Bowhunting Elephant in South Africa

Hi Guys
Is it legal to hunt Elephant with your Bow? I'm getting different answers from different people. And if it's a yes, what's the requirement of your bow equipment have to be set at ?

Rocco, Bowhunting is legal in most of South Africa’s provinces, although restrictions may be imposed according to species. Requirements may also be imposed for the standard of equipment to be used. Bowhunting in most provinces must be done under special permit which needs to be arranged in advance by your hunting outfitter. Also provinces have different regulations regarding bowhunting dangerous game. Bowhunting Elephant is legal in some provinces of South Africa. Because there is no central location where all of the provinces rules and regulations are posted, you should ask your hunting outfitter to supply you with the latest regulations before booking a bowhunting safari.

Minimum Equipment Requirements for Bowhunting in South Africa
• Big Game
Bow Kinetic Energy 80 ft/lbs
Arrow Weight 700 grain
(Elephant, Rhino, Hippo, Buffalo)
• Medium Game
Bow Kinetic Energy 70 ft/lbs
Arrow Weight 550 grain
(Kudu, Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, etc.)
• Small Game
Bow Kinetic Energy 40 ft/lbs
Arrow Weight 400 grain
(Warthog, Nyala, Springbok, Impala, Blesbok, Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich, Caracal, Black-Backed Jackal, Game Birds, etc.)

Good answer Jerome.
Rocco I found that each province in SA does have its own rules. So, definitely talk to the outfitter and get the regs. or look up the provinces web site and they post their "Game Ordinance".

Good luck.

Hi Guys
Thanks for the information. Were can I look up this information from? Is their a web site that has all the regulations about Bow hunting in each provinces of South Africa ?

Originally Posted by Rocco

Hi Guys
Thanks for the information. Were can I look up this information from? Is their a web site that has all the regulations about Bow hunting in each provinces of South Africa ?

Rocco,
you can contact the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA)www.phasa.co.za/ and do an enquiry to them for guidance to the correct provincial authority - depending which provice you are interested to go hunt in.

Good Luck

Rocco, like Jerome said your PH should know and also as FHM just said PHASA should be able to direct you as well.
But FYI, here are a few of the provincial sites I was able to find. One link also may lead to the National legislation. Although these links may only take you to the main sites.
Also, CHASA may have some information. Although this is focused on RESIDENT hunters.

Provincial Government of the Western Cape: Overview
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Hunting
National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act

According to the new draft that has just been set out for minimum bullet weight use on species it also stipulates the minimum for bows.

Only buffalo of the is stipulated for the dangerous game with the following minimums:
Kinetic energy not be less than 80ft/lbs and arrow weight not lighter than 750 grains

Just for the record Giraffe as a higher minimum of 90ft/lbs kinetic energy and arrow weight of also 750 grains

No mention is made of any of the big dangerous game animals.
Which does not mean its impossible for anything is possible as long as a permit is given to the hunter to allow him to hunt the way he wants but its not going to be easy.

Mozambique and Zimbabwe would be your better options in Southern Africa.

South African Government Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism
To visit the South African Government Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism web site click here. Sport hunting in South Africa is also regulated by the different Provincial Nature Conservation Authorities which are listed below.

Provincial Authorities
• KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority
http://www.zulu.org.za
• Mpumalanga Tourism Authority
http://www.mpumalanga.com
• North West Parks and Tourism Board
http://www.tourismnorthwest.co.za
• Eastern Cape Tourism Authority
http://www.ectourism.co.za
• Western Cape Tourism Authority
http://www.capetourism.org
• Limpopo Tourism Authority
http://www.golimpopo.com
• Gauteng Tourism Authority
http://www.gauteng.net
• Northern Cape Tourism Authority
http://www.northerncape.org.za
• Free State Tourism Authority
http://www.freestatetourism.gov.za

Provincial Government
• Eastern Cape Province
Department of Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism
http://www.ecprov.gov.za
• Free State Province
Department of Tourism,Environmental & Economic Affairs
http://www.freestatetourism.gov.za
• Gauteng Province
Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
http://www.gdace.gpg.gov.za
• KwaZulu Natal Province
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs
http://agriculture.kzntl.gov.za
• Limpopo Province
Department of Finance, Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environment
http://www.limpopo.gov.za
• Mpumalanga Province
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
• Northern Cape Province
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Conservation and Environment
http://www.northern-cape.gov.za
• North West Province
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
http://www.nwpg.gov.za
• Western Cape Province
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/yo...rnment/gsc/406

That's the way Jerome.

Great. Thanks Guys.
Just for the record, this is one of the best internet site that I have seen. I've been only ones to South Africa and looking forward to make it a habit to come more often. My next Safari trip will be planned with all the information that I get from AfricaHunting.com.