Hunting Officially Banned in Botswana from 2013

Last year when i had first heard of the possibility of hunting closing in Botswana, I felt close to being physically ill. Now that seems pretty official i just feel sort of a numb disgust. I hope that somehow this isn't true or if so, that the ban is lifted soon and Bots doesn't become another Kenya.

I for one will have to see how this washes out. I can not afford to hunt Botswana but good to those who can (did). I will stick to Namibia and SA.

As a rolling stone gathers moss, we can just hope this does not spread across the boarders.

" Enjoy now for what can be lost later".

Very much a shame if true. However take solace in the continued ability to hunt on private land. Its still Botswana.

Hi guy's

This is what I heard from some sources up in Botswana.

1 Elephant hunting will remain open since they are over populated however there is a strong move away from the leasing of a concession and giving quota's to one Outfitter instead these Elephant will be auctioned off to the highest bidder?

2 The hunting of species that have low numbers will be banned not sure what species they are referring to but pretty sure that Lion is on the list and a few others??

3 Hunting on large open area's stretching as far as the eye can see with unspoiled beauty like the Okavango Delta is surely becoming a thing of the past these area's will be set aside for photographic safaris. This will be a process and not happen over night there will defiantly be a slow transition that would be strongly dependent on the development of lodges and infrastructure but none the less the weal's of change are turning.

I see Botswana pretty much following the likes of South Africa and Namibia where privatization will become an intricate part of their hunting industry game farms are already being developed and some pretty impressive ones at that.

A good friend of mine who hunts up in Zambia once asked me "what price will you put on saying I hunted on the last true wild open area in Africa"............ it kind of makes you think doesn't it?

We are starting to see an answer to his question in countries like Tanzania who have nearly double in concession fees, my biggest fear is that the answer will be priceless!

The focus should shift to finding a way on how to integrate hunting and other forms of tourism like photographic safaris this will ensure different revenue streams and no doubt lead to more motivation to conserving these area's as well as the animals living in them for both hunting and other forms of tourism for generations to come.

Best Regards
Louis van Berge

Uhhmmmm Africa!

My very best!

This is from the Hunting Report:

Big Changes Coming To Botswana Hunting For 2013 Word has been flying around the internet for almost a year now that Botswana had closed to all hunting. That simply was not true-and still isn't. However, just as we were laying down copy for our May newsletter, we received this urgent email from Kgori Safaris:

Dear Hunting Friend,
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE !!!!!
Hunting is officially banned in Botswana from 2013, except for plainsgame on game ranches and a few elephants that will be auctioned outside the wilderness areas in the cattle areas.
There are only 2 areas that will still have limited quota for 2013 namely, CH 1 and NG 41.
This is a very sad and unfortunate situation.
Best regards,
KGORI SAFARIS

Hunting Report publisher and editor Barbara Crown immediately called the Botswana Wildlife Management Association to get the full story. We've included their full statement below, which answers some, but not all questions hunters might have. For the moment, here is the takeaway:
1) As Kgori's email accurately stated, these changes won't take effect until 2013. So, if you have an elephant safari booked for Botswana in 2012, relax, go hunting and enjoy the experience.
2) If you have an elephant safari booked for 2013 or beyond, contact your safari operator immediately to check the status of your specific hunt. Safaris with Butler &Holbrow Safaris in the Chobe Enclave CH1/2 will continue unchanged through the end of 2013; Safaris with Calitz Hunting Safaris in Mababe NG 41 will continue through the end of 2017.
3) The Hunting Report is attempting to ascertain if there are still any possible hunts left for 2012. If we find opportunities, we will let our Email Extra subscribers know immediately
4) As the statement below clearly indicates, elephant hunting in Botswana is not closed, but there are certainly going to be changes. Stay tuned for new information as the situation clarifies.
Editor,
Barbara Crown

Below is the full text of the statement from Botswana Wildlife Management Association:
HUNTING IN BOTSWANA - STATEMENT TO VALUED CLIENTS, AGENTS AND FRIENDS
Over the last 5 years, Botswana's trophy hunting industry has been subjected to some extensive changes to areas available for hunting, and changes in land use in other areas where photographic and hunting operations have been combined - these changes have given rise to much speculation amongst the international hunting fraternity: the Botswana Wildlife Management Association wishes to confirm that from the end of this year big game hunting will continue in the following concessions:
Butler &Holbrow Safaris / Chobe Enclave CH1/2 - end of 2013
Calitz Hunting Safaris / Mababe NG 41 - end of 2017
In spite of draconian cuts in quota for other species, elephant remain the flagship species in Botswana and sustainable offtake of this species will continue under the guidance and direction of the Botswana Government. Recent aerial surveys conducted by independent researchers, in collaboration with Government and the Association, have determined that the Botswana elephant population is stable and in some parts of the country are considered locally over-abundant. The Special Elephant Quota, which is auctioned annually to industry members and stakeholders, will continue in select areas for the benefit of local communities and for elephant conservation and management as a whole. Private research on tusk weights/population distribution and densities, supported by outfitters, is ongoing and will continue to inform Botswana's Wildlife Management Authority.
Assurances have been made to the industry by senior members of Government during the course of the last five years that elephant hunting will continue in Botswana; in the meantime, outfitters remain committed to ongoing discussion and consultation with Government to determine the way forward. Hunting on game ranches is unchanged. Please contact your safari outfitter or the Botswana Wildlife Management Association (botswanawildlife@yahoo.com or debbie@mochaba.net) for any further information or confirmation you may require.

Much appreciated Phil.

Received the same statement from Mochaba, trust all will be well for hunting in that Great Country. Thank You to BWMA for all their effort regarding this matter

It is a sad day were we have the "anti's" get the better over people that conserve. I wonder if they did any calculations to see how much the average hunter spends in a safari compared to a Photo Safari tourist in the same period. I am sure there is money that landed in pockets and not conservation for this decision to have been made.

I feel like i'm missing something. So, according to that message hunting for elephant and hunting on game ranches will continue...what about the other hunting? Buff, cats, etc? Is that now closed?

Originally Posted by TOM

I feel like i'm missing something. So, according to that message hunting for elephant and hunting on game ranches will continue...what about the other hunting? Buff, cats, etc? Is that now closed?

Yes sir! Only very few ele permits will be issued. All other hunting that does not take place on a private ranch is closed. They did this in favor of photo safaris.

Update from Kgori Safaris received on April 23,2012

Hi Jerome ,
My e-mail was a letter to my clients and NOT A PRESS RELEASE. I probably
should have said: PHASED OUT and not banned. You should probably receive a
proper statement from BWMA soon

Off course I will be affected badly which is sad.
Regards,
Jim

Email from Johan Calitz received on April 23, 2012


Hi Jerome
Thanks the wording of Jimmy van Rensburg's press release being 登fficially banned is incorrect.
It is not official, neither has it been banned we've been told by Government that hunting elephant in certain areas will continue the statement that we all agreed (attached) is accurate and reflects the current situation.
Premature and inaccurate news and the distribution thereof is likely to cause operators to get cancellations because they think it is officially banned -- equally, we COULD find that we get an extension on our leases, as was the case with us for NG41, for 2013 then what?
The rules ARE changing but the game is still on!
Tharia Unwin
JOHAN CALITZ SAFARIS
E.mail: tharia@calitzsafaris.com
Wbsite: www.johancalitzsafaris.co.za


HUNTING IN BOTSWANA - STATEMENT TO VALUED CLIENTS, AGENTS AND FRIENDS
Over the last 5 years, Botswana's trophy hunting industry has been subjected to some extensive changes to areas available for hunting, and changes in land use in other areas where photographic and hunting operations have been combined these changes have given rise to much speculation amongst the international hunting fraternity:? the Botswana Wildlife Management Association wishes to confirm that from the end of this year big game hunting will continue in the following concessions:

Butler & Holbrow Safaris / Chobe Enclave CH1/2 end of 2013

Calitz Hunting Safaris / Mababe NG 41 end of 2017

In spite of draconian cuts in quota for other species, elephant remain the flagship species in Botswana and sustainable offtake of this species will continue under the guidance and direction of the Botswana Government. Recent aerial surveys conducted by independent researchers, in collaboration with Government and the Association, have determined that the Botswana elephant population is stable and in some parts of the country are considered locally over-abundant. The Special Elephant Quota, which is auctioned annually to industry members and stakeholders, will continue in select areas for the benefit of local communities and for elephant conservation and management as a whole. Private research on tusk weights/population distribution and densities, supported by outfitters, is ongoing and will continue to inform Botswana's wildlife Management Authority.

Assurances have been made to the industry by senior members of Government during the course of the last five years that elephant hunting will continue in Botswana; in the meantime, outfitters remain committed to ongoing discussion and consultation with Government to determine the way forward. Hunting on game ranches is unchanged. Please contact your safari outfitter or the Botswana Wildlife Management Association (botswanawildlife@yahoo.com or debbie@mochaba.net) for any further information or confirmation you may require.
27 March, 2012

The Botswana Wildlife Management Association
Private Bag 098
Maun
Botswana
Tel: + 267 6862 671
Fax: + 267 6862671

Ok, now I am in the same boat as Tom above. All this letter says is that they will keep hunting elephant till 2013/2017 in certain areas. What about other ar What about the other animals? They say the quota has been cut(draconian=a hole lot). How much?? Having never hunted Botswana, I don't know what was available to hunt before this problem came up. Could one even hunt on public or park land for plainsgame?

Exactly...I would love to hunt Cape Buffalo in wild areas not behind a fence.

well unfortunately for me I'm going to hunt eland behind a high fence in the tuli block this year. I contacted my outfitter and he told me members of the cabinet have craftily worded their ban. He said the wording states that hunting will be ban within 20 miles of all the parks areas. That is pretty much most of the prime concession areas. So in a sense yes hunting is being banned. I can wait to watch all those elephants deforest botswana!

Guess ole Scott has been right for all along, once you get elected into a position of power, you loose your freakin' mind. They no longer have the peoples best interest in mind, just care about pleasing the folks that are filling their wallet.

Originally Posted by tap

well unfortunately for me I'm going to hunt eland behind a high fence in the tuli block this year. I contacted my outfitter and he told me members of the cabinet have craftily worded their ban. He said the wording states that hunting will be ban within 20 miles of all the parks areas. That is pretty much most of the prime concession areas. So in a sense yes hunting is being banned. I can wait to watch all those elephants deforest botswana!

That won't happen. Without the hunters $$$ to support the anti-poaching efforts led by PH's and Outfitters they will be poached out of existence very quickly by the locals...as will all other wildlife.

This is very sad. Unfortunately, in America we are under the onslaught of the anti's as well, and so far we've been winning but for how long? With the way people my age think I'm scared, to put it frankly...

Is there any updates on this situation in Botswana?

According to the information I have read so far, this supposedly will not affect hunting on private game farms/concessions. Would this be a concern to someone that has a future hunt booked or was going to book
a plains game hunt in Botswana on a private game farm?