I'm going to try and illustrate my point by using a diagram. (I'm no artist so I hope this will make sense):demented::
For purpose of this post I'm trying to illustrate a fictional area of 100 miles by 50 miles in size. You can imagine the total size of the area to be as big or small as you like... Let's say it is the size of England and it is in fact an "island"
The block marked (1) represents a high-fenced game ranch in RSA
The block marked (2) represents a low-fenced property in RSA with no internal fences
The block marked (3) represents an "unfenced" property in RSA
The block marked (4) represents another low-fenced property in RSA (more about that later)
And the circle marked (5) represents a hunting area that is made up by a series of low-fenced properties.
Based on this illustration we can assume that, in spite of the area being considerably larger than the others, animals inside block (1) are not free ranging.
Block (2) comprises of a partially high-fenced area i.e. animals cannot move into block (1) but it is assumed that animals can move freely between blocks (2), (3), (4) and also the block on the right that is not numbered... Would animals inside this block be considered as "ree ranging"? I guess so, but have a look at my notes about block (4) later down below...
If I understand the general perception correctly, block (3) would be categorised as an "unfenced" hunting area. But is it really? Because the outer perimeter is actually "fenced" or do these fences not count? If they don't count, the answer to whether there is unfenced hunting available in RSA is "YES".
Now apply these principles to "unfenced" hunting in England where actual hunting areas may not be fenced off (no different to block (3) in my illustration) but fences do exist (albeit mostly low fences). If these fences and other borders such as city limits etc. were to be taken into account, an accurate answer to whether there is any unfenced hunting in England will actually be: "NO" or not?:biggrin2:
Now let's look at block (4)... and assume that Springbok, Blesbok, Black Wildebeest, Kudu and Impala occur in this area. A low fence will never keep Kudu or Impala inside this area. The other species mentioned on the other hand will easily be contained inside the area.
QUESTION (1): Would a hunt for Kudu and Impala inside block (4) be free ranging and fair chase. I would most certainly think so...
QUESTION (2): Would a hunt for Springbok, Black Wildebeest and Blesbok in the same block be free ranging and fair chase? I'll leave that up for others to answer...
What I'm getting at is that whilst the "simple answer" to the original question whether there is any hunting in unfenced areas in RSA may be "NO" the real answer is not as easy as that. Get my point?
And this brings me back to my original point namely that free range hunting opportunities exist in RSA, exactly how "free ranging" these animals are would be determined by what species are hunted where...
No offence intended - all in good spirit!
Best,