Inyathi Park News February 2023

2 March 2023

Dear colleague

Structure of newsletter

We start with the new, essential information first, followed by the regular news.

Therefore, members can get up to date with fresh news first and read other information later.

New message

1. Buffalo hunt opportunity

SA Hunters in collaboration with SA Jagter/Hunter offer yet another opportunity for a member to hunt buffalo in the Coutada-11 hunting concession in Mozambique at the end of November 2023. All costs are included. Read here for more information. Tickets cost R100 each, and you can buy as many tickets as you wish.

Pay R100 or multiples thereof in SA Hunters’ bank account by EFT. The account is with Absa, account number 01443990077; branch code 632005. Use your mobile phone number and Buffalo as reference. Send proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za

This hunting opportunity includes:

- One trophy buffalo bull

- One trophy waterbuck

- One trophy reedbuck

- All travel costs

- All accommodation in the hunting camp for 7 nights
- Taxidermy services

2. Hunting of Buffalo cows

The hunting opportunities that SA Hunters offered to hunt 10 buffalo cows have all been taken. Thanks to our members for their support and the landowner for making these opportunities available.

3. Anti-poaching in action

Patrol: Anti-Poaching in Action is an initiative established to feature the anti-poaching work of hunters and hunting safari operations across Africa through written articles, photography, and short documentaries in a monthly newsletter format.

Patrol intends not to glamorize anti-poaching work but to show the “behind the scenes” grind in this relentless battle.

Revealing the unheralded work of these operations is imperative to highlight their significant contribution to conservation in Africa.

SA Hunters’ anti-poaching work across South Africa will be featured in future editions.

Click on www.patrolling.org to subscribe and find out more.

4. Court application – Animal Improvement Act

On 12 February 2023, Acting Judge Van Niekerk heard the court application filed by SA Hunters and the Endangered Wildlife Trust to object to the inclusion of game species as part of land race animals in the regulations of the Animal Improvement Act. Although judgement was reserved, we expect to receive a favourable ruling. EWT was very quick to issue a media statement that they had won the case, in spite of the judgement being reserved. Once we receive the judgement, SA Hunters will report in detail.

5. HuntEx

HuntEx will be held from 21 to 23 April 2023 at Gallagher Conference Centre. Book your ticket at www.huntex.net and visit us at the show.

6. Shooting affairs

SA Hunters and SAPREF

SA Hunters and SAPREF (long range precision shottists) signed an agreement of understanding which will enable SA Hunters to shoot some of the available long range shooting exercises. Members interested in long range shooting on a regular 300 m range, or the rimfire exercise at 300 m, can contact André van der Merwe. Nic Roets is on sick leave and Andre is taking care of this aspect for now.

MDS coordinators

Joggie Swanepoel retired as the national MDS coordinator. We appointed three MDS coordinators on the shooting committee to assist with training of members and range officers. MDS is the fastest-growing shooting discipline and therefore we deemed it necessary to appoint three coordinators to assist with the development and support thereof.

Thanks to Joggie for helping to establish MDS at SA Hunters, and to the three new regional coordinators that will take this forward. They are:

Martin Dreyer – Stellaland, Kalahari Bosveld, Vaalrivier, Western Cape and KwaZulu/Natal.

Dirk Brand – Free State, Norther Cape, Eastern Cape, and Drakensberg Eastern Cape.

Jacques van Eck – Gauteng North, Gauteng Southwest, Gauteng Southeast, Limpopo and Mpumalanga North and South.

IGRF Shooting disciplines and SASSCo membership fees

Last weekwe send a request to SA Hunters’ shottists that want to participate in the IGRF disciplines to pay their SASSCo membership fees before they register. The membership fee is R150,00 per annum and is payable by the end of March. Only members that paid their membership fees can register as shottists with SASSCo.

The next IGRF World Championship will be held in Germany in 2024.

7. Conservation

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published new regulations regarding TOPS species, the management plan for elephants and the norms and standards for the hunting of leopard in South Africa. The new TOPS regulations elicited speculation by individuals that did not bother to read the regulations before commenting.

Lizanne Nel and Boetie Kirchner attended a departmental workshop on the matter and are compiling a simple interpretation on the most important aspects of the new regulations.

SA Hunters already commented on this and is concerned about certain implementation measures especially since the consultation about TOPS species has not take place since 2015.

8. Hunting Affairs

Provincial Hunting Proclamation

As the hunting season draws near, provinces will start issuing hunting regulations. The Free State’s proclamation (click here) for 2023 includes specific restrictions that prohibits the hunting of Mountain reedbuck, duikers, steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) and klipspringers on all farms, except on those that are exempted for these four species on their certificate of adequate fencing. This means that none of these species may be hunted on open farms during 2023. The regulations have been announced specifically to enable the population numbers of free-roaming game the chance to recover.

Read the summary here on hunting licences and permits. Click here for Limpopo’s proclamation and here for Mpumalanga’s proclamation. Proclamation for the other provinces are available on SA Hunters website at www.sahunters.co.za under the heading for Hunting Affairs.

Permits to transport meat across borders

Members of SA Hunters often hunt in neighbouring countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Hunters that want to bring the meat home across the border, must take note of the increase for a meat import permit that comes into effect on 1 April 2023 . The new price is R220. . The new price is R220. (Click here)

Click here for the application form for meat transport permit. For more information about the permit and the support offered by SA Hunters, contact Vanessa Bell at vanessa@sahunt.co.za or 012 808 9306.

Mrs. Itumeleng Tyamzashe of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development announced that are currently no restrictions on the import of game meat to South Africa due to Foot and Mouth disease. However, this could change at short notice. SA Hunters will keep members informed of any developments.

9. Responsibilities of board members

Board members have accepted the responsibility to liaise with the regions. Members, branch management committees and regional coordinators may contact the following board members with queries and requests:

Stellaland, Kalahari Bosveld and Vaalrivier Basie Bergh

Northern Cape, Western Cape, and South Eastern Cape Andre van Heerden

Gauteng North, Gauteng Southwest , Gauteng Southeast Danie Momberg

Limpopo, Mpumalanga North and South Richard Sowry

Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Drakensberg Eastern Cape Stephan Potgieter

10. Photography Club

The results of the SA Hunters Amateur Photography Competition for December/January that closed on 10 February, will be announced on the newsletter and the SA Hunters website on Wednesday 8 March. The closing date for the February/March competition close on Wednesday, 5 April.

We encourage members to enter photographs in the following categories: Branch Activities and Conservation, the Shooting Range, the Hunt, and Mentorship to enable us to expand our photo library. Read the full descriptions here. Members may submit 5 photographs in the Fauna and Flora category, plus altogether 5 photographs in the other 4 categories..

Visit Facebook for the latest pictures and news here.

Members have until Sunday 5 March 2023 to vote for the next three themes in the photo challenge.
The top photographs in #theweather photo challenge will be published on Friday 3 March where members can vote for their favourite photographs.

Membership of the online photography club is on 2300. Join here to become part of an interactive group with the same interests.

Repeated messages

11. Alternative telephone numbers for SA Hunters national

Although load shedding seems less frequent, we experience thunder showers and heavy rain in Pretoria during summer, which often affect or telephone system. If you cannot get through to us on (012 808 9300) try any of the following numbers:

- Reception: 082 848 8547

- Firearm support: 066 256 2916

- Training: 082 658 6680

- Finances: 082 727 5158

Hunters shop: 066 231 8185

Recruit members and earn commission

SA Hunters has 42 611 members.

Every member or a branch that recruits ten or more members per year, can earn commission of between R100 to R150 per member. More information is available here.

The Board also agreed that branches that succeed in resigning up lapsed members, will also benefit from the commission. More information has been sent to Branch chairpersons.

SA Hunters distribute member application forms to various dealers. These forms are also available from Dorothy Els by dorothy@sahunt.co.za

12. Doctari knives

The Doctari ivory knife project will end soon There are only 7 knives left.

A limited quantity of knives was made with handles from ivory from the Nico van Rooyen collection. Place your order now for that special Christmas gift, to avoid disappointment.

Pay R5 500 in SA Hunters bank account no 01443990077; branch code 632005 and use the reference Mes and your mobile number. Send proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za

13. Memorial publication

Only copies of the memorial books with the hard covers are still available at R300 per copy.

To order your copy:

- Transfer the correct amount (R300 for the ordinary version or R1 000 for leather bound version) in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa, account number 01443990077.

Use your member number and Book as reference. Check that you enter your member number correctly to ensure that we can process your order

14. Commercial affairs

The complete list of service providers that offer special discount to members of SA Hunters, are available below.