African Safari Jewelry Newsletter

Apr 18, 2019 | News

African Safari Jewelry Newsletter

Art, Gifts, Decor, Coffee & Tea house

News from Makadi Safaris – Namibia

Mar 28, 2019 | News

News from Makadi Safaris – Namibia

It has been some time since we sent all our past customers a newsletter – so here it is.
We hope you enjoy the brief read and it brings back fond memories of your time in Namibia.

Sent on behalf of Makadi Safaris

Tripod versus 4 Stable Stick®: Range Analysis

Jan 21, 2019 | News

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”View article in E-ZINE” color=”orange” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fafricanhuntinggazette.com%2Fspring-2019%2F%23spring-2019%2F158-159||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text]Tripod versus 4 Stable Stick®: Range Analysis
By Mike Arnold

I was very dubious.

That’s the only word to describe my internal response when my Blaauwkrantz Safaris PH, Arnold Claassen, arrived with his newest purchase. He pulled his new gun-rest out of the packaging and explained that it would give me a stable platform from which to shoot a grey (bush) duiker, an animal that would be fortunate to achieve 50 cm of shoulder height and a weight of 18 kg. Though I enthusiastically exclaimed, “Great!” I was actually brimming over with unspoken doubts. Looking at his ‘Bush Stick’ model from 4 Stable Stick®, I made a single observation: there were only two points of contact with the ground. My deluxe tripod, as expected, had three. My first thought was, “How can this possibly lead to less wobble than my ‘sticks’.” My second thought was, “I am in serious trouble.”

What I did not appreciate from my cursory examination of Arnold’s new client-help was the fact that my stock would be cradled back and front. I should have made the connection with an earlier conversation between, Phil, an experienced African hand and myself at my shooting club back in the States, but I did not.

Phil had approached me at the range when I was practicing with my tripod. He asked what I thought of the rest. I told him that I could not keep my rifle from having a significant horizontal wobble. So, rather than just aiming and letting off the shot, I was being forced to time my shots when the sight pattern wobbled to the correct point-of-aim.

Needless to say, I was not happy with my accuracy. He told me that the key was to have something to stabilize your “back” arm (that grasped the pistol grip and trigger) and thus the butt of the stock. One PH of Phil’s had accomplished this stability for his clients by allowing them to rest their back elbow on his shoulder. I wish I had remembered this conversation before we went after my grey duiker, because I might have been a bit more confident and thereby enjoyed the hunt.

Another point, before I move on to the conclusion of my duiker hunt, and then to the Range Comparison of my tripod and the two, 4 Stable Stick® models: Videos and books that discuss African hunting emphasize the need to become proficient (read, ‘accurate’) with tripod rests because that is what the hunter will be using during his/her safari. Unfortunately, regardless of what is written (or depicted on film), few of us ordinary, run-of-the-mill hunters will find a tripod to be as stable as suggested by professional writers and those appearing on TV hunting series. Whatever the reason (most likely actual differences in the proficiency of professionals versus non-professionals!), many hunters, using tripod rests, are unable to achieve the accuracy necessary for field shooting unless provided with additional stabilization. Using myself as an example, starting months before my safari, I practiced once a week, firing 20-30 rounds from my 7mm Remington Magnum and 10-15 rounds from my .35 Whelen Improved. Once my rifles were sighted in, I fired only from my tripod, but I eventually resorted to shooting only at 100 yards due to my lack of accuracy at 200-300 yds.

What is the catalyst for the following range test? That brings us back to my hunt for a grey duiker. I had never fired a shot from Arnold’s Bush Stick rest. So, when the pygmy antelope charged out of the incredibly thick Eastern Cape brush – drawn out by Arnold’s work on his varmint call – I was amazed at how there was absolutely no wobble as I tilted the rifle and rest to sight down the slope at the little male. My whispered, “What is the range?” was answered immediately by Arnold’s, “Shoot him!”

I finished the trigger pull and the little animal folded. Right after my shot, Arnold informed me that his rangefinder had registered 107 yards. This was not a long distance, to be sure, but remembering a shoulder height of approximately 50 cm and a weight of less than 18 kg, the shot should have been quite difficult for me. I was thoughtful as we headed down the slope. This was the final animal of my safari, so my experience left me wondering whether or not it had been a stroke of luck that the Bush Stick had given me such a steady rest. That is the catalyst for the following range trial involving a comparison of a high-quality tripod with the Bush Stick and Mountain Stick models from 4 Stable Stick®.

Materials and Methods

The rifles used in this range test were a Model 700 Remington in 7mm Remington Magnum and a custom-built rifle in the wildcat cartridge, .35 Whelen Improved. The ammunition for both firearms was handloaded by the author. For the 7mm, IMR 4350 powder and 175-grain Nosler Partition bullets were used, obtaining a (chronographed) velocity of 2800 fps. For the 35-caliber, IMR 4064 powder and 250-grain Nosler Partition bullets were used, obtaining a (chronographed) velocity of 2400 fps.

A total of 72 and 48 cartridges were fired using the 7mm Remington Magnum and .35 Whelen Improved, respectively. Five shooting sessions (on separate days) were used in this analysis. Three shots were fired from each type of rest (bench, tripod, Mountain Stick (seated position) and Bush Stick (standing position), at each of the distances, 100, 200 and 300 yards respectively (91.44, 182.88 and 274.32 metres) for the 7mm, and 100 and 200 yards respectively (91.44 and 182.88 metres) for the .35 Whelen Improved.

In order to better simulate hunting conditions, each of the three shot groups was fired quickly (all shots fired within approximately 45 seconds), forcing the repeated and rapid acquisition of the target. This resulted in larger group sizes than have been achieved by using more deliberate firing (data not shown). After each session, the greatest spacing between shots within each group (for each of the combinations of distance and type of rest), was recorded. Once all range work was completed, these data were used to calculate the mean greatest distance for each of the caliber/distance/rest combinations.

I purchased the tripod utilized in this analysis from a leading manufacturer of African hunting gear and clothing. As stated before, the ‘Bush Stick’ was purchased from 4 Stable Stick® (62 Allée des peupliers, 33000 Bordeaux, France). The ‘Mountain Stick’ was sent to me by 4 Stable Stick® for inclusion in my analysis. All products were used as directed by their manufacturers, and all were in excellent condition.

Still photos were used to document the various stages of the study.

Results and Discussion

Results from both the 35 and 7mm calibers were consistent with regard to the accuracy obtained by each of the various rests. The tripod was the most inaccurate rest type by a large margin (see Bar Graphs). Means of the 3-shot group sizes, for each of the other three rest types were similar, with the bench producing slightly larger or smaller groups for some range/caliber combinations than either the Mountain or Bush Stick. These latter two rest types yielded nearly identical results; the smallest group sizes were obtained in all of the caliber/distance combinations using either the Mountain Stick, Bush Stick or bench.

In terms of the rest types that yielded the most-to-least accurate shooting, the order was Mountain Stick=Bush Stick ≥ Bench >>> Tripod. It may seem surprising that the group sizes from the bench, particularly in the trials involving the .35 Whelen Improved, sometimes exceeded those of both the Mountain Stick and Bush Stick. However, the bench rest did not involve the securing of the butt portion of the rifle. Thus, though much more secure than the tripod, the bench rest sometimes lacked the steadiness afforded by both of the 4 Stable Stick® products. Ironically, the bench was intended as the ‘control’ rest type that was expected to produce the smallest group sizes. Instead, it provided an important indicator of why the Mountain and Bush Sticks gave such improved accuracy – it was due to the securing of both the forend and butt of the firearms.

The inaccuracy of the tripod rest was caused by the instability of the butt portion of the rifle. However, this reflects a positive aspect of this rest type; the tripod allows rapid, horizontal realignment of the sights on a moving animal. It is more difficult to horizontally realign the rifle using either of the 4 Stable Stick® products, without lifting the entire unit. In contrast, vertical realignment with the Mountain Stick and Bush Stick is instantaneous, requiring the shooter to simply lean backward or forward; an equally steady shooting platform is obtained through the entire range of motion.

Though equivalent accuracy was obtained from the Mountain Stick and Bush Stick, the former model allows the user to shoot from a variety of positions – kneeling, sitting and standing. Thus, this model can be used as a standing rest when stalking, but can be quickly reduced in height to allow the hunter to fire from a sitting or kneeling position. Furthermore, the telescopic legs allow firing from slopes when hunting in mountainous terrain.

A very significant aspect of the three rest types is that all are rigid enough to be used as walking sticks. In this regard, though both of the 4 Stable Stick® products will likely be lighter than most tripod rests, the difference in weight is unlikely to be great enough to cause increased fatigue for the user.

Finally, all of the rest types can be reduced in size for travelling in a hard-sided gun case. However, the Mountain Stick is the most straightforward in this regard because its telescoping legs allow quick reduction in size with no disassembly required. In contrast, both the Bush Stick and tripod must be broken down into component parts for transport and then reassembled on arrival in the hunting camp.

Conclusions

The results of this analysis are clear. If a hunter wishes to have the greatest accuracy, they should utilize a rest that secures both the forend and butt of their firearm – both the 4 Stable Stick® Mountain Stick and Bush Stick provide this design feature. This stability did come at the cost of reduced horizontal mobility. However, most hunters (and their guides/PHs) will not be comfortable with shots taken at moving animals, so this limitation may be less of an issue than first appears. Furthermore, the significantly improved accuracy over tripod rests, for both calibers and at all distances, suggests that it will be much more ethical for hunters such as myself to use products like the Bush Stick or Mountain Stick.

The flexibility provided by the Mountain Stick, in terms of shooting positions, argues for its inclusion in most shooting and hunting applications. Because of the findings from this analysis, I will be using the Mountain Stick over the next several months while preparing for another African safari, and it will travel with me to Africa as an essential piece of equipment.

4 Stable Stick® (62 Allée des peupliers, 33000 Bordeaux, France; https://4stablestick.fr/gb/11-4-stable-stick; Phone: +33684821251).[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”View article in E-ZINE” color=”orange” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fafricanhuntinggazette.com%2Fspring-2019%2F%23spring-2019%2F158-159||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19772,19773,19774,19776,19771″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Namibians speak up on rhino horn trade and hunting

Jan 20, 2019 | News

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”View article in E-ZINE” color=”orange” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fafricanhuntinggazette.com%2Fspring-2019%2F%23spring-2019%2F22-23||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text]Namibians speak up on rhino horn trade and hunting

By John Ledger

Namibia leads Africa in its progressive environmental and wildlife policies. The legalisation of community-owned conservancies has seen hundreds of thousands of hectares of communal land under various forms of wildlife protection and management. Both subsistence and trophy hunting are seen as essential components of a wildlife-based economy. Implementation of these pragmatic policies has seen wildlife thrive in Namibia. Like other African countries, Namibia is subjected to constant pressure by the animal-rights and anti-hunting crusaders. However, this country is blessed with some fearless and outspoken proponents of their Namibian wildlife and hunting policies. They are calling again for a legal trade in rhino horn, and hopefully the other countries of the region whose rhinos are being targeted by the illegal trade (there is no other trade allowed!) will join Namibia and stand up to CITES and the misguided individuals and organisations that have supported a ban on the trade in rhino horn for 41 years! In this contribution we look at some recent reports that speak to Namibia’s determination to ensure that its wildlife is valuable to those who own and look after it.

Dr Chris Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Chamber for the Environment (NCE) said the following in his 2018 report-back to NCE members:

“We need to move from a ‘primary production’ land-use economy based on meat and protein sales (where we are highly uncompetitive globally) to a ‘service-based’ land-use economy where we break through the low primary production ceiling, are far less vulnerable to climatic events, and are highly competitive on the global stage. This model includes buffalo as part of the wildlife mix, and it includes an international trade in rhino horn.”

In an e-mail to NCE members and others on 3 December 2018, Dr Brown said:

Dear NCE Members and friends,

Many thanks to all who attended our end-of-year function on Thursday evening last week – a turn-out of almost 100 people from the environmental NGO sector and a great evening. Attached please find a pdf version of John Hank’s guest talk and a copy of my ‘2018 in a soundbite’.

Also significant is Minister Shifeta’s comments on the importance of establishing a rhino horn trade, in this morning’s Namibian Sun. There is a growing consensus amongst long-established conservation organisations and individuals in southern Africa on the urgent need for a well-organised legal trade as soon as practically possible. Attached please see a flier sharing the views from Swaziland. Swaziland, on their own, submitted a motivation to the previous CITES meeting to legalise rhino horn trade – it was not successful. This needs all southern African rhino range states to work together to make it happen.

Extracts from an article by Ellanie Smit in the Namibian Sun, 3 December 2018:

“Poachers will ‘kill every single rhino’

If rhino owners are not allowed to harvest and legally sell horns, poachers will kill every last rhino in Namibia.

This is according to Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta, who was speaking last week at a meeting where the poaching situation in the country was discussed.

Shifeta said the price of a rhino horn has skyrocketed and is currently about N$900 000 per kilogram. ‘It is going up every day.’

He said if rhino range countries could sell rhino horns, the price will go down because the demand would still be there. According to Shifeta, poachers and consumers are looking for ivory and rhino horns for their medicinal value.

‘The demand is there, whether we close the legal market or not.’

Shifeta said at the moment it is too costly for private farmers to keep rhino. ‘Should owners be allowed to harvest and sell horns it would be economically viable for them. The criminal is looking for the horn, if there is no horn, he will not risk his life to shoot the rhino. If we do not do this, many more rhino will be killed. They will come for the last rhino until it is dead”

Extracts from the Address by the NAPHA President, Danene van der Westhuyzen at the NAPHA AGM held on 27 November 2018:

“Honourable Minister of the Environment, Pohamba Shifeta, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen – and all protocol observed…

The Namibia Professional Hunting Association marked its 45th year of existence in 2018. It is an achievement to be proud of. NAPHA’s milestone is important because it speaks of our history, reminds us why we live the way we do and why we are where we are. It also reminds us to learn from mistakes and strive to become better. It helps us understand how people and societies behave. The past causes the present, and thus the future. Furthermore, history contributes to moral understanding, but more importantly, it shapes our identity.

Namibia’s history includes a broad repertoire of skills and interests, cultivated over years of evolution, and the concurrent shaping of culture.

In Namibia, hunting is an integral part of a successful conservation model that benefits communities, wildlife and natural ecosystems. Twenty years ago, Namibia’s total population was 1,655 million people, with a density of 2.01 persons per square km. Today, our population stands at 2,587 million people with a projected 3,686 million people by 2038.

Namibia is a country that still offers the marvellous wide-open spaces, and habitats for all species to roam freely. But more importantly it has proved beyond any doubt that its conservation efforts for all game species have benefited through responsible hunting. Despite the growth of our human population, our elephant population has increased from 7,000 to 23,500 over the last 20 years, while the lion population in the northwest has increased from 20 to 150. We have the world’s largest free-roaming populations of cheetah and black rhino, and well over 70% of Namibia is under one or other form of conservation management. This makes for one of the world’s largest contiguous areas of protected land. We have more wildlife in Namibia today than at any time in the past 150 years.

NAPHA, as well as our Ministry of Environment and Tourism, has demonstrated abundantly and with ample merit that conservation through hunting WORKS!

Nevertheless, we are faced with international bans on trophy imports, airline bans and charges on transporting hunting rifles and trophies, extreme social media uproar and aggressive anti-hunting campaigns to the extent of identifying hunters and sending them insulting hate mail and even death threats. The anti-hunting community likes to deceive the world and blames the decline in African wildlife numbers seen in other countries on hunting, but refuses to distinguish between legal hunting and poaching.

Not to mention the over-exploitation and growing environmental footprint from over-tourism. An increase in asphalt roads, electricity lines, water usage, mountains of garbage and a never-decreasing list of requirements and needs to be met for the tourist wanting to observe game from already worn-out gravel roads. By contrast, one hunter seeks nothing more than unspoiled open landscapes, and wild animals unaffected by humans. Such a hunter brings the same amount of revenue into our country as roughly 2,000 tourists.

NAPHA members operate responsibly within the framework of the law, within the ethics of our profession and our code of conduct, and with the aim to protect wildlife and its habitat from modern society. I cannot even imagine the cost of reclaiming and restocking a formerly pristine wilderness area after it has been totally destroyed by poaching, overgrazing, timber cutting and over-tourism. In principle, any system that is self-reliant is also self-motivating and produces the best results. No businessperson worth their salt is stupid enough to neglect the resource on which they depend.

Who are the culprits when it comes to conservation? Who are the senseless killers? Is it those who oppose hunting or is it the poacher that kills wildlife out of poverty? Is it me who selectively hunts old males, thereby raising money to protect all the wildlife and their habitat, or those who publish wrong information or who are raising millions of dollars to misinform the public and demonise hunting? A lie doesn’t become the truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it is accepted by the majority.

NAPHA members play a leading role in conservation. We invest in and conduct studies and scientific assessments, and as science progresses, our members are the final implementers. However, many people tend to ignore our local knowledge, which is vital in conservation – why is this going to waste?

And yes, it is an indisputable fact that hunting provides the necessary economic incentive to conserve our wilderness areas, and to justify them against the pressures of alternative use like agriculture and livestock keeping. Hunting is the ONE THING that preserves habitat – and without a healthy and natural habitat, we won’t have any wildlife left. We do not merely hunt, we are also nature lovers who strive for sustainable and ethical hunting methods that contribute to conservation strategies.

BUT, ladies and gentlemen, hunting is ALSO an indelible part of our history and has its place in teaching us who we are. It provides us with an expansive sense of what it means to be a human being, where we fit into the circle of life, our rightful role of participating in nature, and therefore representing the fact that no being is omnipotent or invulnerable. It tells us that as powerful and dominant as even the kings and emperors of their respective domains are, one day, they too will be subject to failure and collapse. We are anchored to this world just as the smallest insect is, and as such our fates are entwined. We all will experience the wheel of natural progression. Hunting makes us realise our place in this world.

In the end we conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. And we understand only what we are taught. I am convinced that if you want to save something – your soul, your heart, your relationships, your marriage, your family, your country or the world – you stand up and fight. No excuses, no detours, no debates, no patience – you stand up and say, enough is enough! And this is what we will do.”

Dr John Ledger is an independent consultant and writer on energy and environmental issues, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. John.Ledger@wol.co.za[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”View article in E-ZINE” color=”orange” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fafricanhuntinggazette.com%2Fspring-2019%2F%23spring-2019%2F22-23||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19783,19784,19785″][/vc_column][/vc_row]