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HUNTING PORTFOLIO REPORT July 2010
by Pat Acutt
Hunting Portfolio Chairman – Pat Acutt
I, Pat Acutt was elected Chairman of the Hunting Committee at the December 2009 Exco Meeting. I took over the reins from Ayub Desai at the beginning of this year. A strategic planning meeting took place in February this year to identify the future goals of this committee and what could be done to improve its effectiveness, with particular reference to the longer term.
The new Youth Development portfolio led by Peter Konigkramer was identified. Under this umbrella will be the “Dads and Lads” hunts, junior conservation courses, junior sponsored hunts etc. We identified that the future of the KZN Hunting & Conservation Association was dependant on today’s youth. Every single current member is a “Brand Ambassador” for our conservation and hunting fraternity and is kindly requested to make continuous efforts to attract new members, especially the younger set, to our Association. A competition was arranged last year and 4 juniors were awarded a sponsored hunt. Over a period of months, these juniors have been mentored, taken to the range and all that remains is to take them into the bush on a “dummy hunt”. Unfortunately all this takes time and money. The mentors will only allow them on a proper hunt once they have successfully fulfilled all the criteria.
We are also looking at putting together a junior shooting league.
Our Community Reserves, Kameelkop and Bambatha’s have progressed well. Unfortunately, early June saw a devastating fire ravage through Kameelkop reserve, taking with it one chalet and leaving very little in the way of grazing for the animals. The Hunting Committee agreed to halt all further hunting on this reserve. Suggestions of capture and/or culling were discussed and at the end of the day, rather than to put the animals through any more stress, the Association managed to source farmers who were prepared to offer feed for the animals. The Association is indeed grateful to these farmers. A donation of feed from the Department of Agriculture’s disaster fund will soon arrive at the farm. Special words of praise and thanks must go to Geoff Muller from our Newcastle Branch who continuously monitor the situation at Kameelkop and who are always at the ready to undertake any maintenance required. To Joeb Joubert from our Drakensberg Branch who jumped in and sourced tons of feed for the animals. Our humble appreciation to all involved for their caring and extraordinary efforts in literally putting Kameelkop on the road to survival and pulling the reserve back from the brink of complete disaster. This would have been a major blow not only to the Kameelkop community, but also to our Association.
Hunting on Bambatha’s is going very well with back to back hunts booked. Hunters have indicated that they have experienced difficult hunting due to thick vegetation, but the hunts have been challenging walk and stalk hunts. The terrain will not suit anyone who is not reasonably fit.
The following is a list of the various Portfolio Conveners on the Hunting Committee. If you have any suggestions/ideas please address them to the respective Convener, c/o Carol Marx at the Association offices or via email at carol@kznhunters.co.za .
Chairman: Pat Acutt
Deputy Chairman: John Hamilton
Rifle: John Harris/Jason Peetz
Handgun: Mark Lansdell/John Hamilton
Shotgun: Mark Lansdell/Jacque Botha
Bow: John Hamilton/Basil de Kock
Range: All Committee members
Hunting photography: Robert Mortassagne
Ezemvelo Siggi Kühn/Mark Lansdell/John Hamilton
Youth (Dads & Lads, schools,sponsored hunts): Peter Konigkramer
Communities: Bruce Ambrose/Stoffel de Jager
Game Counts: Bruce Ambrose/Branches
Membership: All Committee members
Interaction with Exco: Pat Acutt/John Hamilton
Bird Shoots:
We recently had a successful guinea-fowl shoot in the Swinburne area. A photograph of the group who attended the shoot can be found on the website under “photo gallery”. A further guinea fowl shoot is planned for the 21 August 2010 in the Vrede area. Please timeously book your place with Carol Marx at the Association offices.
Unfortunately bird shoots have been few and far between for the last few years. We rely on our Branch Chairmen and particularly all our members to be on the look out for and notify us of wingshooting opportunities.
Hunting photography: Robert Mortassagne gave a very interesting presentation on the how’s and wherefore’s of taking your hunting pictures. There are very definitely good and bad pictures. Although the hunter is very proud of his animal, in death it must be respected.
The road ahead: There are soon to be big developments within the Association. Meetings have been held with various role players and as soon as agreements have been signed, all will be revealed. As they say, “watch this space”!
Good and safe shooting!
Yours in huntin’,
Pat Acutt
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