I am looking into fair chase hunt prices for plains game ............... it seems that there are a lot listings that are for game ranches with high fences and not so much for fair chase. .
This is a false dichotomy.
The assumption that low fence equates with fair chase is ludicrous.
Here is some information for you to consider.
An AFRICAN record books requirements.
Rowland Ward
That all hunting be conducted only during the hours of natural light.
That no creature be hunted for sport in an enclosed area of such size that such creature is not self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency includes the ability of the animal to exercise its natural inclination to escape from the hunter as well as catering for all its basic needs such as water, food, shelter and breeding.
That no shooting take place from, or within a short distance of a vehicle, nor the use of vehicles to drive game.
That no shooting take place from, or within a short distance of an aircraft.
That no aircraft be used to spot or drive game, nor the use of aircraft to land hunters within a short distance of game for the purpose of hunting the game so spotted.
That only hunting weapons of such power and calibre that are capable of killing game quickly and efficiently at practical ranges be employed.
SCI
The
North American Hunting Preserves - Fair Chase Standards
May 2006
Recreational hunting and the concept of fair chase has been linked for as long as recreational hunting has existed. However, the terms and conditions of
what constitutes fair chase when hunting is conducted within a high fenced area has never been fully or clearly defined.
SCI believes that
the following conditions must be met, or exceeded, in order for the concept of fair chase to apply for hunting mammals within high fenced areas in North America:
The animals hunted
must have freely resided on the property on which they are being hunted for at least six months, or longer.
The hunting property shall
provide escape cover that allows the animals to elude hunters for extended periods of time and multiple occurrences. Escape cover, in the form of rugged terrain or topography, and/or dense thickets or stands of woods, shall collectively comprise at least 50% of the property.
The animals hunted must be
part of a breeding herd that is a resident on the hunted property.
The operators of the preserve must provide
freely available and ample amounts of cover, food and water at all times.
Animals that are to be hunted
must exhibit their natural flight/survival instincts.
No zoo animals, exhibited animals or tame animals are to be hunted.
No hunting or selling of hunting rights to a specified animal.
Hunting methods employed
cannot include driving, herding or chasing animals to awaiting hunters.
Every effort must be made to
utilize all meat commonly consumed from a taken animal.
The minimum amount of land necessary to meet these requirements varies by region, terrain and habitat type. Setting a standard minimum area is unlikely to be realistic. However, SCI recommends that state/provincial wildlife management agencies work with the operators and the hunting community within their area to establish specific regulations to guide the operation of hunting preserves.
B&C
FAIR CHASE STATEMENT
FAIR CHASE, as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any
free-ranging wild, native North American big game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals.
Further debate in another thread here on AH.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-africa/8975-fair-chase-hunts-south-africa.html
FAIR CHASE
"Fundamental to ethical hunting is the idea of fair chase. This
concept addresses the balance between the hunter and the
hunted. It is a balance that allows hunters to occasionally
succeed while animals generally avoid being taken." [p.57]
"There are some activities that are clearly unfair as well as
unethical. At the top of the list is shooting captive or
domesticated big game animals in commercial killing areas where a
person with a gun is guaranteed an animal to shoot. .....
When discussing the ethic of fair chase, it is important
to clarify that we are talking about hunting free-ranging wild
animals." [p.59]
"Shooting preserves present....difficult ethical decisions.
Ethical judgment has to be tempered
by the realities of the people who use these places and the
opportunities available to them.
Shooting preserves protect isolated habitat that otherwise might be destroyed or developed;
they provide habitat for other wildlife species; they provide
opportunities for training dogs; novices can be introduced to
bird shooting; and veteran hunters can maintain shooting
skill. [p.60]
--------------
Jim Posewitz. 1994. "Beyond Fair Chase: The Ethic and Tradition
of Hunting". Falcon Press. Helena, Montana. ISBN 1-56044-283-2
Not sure why I didn't think of that. LOL Definitely a great way to start.
