African Professional Hunters Association

Changes can readily occur for aging wild animals that make life more difficult than normal. Particularly in the case of males.

Like hippos, who are often badly beaten up, severely wounded, and ousted from the bigger breeding groups, forced to live a more solitary and vulnerable to predation existence, often in very marginal or inadequate habitats. Such males are perfect choices for age-based selection safari hunting programs, particularly when a portion of the revenue gained from hunting them is put back into sustaining their required habitats and protecting their populations from poaching.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, in Tanzania.

APHA members know that although combatting poaching costs, not properly addressing its issues can cost even more, especially in the long run. Not all areas are fully accessible year round, and not all countries permit outfitters to have their own anti-poaching units. But all responsible hunters should inquire with their PHs and outfitters and learn about these realities in the areas they hunt.

Photo Credit: APHA Member Mike Angelides of

When hunting, the primary focus is on whatever species one is pursuing, of course. But a multitude of bird species is often encountered along the way, and many hunters, both professional and recreational, do enjoy seeing them and learning about them.

If you've hunted in East Africa, you probably have seen this bird often - the superb starling. A long lived bird (known to reach 15 years in captivity) whose spectacularly iridescent plumage is a result of light striking the special arrangements of melanin granules in the feathers.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, on location with APHA Executive Committee member Michel Mantheakis of

ON THE HUNT

What are some important life lessons that can be learned on safari that are applicable and critical to functioning in so many other situations?

Patience, adaptability, responsibility, appreciation of nature and the challenges it faces, how wildlife does or does not fit in with local people's lives, and teamwork yet also self-reliance. Things that historically and currently have defined us, in part, as humans, and will determine the future of wildlands and their inhabitants.

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones of

".......he has no weak spots in his natural defenses. He has the eyesight of a cheetah, the hearing of a hypersensitive elephant, and the smelling ability of a bird dog on a damp morning. In the bush, he can do anything that you can, including running four times your speed through cover so dense that it would make a mole claustrophobic. "

Musings on buffalo from Peter Hathaway Capstick in "Death in the Dark Continent ", published in 1983.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, on location with APHA Member Johan Calitz, in Botswana.

thehuntingexperience

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to all of our members, friends and hunters in the USA!!! Some floral "fireworks" from southern Africa to help you celebrate! Safe travels and good hunting to those of you either en route to, or already in Africa, on safari now.

The USA is currently marking 248 years as its own nation. But what about Independence Days in Africa? With only a few exceptions, most African countries did not gain independence until dates between the 1960's through the 1990's. And Ethiopia is regarded as the only country on the continent that was never truly subject to colonial rule.

Interesting history to consider. And a valuable aspect of the international hunting experience - learning about other countries' history and sharing your own. Cheers!

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones of

SAFARI VIEWS

Whether on foot with the trackers, using the heightened vantage point from a top the car, or glassing from a ridgetop afar, excellent focus on the true hunting experience can be best obtained by booking your hunts with respected APHA members.

Photo Credit: APHA Secretary Graham Jones of

PROSPECTS -- What are they for young lions?

If living amongst people in rural communities, typically not good. Predators who kill livestock and sometimes people are rarely tolerated and often killed in horrifically brutal ways. If living in photo tourism areas, they are highly valued photo subjects, but most wildlife watchers enjoy seeing lions of all ages, so ensuring they reach and surpass maturity is not absolutely required. If living in hunting tourism areas, females and young are legally protected. Males are highly valued, but are protected until they are post-mature. In order for legal lion hunting in any area to be sustainable over the long term, therefore, lions in hunting concessions must be properly protected for most of their lives.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, in Botswana.

It’s low guttural roar had caused the old bull to raise his head,turning slightly into the direction from whence the sound had come, his companions too, without sound confirmed to his order. They lay motionless, yet absorbing all, safe in their formation, the inky black his them well and as it departed they too left their place on that high ridge.

Sight now restored, the five bulls made their way down from their resting place, the warmth of high ridges, sparsely covered in light combretum, was soon to be replaced with the icy cool of the low lying reed beds, a fair trade off for the dense cover the terrain there would afford them.
The lead bull, his seasons showed, torn ears hung below worn, wide horn. His forehead broad, crusty with scars of old battles, face hairless, a blend of slate grey and white.
His eyes however, gave no hint to the ravages of the time he had spent in a harsh but beautiful wonderland, clear and bright, they reflected the early morning light in their deep, brown pools of unquestionable intelligence.
In the characteristic, sometime ponderous walk, heads low to the ground, seemingly searching, condemned to the uninformed, a hunchback,s existence. They covered the short but steep and undulating journey with exaggerated ease. Just above the reed bed he came to halt, the red ball of dryness, still hidden, yet alerting all of it,s imminent arrival.
His legion, they too followed the old commanders lead. Silently they stood, not moving, shifting nor without patience, waiting for his sign.
Below them the dew sparkled, like thousands of fallen stars, it clung to the white soft seed heads of the reeds, the African dawn deathly still and as the red ball of dryness climbed higher, the stars rolled down green shafts and lower still finally feeding the stream that ran through that lowland. The coucal called its low bassinet, crawling, jumping it moved down the stream, across the reed bed the francolin’s raucous eruption welcomed the departure of one and arrival of another, as another chapter in a world much unknown would soon be written.

Still they stood, huge hooves cutting into the soft soil, motionless, their years of combined experience, a formidable challenge for adversaries that sought them.

The wind drifted down to him, their scent, overpowering, his senses alert to their presence. Slowly he moved in their direction, stopping only to listen, ears pricked he closed in on the legion. Avoiding the tall wet grass, his route was erratic but soon he stopped at the edge of the reed bed. The dew had soaked his black mane,he was hungry, it had been many showings of the pale white eye since his last kill. Now his form blended into the tawny grass down wind of his prey, he stared into the reed bed.

The bulls, still motionless, watched, listened, the old bull raising his head, nose outstretched he drew in the fresh clean morning air, testing. Satisfied that all was well he eased down off the ridge into the fringes of the reed bed. They followed, trusting, heads still low and in single file.

He watched, never moving nor blinking, perfectly still and hidden, the big lion crouched low to the ground, every muscle taught, waiting for the moment, a break, a weakness in their ranks.
The bulls passed him by, each one lost in his own thoughts and world, lumbering through the thick curtains of green. As they reached the small stream that bisected the bed, they jostled for position to reach the cold water that flowed, they drank noisily. The lion edged closer, as he watched the bulls complete their early morning routine, their thirst quenched they moved through the stream, the thick green grass flanking the reeds, inviting and sweet.
As the last bull made his way through the churned up, now muddy stream, breaking through the soft crust his forefeet sunk deep, he tried to free his bulk from the grip now firmly taking hold, he panicked, deeper into the mire, the massive body now helpless, bellowed.
The lion, sensing the bulls vulnerability, leapt through the reeds, his tawny muscular frame, lightening quick, paws surrounding holding tight, his huge mouth closed over the bulls throat, fangs crushing, claws gripping deep into the buffalo's shoulders and neck.

The remaining legionnaires crashed back through the reeds toward their struggling companion. The old commander at the fore, his weight too deceiving the soft crust, sinking deep, the warning heeded, he turned, angling parallel to the stream, driving with his hind legs and freeing his bulk from natures unintentional treachery, on hard ground he spun to face the threat that now stared back, jaws still gripped tight, eyes yellow, unblinking, unwavering. The sense of success, obvious, yet without the look of the conqueror.
Snorting, shaking of heads, short powerful charges, futile.

Finally they left, moving down the reed bed, eventually feeding, content that their threat now past, albeit temporarily.
As night fell, he climbed the ridge, his belly swinging heavily beneath him. His roar carried distant in the cool. The valley would sleep fitfully, in the knowledge that his roar was one of contentment, until the next showing of the pale white eye, when Africa would once again hunt.

Safari njema! The Swahili term for have a nice trip.

And truly that's what should primarily define any hunting safari. The journey, the collective set of experiences afield, the sights seen and emotions felt, the challenges presented, the surprises encountered, and the camaraderie and expertise of those who made it all possible.

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones of

inafrica

One of four that creates spoor, for hunters with two to potentially pursue. Track makers at rest in a tree.

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones, of

"I had an inheritance from my father, It was the moon and the sun. And though I roam all over the world, The spending of it's never done. " --- Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1940.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS!!!

Fathers, grandfathers, and father figures serve pivotal roles, provide much inspiration and impart extensive knowledge to all of us in the varying stages of our development as hunters passionate about our experiences afield. Whether you're by their side today, making memories with them firsthand, or distantly reminiscing about such treasured times together, may you take time to reflect, either in the light of day or by the light of the moon, on all that these influential men mean to you.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, on location with APHA Member Johan Calitz, in Botswana's Okavango Delta

Ranging from temporary, on the fly, to seasonally permanent, or even fully established lodges, hunting camps are not mere housing in the field. Instead, they are cherished settings for making memories, creating stories, and establishing friendships, sometimes spanning decades or generations. No matter the length of their physical presence, however, they are permanent fixtures in the hearts and souls of the hunters who have resided there.

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones of

A multi-tasking buffalo -- utilizing, wearing, creating, and serving as habitat. Life supporting other lives, on many levels, and just one of countless examples on lands utilized for hunting.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, on location in Botswana with APHA Member Johan Calitz.

🇧🇼

"One bull raised his head, elevated his trunk, and moved to face us. His gargantuan ears began to spread as if to capture even the sound of our heartbeats." -- Beryl Markham, West with the Night, 1942

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones of

Safari hunting requires maintaining a diversity of habitats to sustain game populations. But those habitats also support a diversity of non-game species. The birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees, and everything above, beneath and in between. Biodiversity!!!

May 22 is designated by the United Nations as International Biodiversity Day. This year's theme is - Be A Part of the Plan. Responsible professional hunters, outfitters and their clients, all whose activities require maintaining and funding wildlands, and utilizing them in only sustainable ways, have always been a part of the plan. May that forever be so!

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones of

The United Nations officially designates 20 May annually as World Bee Day. A time to raise awareness about these critical invertebrates, upon which nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend upon entirely or in part for their pollination.

So why the photo of a chopped down tree? Because honey poaching is a major conservation challenge that many of our APHA members, particularly those operating in miombo forests, continuously combat on their concessions. Trees illegally cut down and laid to waste by poachers who typically only gain a few liters of honey maximally from this very destructive practice. All while the forest loses, as the bee colonies nesting in these destroyed tree cavities usually perish, biodiversity decreases, soil erosion can ensue, soil temperatures can rise, and many other ecosystem effects may follow. An additional tragedy is that these trees are often mature ones who are slow growers, thus such poaching has long-term as well as immediate effects.

The United Nations website offers suggestions for how can we help bees. One is to help sustaining forest ecosystems. Absolutely! One way that can be done is to ensure that the conservation through hunting model via sustainable use and rigorous anti-poaching efforts remains a viable tool in the conservation toolbox.

🐝

The third Friday in May is recognized as Endangered Species Day, and this year its theme is "Celebrate Saving Species ".

A salute, therefore, is in order to our APHA members who engage in essential African rhino conservation efforts by maintaining their privately-owned rhinos, both the white (pictured here) and black species. And/or by supporting those landowners who do.

A 2022 scientific paper by 't Sas-Rolfes et al, published in the journal Conservation Letters states that case studies of African rhinos, "suggest that appropriately managed and regulated legal hunting (with trophy exports) can reinforce (rather than compromise) species and habitat conservation". It further states that the removal of a small number of specific males can enhance population demographics and genetic diversity, encourage range expansions, and direct the flow of socioeconomic benefits to locally relevant levels, thereby providing a source of finances necessary for rhino security and positive incentives for communities and private landowners to support more conservation efforts in general.

The current IUCN status of the black rhino is Critically Endangered. The white rhino, as a species is listed as Near Threatened. The northern subspecies of the white rhino, however, became extinct in the wild in 2018, in Kenya, a country that banned safari hunting in 1977.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, on location in Namibia, with APHA members Gysbert and Danene Van der Westhuyzen, of

Lands designated for hunting are critical providers of habitat. And an essential conservation consideration is that habitat is often a complex mixture of components and types, even when considering that required for even just one species.

The greater kudu is a good example, as males and females may prefer different habitat types on a seasonal basis, due to forage availability, predation risk levels, or other factors. Providing this diversity also provides collaterally for general biodiversity by meeting the needs of many other species.

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones, of

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! To all our APHA members and page followers who are mothers or serve as mother figures to others -- enjoy your special day and every day! Here's wishing you a wonderful day outdoors, sharing your appreciation for and knowledge of nature with those whom you love and inspire.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, on location in Botswana with APHA Member Johan Calitz

The sun's passage overhead marks two notable events each day on every hunt. Sunrise begins a new day afield, full of promise and anticipation of what the day might bring, an eagerness to experience what might await with every new step traveled. Sunset begins an earnest time of reflection, recapping the indelible memories made that day, strategizing for the next day's hunt, and savoring the camaraderie of the entire hunting experience, fully present in the here and now, on safari.

Photo Credit: APHA President Paul Stones,

🌅

A claim that is sometimes made is that a common goal shared by both hunters and anti-hunters is that we both want more wildlife. But that shouldn't universally be true.

What we should all agree on is that we want to sustain healthy wildlife populations, in accordance with the habitat resources we have available for them. In which case, less wildlife of some species can result in so much more of others. Yet still be robust and biodiverse.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice, photographed in Botswana, on location with APHA Member Johan Calitz.

Discussions about the impacts and conservation benefits of safari hunting often focus solely on the effects on the hunted species themselves. But other species, particularly scavengers and predators, can be affected collaterally.

A 2015 paper published by researchers Cozzi et al. in the journal PLOS One investigated this important topic. They found that the remains of legally hunted elephants (an average of only 7 individuals per year) in one area of Botswana's Okavango Delta provided 30 - 36 extra days of feeding to three spotted hyena clans per year, from the years 2008 - 2010. That equated to 8 - 10% of the annual budgetary food intake of these hyenas. Important to consider, as decreased food availability can increase hyenas hunting other prey species and increase indirect competition with other carnivores.

Points to ponder in honor of International Hyena Day, this April 27th, which strives to raise more awareness about these incredible animals, ones who are sustainably hunted legally, but also benefit from the sustainable hunting of other species.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice

Here's hoping you're on track for your next safari! If not, make a plan and don't delay! Contact an APHA member today.......no time like the present to make memories afield that can be savored in the future.

Our previous post, in honor of International Bat Appreciation Day, featured an insect-eating bat. The other major group of bats, however, are frugivores, feasting on fruits, seeds and pollen. Like this one, the African fruit bat, a highly social species that often lives in huge groups. They are important pollinators of forest flowers, and are excellent seed dispersal agents, particularly for the increasingly rare and economically significant African teak tree. A significant threat to them is their illegal killing for the bushmeat trade - a danger that anti-poaching teams in hunting areas can help protect them from.

This lovely sketch not only can help raise more awareness about bats, but also about how many professional hunters, their spouses, and other family members are both keen, knowledgeable naturalists and talented artists, showcasing the natural worlds they are passionate about and immersed in on a regular basis. Many thanks to Birgit Hendry, for graciously sharing this wonderful sketch with us. She has recently finished a guide book, that both her and her husband APHA member Wayne Hendry have illustrated. Great news Birgit and ! We look forward to seeing and using your completed work!

Sketch Credit: Birgit Hendry

How many of you have encountered bats whilst on your hunting safaris? Maybe you've seen them on their own hunting forays as you drive to and from camp at dusk and dawn, or swooping and circling in and out of the faint light from your campfire? Or even zipping through the mess tent in the evening, hunting insects attracted to the lights?

Like any other creature, they require adequate habitat. Lands designated for safari hunting can and do provide that, particularly by keeping forests intact and protecting critical water sources.

Therefore, in honor of International Bat Appreciation Day, observed every year on 17 April, our next few posts will feature some points to ponder about bats.

One very interesting group of them is the Family Rhinolophidae, commonly known as the horseshoe bats. So named for their unusual noseleaf expansion that is horseshoe-shaped. Currently, 33 species are recognized in Sub-Saharan Africa, but more likely await discovery and description as many areas in Africa have not been surveyed for bats yet. Nine new species were identified in just the past twenty years alone.

In light of many people being concerned about maintaining biodiversity, this is an important consideration. We honestly don't fully know what all exists in the vast tracts of wildlands designated for hunting. Any actions jeopardizing this habitat by insisting hunting stop,and land likely be converted to uses less compatible with wildlife, are therefore unacceptable risks for those truly concerned about conservation - of all creatures great and small.

Photo Credit: APHA Member Mark DeWet, of , in South Africa.

🦇

Hunting areas protect not just leopards of the mammalian kind, but those of the reptilian as well, like this leopard tortoise, a signature animal of the savanna. Habitat loss, primarily due to converting wildlands to agriculture, is the primary threat to its existence. A common theme in conservation challenges.

These tortoises are thought to be capable of possibly living 80 to 100 years, thus making long-term protection of their habitats essential. Here's hoping you might get to see one on your next hunting safari! And generations of hunters thereafter may get to as well.

Being a responsible hunter, whether at the professional or recreational level, requires intimate familiarity with the capabilities and limitations of both your weapon of choice and your personal abilities. Dedicated practice and diligent reaffirmation of accuracy is essential.

Photo Details: By Hank’s Voice, at Aru Safaris, Namibia

Many professional hunters enjoy photography as well as hunting. And both hunting safaris and photo safaris can and do contribute to conservation, on adjacent and sometimes even the same properties. Conservation challenges in Africa require utilizing as many models and tools as possible to ensure nature's future. Biodiversity cannot be maintained effectively by a monoculture of human preferences.

Photo Credit: APHA Member Daniel Moore, of Zimbabwe.
Photo Location: Maasailand, Tanzania

No doubt one of the most readily recognized birds encountered on any hunting safari, whether seen fully, only in feathers found, or just heard. The helmeted guineafowl. A natural and very effective alarm system for many other animals when it sounds its characteristic alarm call.

Photo Credit: Hank's Voice