Hunting/fishing makes us participants in nature

There have been some uninformed and insulting letters directed
at the hunter by locals since the hunting article was put in Lowvelder. I just want to put a few things into perspective here.
• Professional hunter (PH): by law any foreigner (non-citizen) to an African country who wants to hunt an animal in Africa has to be guided by a registered PH. He has to be registered to hunt in the country or provinces where it will be taking place. A registered PH has to write exams and have experience in hunting and handling situations with dangerous game.
• Trophy hunter: associated with the higher income bracket consisting of maybe five per cent of the hunting community. Most of them are
responsible and will have some sort of dedicated hunters/sportsman status.

• Dedicated hunter/sportsman: this is a recognised status by the police. Various registered associations have strict guidelines and courses you have to attend to get this status. This includes target-shooting disciplines for the sportsman. This status also allows you to have more than four firearms.
• Hunter: occasional hunting – maybe twice a year mostly for the social part and for biltong or meat for the pot. They can only have licences for four firearms.
• Poacher: this is a ruthless person who will use any means to kill an
animal that doesn’t belong to them or that they don’t intend on paying for.
Ninety per cent of the time this is for self-enrichment.
Hunting is not a sport, it’s a lifestyle. You get responsible and irresponsible ones. The same with fisherman and pet owners, and human beings for that matter. A responsible hunter/fisherman/outdoorsman:
• belongs to a registered hunting and game-conservation organisation and abides to strict ethical guidelines set out buy this organisation
• loves animals and the outdoors and knows more about nature and its value to society than non-hunters

• knows his equipment and will deliver a painless death to his prey within seconds

• believes in hunting on foot and hunting under the fair-chase principal

• is a hunter because it’s a way of life, a tradition passed down from generation to generation and a deeply entrenched culture that a non-hunter will never understand.
It is an event that is carefully planned from packing the equipment, to planning the trip, setting out the menu and preparing the food.
Responsible hunters install an unmatched discipline and self-worth in the youth that is rarely found in other societies. Hunter/fisherman/outdoorsman’s lifestyle is so much deeper than the narrow-minded letters written to Lowvelder. I am deeply saddened by the generalisation and feel sorry for those who are so misinformed.