clearly.
- We do not consume any alcohol or narcotic substance before or during a hunt.
- It is our duty to immediately and in a kind and constructive manner correct any transgression of firearm safety or of unsafe behaviour by anyone in the hunting party.
- We constantly practise our shooting techniques and skills to ensure that we observe our position regarding respect for life, and on a one-shot-kill.
Knowledge of huntable species and the law
- As SAHGCA members we strive to learn as much as possible about the species we hunt.
- We positively identify the game and its gender before we shoot.
- We always obey the relevant legislation and comply with all hunting proclamations and hunting regulations.
Respect for landowners’ rights
SAHGCA members respect the land and property of the landowner wherever we hunt by:
- ascertaining huntable species and gender before commencing with the hunt
- closing gates and preventing veldfires
- believing in the host’s right to charge a fair price for his huntable species and in goodwill also in the host’s and guide’s share of the hunted game if they want it
- condemning the bribing of guides in instances of missed shots or of wounded game not being recovered
Cruelty against animals
SAHGCA members strive to prevent the wounding of the game they hunt and do everything possible to recover wounded game. We condemn any form of cruelty towards animals, whether wild or domesticated.
Responsibility towards littering
As hunters we respect the natural environment and condemn any form of littering. We always remove our own litter as well as that of others.
Conservation ethic
Because hunting cannot be separated from the natural environment, all true hunters are also true conservationists.
- SAHGCA supports sustainable use as the cornerstone of effective and accountable conservation.
- SAHGCA underwrites the principles contained in the IUCN’s World Conservation Strategy (1980) and all subsequent adaptations to that code.
- SAHGCA actively supports the development of rural communities, based on the sustainable use of renewable natural resources in general and of game species in particular.
We always put something back
- SAHGCA members always plough something back into hunting and go out of their way to assist new hunters.
- We support the collective effort of the international hunting fraternity to promote hunting as a driver for the conservation of all game species.
- SAHGCA members cherish the spirit of goodwill among hunters and the responsibilities associated by hunting.
SA Jagters – Jagterskode
‘n Verantwoordelikheidsverklaring gefundeer op respek vir lewe en vir die natuur
Lede van die Suid-Afrikaans Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging aanvaar dat alle diere voelende wesens is wat nie onnodig moet ly wanneer hulle gejag word nie. As jagters, ondersteun ons die beginsel van ’n eenskoot-doodskoot, terwyl ons die verantwoordelike benutting van gejagte wild verseker.
Nadat ons ʼn wilde dier positief en as wettig jagbaar geïdentifiseer is, skiet ons slegs wanneer ons seker is dat:
- Dit veilig is om dit te doen
- Die dier gemaklik binne die jagter se persoonlike skietafstandsvermoë is
- Die vuurwapen en patroonkombinasie geskik is vir die spesie en grootte van die wild
- Die vuurwapen en patroonkombinasie geskik is oor die gegewe afstand om ʼn eenskoot-doodskoot te verseker
- Ons gejagte wild kan opspoor en herwin
Ons verklaar verder dat ons:
- Respek het vir lewe
- Jag met selfbeheersing
- Sinnelose doodmaak van diere ten sterkste verfoei
- Vermorsing van wild wat gejag is ten sterkste veroordeel
- Gewonde wild opspoor en herwin
- Openbare vertoon van gejagde wild vermy
- Toeken van enige kompetisieprys vir die doodmaak van wilde diere veroordeel
- Foto’s van jagte slegs vir private versamelings hou en net dít publiseer wat respek teenoor die gejagde wild openbaar
- Foto’s van bloedbesmeerde wild of van hope gejagde wild en/of jagvoëls veroordeel
Tydens die jag plaas SAJWV-lede altyd veiligheid eerste en tree op volgens die onderstaande beginsels:
- Geen gejagde wild kan ooit vergoed vir ’n vriend wat beseer, vermink, of gedood is nie.
- Ons skiet nie na wild wat ons nie duidelik kan sien en positief kan identifiseer nie.
- Ons gebruik geen alkohol of narkotiese middels voor of gedurende ‘n jag nie.
- Ons beskou dit as ons plig om sonder versuim en op ʼn vriendelike en opbouende wyse enige oortreding van vuurwapenveiligheid deur enige persoon in ons jaggeselskap te korrigeer.
- Ons oefen deurgaans ons skietvaardighede en tegniek sodat ons ons jagwapens reg aanwend om te voldoen aan ons standpunt oor respek vir lewe en ’n eenskoot-doodskoot.
Kennis van jagspesies en die Wet
As SAJWV-lede streef ons daarna om soveel as moontlik te leer oor die spesies wat ons jag.
Ons identifiseer die wild wat ons jag positief vir spesie en vir geslag vóór ons skiet.
Ons tree op volgens die voorskrifte van bepaalde wetgewing, jagproklamasies en jagregulasies.
Respek vir grondeienaars se regte
SAJWV-lede respekteer die grond en eiendom van die grondeienaar waar ons jag deur:
- seker te maak van jagbare spesies en geslag vóór ons die jagveld betree
- hekke toe te maak en veldbrande te voorkom
- die eienaar se reg respekteer om ’n billike prys vir jagbare wild te vra en in die gees van welwillendheid die gejagde wild met die gasheer en gids te deel indien hulle sou belangstel
- enige omkopery van gidse te veroordeel om misskote te verdoesel of wanneer gejagde wild nie opgespoor kan word nie
Wreedheid teenoor diere
SAJWV-lede veroordeel enige vorm van wreedheid teenoor diere, ongeag of dit wilde of mak diere is.
Verantwoordelikheid ten opsigte van rommelstrooi
Weens jagters se respek vir die natuur veroordeel ons enige vorm van rommelstrooi en verwyder altyd ons eie en ander mense se rommel.
Bewaringsetiek
Jag en die natuur is onafskeidbaar. Daarom is alle ware jagters ook ware bewaarders.
- SA Jagters onderskryf volhoubare benutting as die hoeksteen van effektiewe en verantwoordbare bewaring.
- SA Jagters onderskryf die beginsels soos vervat in die IUCN se “Wêreld Bewaringstrategie” (1980) en alle daaropvolgende wysigings.
- SA Jagters ondersteun die ontwikkeling van landelike gemeenskappe en die beginsel van volhoubare benutting van hernubare natuurlike hulpbronne in die algemeen en spesifieke wildspesies.
Ons gee iets terug
- SAJWV-lede gee altyd iets terug aan die jaggemeenskap en doen moeite om toetreejagters te help.
- Ons ondersteun die gesamentlike poging van die internasionale jagtersgemeenskap om jag tot voordeel van bewaring van wildspesies te bevorder.
- SAJWV-lede koester die gees van welwillendheid onder jagters en aanvaar die verantwoordelikhede wat met jag gepaardgaan.
Trophy Recognition
SAHGCA’s Trophy Register data base reflects only the measurements and or weight of indigenous and phenotypical Africa species that have been bred and hunted on extensive systems. Trophies from colour variants or individual animals of species bred on intensive or semi-intensive systems (including predators), and sedated animals will not be considered for registration. The most recent edition of Rowland Ward will be used to determine indigenous species.
I declare that every trophy I have submitted for evaluation has been personally hunted or picked up by me according to the rules of the SAHGCA and specifically meets the requirements of Rule 3.1.5 on extensive systems. Namely: The animals were bred, born and hunted on extensive systems. For the purpose of these rules an extensive system must comply to the following four requirements:
- The area where the game species occurs, allows it to survive in self-sustainable conditions.
- Animals in this group have a free choice of breeding partner.
- Food supplements are only provided in abnormal drought conditions.
- Animals are not subjected to permanent parasite and disease control measures.
Using Lead Ammunition Over Wetlands
SAHGCA does not support the use of lead shot where the pellets end up in water bodies (wetlands, pans, dams, rivers and streams) where they can be ingested by water birds that are filter feeders. SAHGCA recommends that hunters use alternative ammunition or avoid shooting in high-risk areas.
SAHGCA supports the responsible use of lead-core bullets when hunting or shooting. Responsible behaviour includes practices that will ensure that meat or carcasses that are unsuitable for human consumption due to severe lead contamination, such as meat cut away around the wound area, are disposed of in such a way to be inaccessible to scavengers.
Send us your comments, questions or suggestions
HUNTING ADVOCACY STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUNTERS’ AND GAME CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
Re-position Hunting in the SAHGCA Milieu
At the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association, we believe that hunting is far more than just a lifestyle activity. It is part of who we are, a way of life, our culture, our heritage, and our connection with nature. It is how we put wholesome food on our tables and provide for our families.
INTRODUCTION
We live in a society where, globally, hunting and our hunting heritage, as well as other outdoor pursuits, are threatened by:
- radical extremist groups that oppose hunting and/or sustainable use, influencing public opinion, policy and legislative matters which affect hunting and conservation;
- a disconnect in younger generations between what nature provides and how we use it;
- unsustainable and irresponsible use of wildlife;
- ignorant and irresponsible hunters who harm the image of, and the positive contribution by, responsible hunters and hunting;
- apathy and inaction of responsible hunters and SAHGCA in promoting and defending responsible hunting and our hunting heritage;
- a government, legislation and policy frameworks that do not advance sustainable use as an integral part of our constitutional right towards protecting the environment; and
These threats are further fuelled by the fact that wildlife populations are under increased pressure from rising human populations, climate change, habitat destruction, and the general public becoming increasingly removed from the realities of the cycle of life and death. The requirements of meaningful conservation are misunderstood by the public, and there is no indication that this will change soon. Pressure to stop all forms of sustainable use of biodiversity, particularly wildlife, will continue unless we take action to prevent it.
The voices of the extremist groups appeal to people’s emotions and their lack of awareness of the realities facing the conservation of wildlife. They are often well-organised and well-financed. Therefore, it is crucial that SAHGCA better positions itself to address these threats and serve as the voice for responsible hunters and their positive contributions to society. We need to continue engaging with all sectors to support conservation and sustainable use, and to determine effective mechanisms to secure the future of responsible hunting. Herein, SAHGCA needs to maintain its reputation and flexibly portray, to the outside world, the image of an association committed to upholding conservation-based, responsible-use principles while instilling pride in our members as stewards of our wildlife, hunting, and outdoor heritage.
Fred Eichler, a renowned hunter and fisherman, author, and avid hunting advocate, coined the term “Anti-hunting Hunters” to describe the degree of apathy and lack of solidarity often exhibited by the hunting and fishing communities. We must address this attitude, which has become the norm among South African hunters. Our hunting heritage is taken for granted, and often we choose not to get involved. Unfortunately, the threats to hunting are often not large, significant events, but rather a series of smaller processes that erode at hunting as part of our heritage, its contribution to conservation, its role in food security and rural socio-economic development. We need members to better understand these processes and become involved in protecting our hunting heritage.
’N STRATEGIE VIR VOORSPRAAK VAN JAG VIR DIE SA JAGTERS- EN WILDBEWARINGSVERENIGING
Posisionering van Jag binne die SAJVW-mileu
By die SA Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging glo ons jag is meer as ’n leefstyl. Jag is deel van wie ons is. Dit is ons lewenswyse, ons kultuur, ons erfenis en ons verbintenis met die natuur. Dit is ʼn metode om gesonde kos vir ons gesinne te oorsien.
INLEIDING
Ons leef in ’n samelewing waar jag en ons jagerfenis, sowel as ander buitelugaktiwiteite, wêreldwyd bedreig word deur:
- radikale ekstremistiese groepe wat jag en/of volhoubare benutting teenstaan en openbare mening, beleid en wetgewende prosesse beïnvloed wat jag en bewaring raak;
- jonger geslagte wat hulle toenemend losmaak van wat die natuur voorsien en hoe ons dit benut;
- onvolhoubare en onverantwoordelike gebruik van wildlewe;
- oningeligte en onverantwoordelike jagters wat die beeld en die positiewe bydrae van verantwoordelike jagters skaad;
- afwesigheid en gebrek aan optrede deur verantwoordelike jagters en die SAJWV om verantwoordelike jag en ons jag-erfenis te bevorder en te verdedig;
- ’n regering, wetgewing en beleidsraamwerke wat nie volhoubare benutting bevorder as ’n integrale deel van ons grondwetlike reg en verantwoordelikheid om die omgewing te beskerm nie; en
Hierdie bedreigings word verder aangevuur deur die toenemende druk op wildbevolkings as gevolg van groeiende menslike bevolkings, klimaatsverandering, habitatvernietiging en ’n algemene publiek wat toenemend vervreem raak van die werklikhede van die siklus van lewe en dood. Die publiek verstaan nie die vereistes vir betekenisvolle bewaring nie en dit is onwaarskynlik dat dit binnekort sal verander. Druk om volhoubare benutting van biodiversiteit, veral wild, te staak, sal voortduur tensy ons daadwerklik optree om dit te voorkom.
Die uitlatings van ekstremistiese groepe vind byval by mense se emosies en buit hulle onkunde uit oor die bedreigings wat die bewaring van wild in die gesig staar. Hulle is dikwels goed georganiseer en goed gefinansier. Daarom is dit noodsaaklik dat die SAJWV homself beter posisioneer om hierdie bedreigings te ondersoek en uit die weg te ruim en as spreekbuis vir verantwoordelike jagters en hul positiewe bydraes tot die samelewing op te tree. Ons moet voortgaan om met alle sektore te skakel ter ondersteuning van bewaring en volhoubare benutting, en om doeltreffende meganismes te bepaal om die toekoms van verantwoordelike jag te verseker. SAJWV moet sy reputasie handhaaf en ’n veerkragtige beeld projekteer van ’n vereniging wat verbind is tot die bewaringsbeginsels van verantwoordelike benutting, terwyl dit trots by sy lede inboesem as rentmeesters van ons wild-, jag- en buitelugerfenis.
Fred Eichler, ’n bekende jagter en hengelaar, skrywer en ywerige voorstander van jag, het die term Anti-hunting Hunters geskep om die mate van apatie en gebrek aan solidariteit te beskryf wat dikwels binne die jag- en hengelgemeenskappe voorkom. Ons moet hierdie ingesteldheid ondersoek, aangesien dit die norm onder Suid-Afrikaanse jagters geword het. Ons jagerfenis word as vanselfsprekend aanvaar, en dikwels kies ons om nie betrokke te raak nie. Ongelukkig is die bedreigings vir jag dikwels nie groot, dramatiese gebeure nie, maar eerder ’n reeks kleiner insidente wat jag as deel van ons erfenis, die bydrae tot bewaring, die rol in voedselsekerheid en landelike sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling, geleidelik ondermyn. Dit is belangrik dat lede hierdie prosesse beter verstaan en aktief betrokke raak by die beskerming van ons jagerfenis.