Jun 22, 2016 | News
South Africa: 2014
Not for the Faint-Hearted – Hunting Bushpig in the Eastern Cape
By Kim Gattone
It was a calm, cool morning, wet with dew, the low-lying fog quickly evaporating in the rising sun.
These are perfect conditions for scent dogs and, sure enough, the strike dog Blue, was already “giving tongue” from the back of the truck before his feet ever hit the ground!
Blue is an older, three-legged bluetick hound; he’d lost that leg in a close encounter with a bushpig, and is a better dog on three legs than many are on four! Blue, leased to a houndsman, bayed the pigs in their nest. Unfortunately, the pigs “broke their nerve” quickly and scattered rather than holding up.
The first best chance at a bushpig is right there when the dogs strike the nest, but I was not right there, and so the pack was released and the organized chaos was on! This is where the relentless hounds pursue the bushpig until it tires of the flight and turns to fight.
Second-best chance at the a bushpig comes if one is fleet of foot and determined – then one might be able to intercept the fleeing quarry and dispatch them in a clearing as they cross ahead of the dogs. Now this is only possible if the gunner can stay or get ahead of the chase. At this stage of the day, having a middle linebacker from the NFL to break trail through the thorn and brush, running uphill, would come in handy! The third best chance for the gunner – and the one that usually ends the hunt – is to be close enough to the spot the pigs choose fight over flight and “bay up.” This is where the real danger to the dogs is, and time is of the essence.
There is a code of ethics that every bushpig hunter must accept and agree to going into the hunt. Houndsmen have the right to take the pig with their shotgun if the dogs are in danger of getting killed by the vicious pig, whether the hunter has arrived or not. I agree with this code and have great respect for the hounds and the specialized technique that goes into training them.
In another life, not so long ago, I confess to being a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I had a good, long career as a distance runner, and 13 years as a high-altitude mountaineer. My base level of fitness now is not what it was “back in the day,” but it is still above average. I mention this because this hunt was physically and mentally demanding. Crashing nonstop through the thorn and scrub for over two miles at a run with a shotgun, and trying to keep close to the chase so as to not endanger the dogs with an unnecessary delay once the pig was held up, was no simple task. Many a PH has lamented the lack of condition of their clients, at times having to go to great lengths to compensate for it. In this case, if you cannot pursue the chase, you cannot expect to close in in time for the kill, so if you want to run with the “big dogs,” you had better be fit!
Let me back up for a moment. I flew from Joburg to Port Elizabeth over the Indian Ocean, above the white sandy shoreline. I was excited to visit a new province of South Africa and would be spending the next three days with my PH Gary Phillips, owner and operator of Gary Phillips Hunting Safaris. Gary is the sixth generation of a family devoted to wildlife and farming in the Eastern Cape. He has over 20 years’ experience in the hunting industry, with access to over two million acres of private concessions over lush coastal bushveld, semi-arid Karoo, and the mountainous savanna. The noticeably diverse landscape was emerald-green during my visit.
Just an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth is Gary’s exclusive lodge, Assegai Bush Game Reserve – a lovely five-star camp nestled in the lush coastal bushveld, where I was greeted by camp manager Carla who lavished me with her exquisite meals and warm hospitality for the next three days.
Gary and I intended to hunt both caracal and bushpig with hounds, but after two days’ effort hunting caracal, we never cut scent. On my third day, with the arrival of Paul Mills and his enthusiastic hounds, a change of fate took place. Paul’s hounds are used exclusively for hunting bushpigs.
Bushpig hunting with hounds is an Eastern Cape tradition that has gained legendary status over the years. Bushpigs are one of the hardest trophies to take in South Africa. It is a physically demanding hunt that requires an all-out effort, and certainly is not for the faint-hearted. The pigs are fast and powerful, with upper canines that form small tusks with razor-sharp edges that make them an animal to fear. When cornered they become aggressive beyond description and potentially dangerous.
Charging through the brush we came upon the bayed bushpig, and the only description that comes to mind is complete mayhem: My PH and the houndsman trying to maintain order in a world gone wild, hounds barking and clamoring about, and my quarry, a bushpig almost as exhausted as me, fighting with everything he possessed – for certain he understood that his life depended on it.
The houndsman stepped aside and with no more than 25 feet separating me from the pig, I shouldered the Winchester 12-gauge, shooting twice the 00 buckshot into him. In my book, when shooting something that dangerous, it’s worth shooting twice to finish the fight! A rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins!
Over the last seven years it has been my good fortune to hunt in Africa. I have one of those dream jobs – as the advertising sales manager for the African Hunting Gazette, my job is sweet. I’ve had a number of wonderful safaris hunting plains game species with both rifle and bow. As weapons go, I am most familiar with, and found of, the smoothbore shotgun. Shooting birds over dogs is one of my passions. As for dogs, I love them. So when this opportunity came for me to use both a shotgun and dogs in the Eastern Cape, needless to say, I was pretty excited. This wasn’t birds over pointers with one ounce of #6 shot, but 00 bush shot for a very large and ferocious bushpig surrounded by baying hounds in thick brush!
As quick as I was afoot and with my two shots, the pig had still scored some licks before he succumbed to my shotgun, and several dogs took wounds. Their owner and lifelong houndsman, Paul Mills of Bunker Hill Hounds, turned his truck bed into a surgery center and stitched up four hounds on site. I am a tenderhearted dog lover of the highest order and these gladiators of the canine world won my admiration. They are remarkable in their uncomplaining courageous service facing a formidable and deadly opponent, and they are the heroes of this story, deserving every accolade we can bestow!
The controversy of hunting with hounds will range on long after my story has ended. I understand both sides of the argument. I am a huntress and a conservationist, an animal lover and a meat eater. Whether you agree with hunting with hounds or not, it is a timeless argument. Hunting with hounds is an ancient, efficient, and long-practiced art. For centuries, man and his faithful dog, be it purebred or cur, have hunted multiple species on multiple continents. Wild boar, red stag, African lion, mountain lion, bushpig, bear and wolves; duck, geese, partridge, pheasant and grouse – and on it goes, great and small, all have been successfully brought to bag with the help of our courageous canine companions. So here’s to Blue, the three-legged strike dog, and his pack of baying brothers! Long live the hunt, and long live the hound!
Kim Gattone, Advertising Sales Manager for “African Hunting Gazette,” makes her home in beautiful southwest Montana and enjoys writing about her adventures to share them with others.
20.3RSABushpigGattone 1380 words
Pull-out “In my book, when shooting something that dangerous, it’s worth shooting twice to finish the fight!
Sep 4, 2015 | News
After years of competing, Birgit Johnstone (host of the African Events) and Richard Lendrum (host of African Hunting Gazette’s African Hunting Expos) will be joining forces once again, hosting and organizing African Shows & Exhibitions. Initially in Canada and the USA, but ultimately launching in other regions of the world, the stage is set.
Reaching this decision was made in the best interests of the hunting industry, in particular the African hunting outfitters who invest time and money travelling internationally to promote their safaris. We believe this is a microcosm of what the entire industry should be doing – putting aside petty differences for the greater good of the industry’s survival.
Both parties are in full agreement, that working together they can represent the industry better, promote the events better and offer the potential hunting client an exceptionally better and more comprehensive insight into the wonders an African safari has to offer.
No more confusion of multiple and competing shows in Alberta, capitalizing on the magazine supporting and promoting the shows and using the skills of both parties to ensure a more successful outcome.
Birgit Johnstone says “I am delighted with this significantly positive step forward. Richard and I have always worked well together and joining forces again, I truly believe is in the best interests of our industry. Together we plan to grow and improve our current shows plus explore and expand into new markets.”
Richard Lendrum says “My objective has always been to promote hunting in Africa. This is undoubtedly the best thing to do. Birgit is a really talented event organiser and we have a really well liked magazine with a huge following. Our relationships with all stakeholders are really strong, so the combination is something I am tremendously excited about reviving.”
The united shows will go forward in January 2016, with some changes to dates and venues. Booths will be limited to 30 outfitters per show.
United and stronger the Canadian based African Shows will proceed.
Toronto – 16 & 17 January 2015
Saskatoon – 23 & 24 January 2016
Calgary – 30 & 31 January 2016
For further information contact:
Mar 27, 2014 | News
Canned hunting is illegal in South Africa and people should immediately report suspected incidences to the police or wildlife authorities, the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA) said today.
“Canned hunting should, however, not be confused with legal, responsible and sustainable forms of hunting, which have had a demonstrably positive impact on conservation in South Africa as well as other countries where it is practiced,” said chief executive Adri Kitshoff.
Kitshoff said that PHASA had noted a deliberate attempt to confuse the difference between canned hunting and legitimate forms of hunting and that this was part of a larger campaign to undermine hunting as an effective conservation tool.
PHASA said that the animal rights and animal welfare organisations behind the campaign were not recognised authorities in the field of conservation. “The real authorities are the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the World Wildlife Fund and in South Africa the Department of Environmental Affairs, all of which recognise sustainable hunting as a valuable contributor to conservation practices as well as to rural community development and anti-poaching initiatives,” she said.
For further information contact Adri Kitshoff, PHASA chief executive, on 083 650 0442.
Mar 27, 2014 | News
The inaugural World Wildlife Day (3rd of March) is an ideal opportunity for international conservation organisations and authorities to publicly acknowledge the role that big game hunting plays in the conservation of species and their natural habitat, the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA) said today.
Adri Kitshoff, PHASA chief executive, said that while trophy hunting is a highly emotional and often misunderstood industry, despite its value as a conservation mechanism having been quantifiably and historically demonstrated.
“We wouldn’t have white rhino today if it wasn’t for trophy hunting,” she said, adding that South Africa is home to almost 90% of all rhino. “Additionally, thanks to hunting our sable, bontebok, wild ostrich, Cape mountain zebra, black wildebeest and many other species have been brought back from the brink of extinction and have successfully been reintroduced into areas where they had become locally extinct.”
Kitshoff said that South Africa is a prime example of how wildlife can flourish provided there are laws that allow for both the private ownership of game and sustainable trophy hunting. “Fifty years ago there were four private game reserves in the country and a headcount of all our game would’ve numbered some 500 000. Today there are about 10 000 private game ranches, covering some 20.5 million hectares and home to an estimated 16 million head of game. By comparison, all South Africa’s national parks only cover 7.5 million hectares, which is home to an estimated 4 million head of game,” she said.
“Game has overtaken cattle, which now number only 14 million, and vast tracks of land, commercially unviable for photographic safaris, have been reclaimed from livestock-rearing and agricultural use for wildlife conservation. The health of our wildlife today is about the same as it was 100 years ago and this development, unmatched anywhere in the world, is almost exclusively due to the impact of trophy hunting.”
According to Kitshoff, most global conservation bodies support trophy hunting but are reluctant to do so publically out of fear of a backlash from animal rights activists and a misinformed public. She said that the recent public outburst over the Dallas Safari Club’s black rhino hunting permit auction, endorsed by the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was a great opportunity for many of these organisations to help educate the public about the virtues of hunting. Instead it was left to the hunters to defend.
“Our plea to sensible conservation authorities is to stand up and publicly defend activities that have a substantial and measurable positive impact on our environment no matter how unpopular these may be with animal rights activists and the uninformed,” she said.
For further information contact Adri Kitshoff, PHASA chief executive, on +27 83 650 0442.
Dec 6, 2013 | News
In the December edition of African Indaba, (a hunting newsletter) the author of one of the stories criticises The South African Professional Hunting Association (PHASA)for making ‘an about turn’ on its lion hunting policy. The author is a well-known hunter, and has been very vocal on his stance about hunting ethics. Yet he wrote how he justified shooting a buffalo from the vehicle and this was not wrong! A complete contradiction of the Rowland Ward Guild Membership Rules which he introduced, and within which specifically preclude this mode of hunting.
Embracing and adopting the lion hunting practice in South Africa is the boldest thing, in my opinion, that PHASA has done in the past decade. Here’s why:
Pressure on wild lions: There is limited research to indicate whether the harvesting of 600-plus lions in South Africa actually relieves the pressure on the hunted free-range lions around Africa. What is certain is that hunters who used to hunt, or have wanted to hunt lion outside South Africa, but have not got their trophy, or can’t afford to hunt anymore in countries like Zimbabwe or Tanzania, are turning to South Africa to hunt their lion. Why? At $100 000- plus for the chance of finding a lion, along with other complications like whether it is over six years in age (even though this method of testing is inconclusive), versus the security of knowing you will take your trophy for less than half that amount is a no-brainer for some hunters. This simple appeal for captive bred lions has to be good for the long-term plight of the wild lion.
Fair hunt: Most writers on the subject have not actually hunted one of these lions in South Africa, yet they are so quick to comment on how authentic or not the hunt is. Everyone is well versed on the captive breeding of superior trophy White Tails in the USA and the ever-growing practice with other species here in South Africa and Namibia – all in the quest to satisfy the inch-fanatic hunter.
Public perceptions: Try explaining the difference between a dead lion next to the big game hunter, be if from the free wilderness of Namibia or a captive-breed operation in Limpopo. The lion is dead and there is a delighted hunter next to the trophy, period. Where the lion originated is secondary to the fact that most members of the public cannot understand how we can hunt a lion. That is the hurdle we need to overcome!
Stop the squabble: What the industry’s now doing is focusing on how the chairs on the deck of the Titanic are placed instead of watching the iceberg on the horizon. Debating and engaging in internal battles about what is ethical or not, and which lions are fair game, instead of uniting and getting together to actually educate the world that there is a place for various types of lion hunting is where we are losing this window of opportunity:
Lions in my opinion can be:
- Captive bred and released on a 2500 acres or more (as per what PHASA has adopted).
- Bred on a game-fenced eco-tourism game reserve (one could argue this is, in fact, captivity) and then hunted there (which could be 25000 acres or more).
- Bred on a game-fenced reserve and then moved a 2500 acre property.
- Hunted on a state-owned free-range land
Time will tell whether this is the right decision that South Africa is adopting, but for now, it is legal, it helps promote hunting, and addresses a good number of needs within the industry. The countries that have free-range lions for now, great! But let’s stop the internal battles and work together.
Richard Lendrum – Publisher African Hunting Gazette
