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.