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Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: LEOPARD on May 26, 2008, 05:15:00 AM
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Hi,
I was just wandering the other day how many people have recently (the last 10-20years) bowhunted (walk and stalk) places like the Selous in Tanzania, that are still so close to being wild?
There aren't many places left in Africa where the game is "natural" and "wild", but I believe the Selous is the closest to those two things. There were a few places in Zimbabwe, that I hunted in when I lived there, that were National Parks, but if you were Zimbabwean, you could buy citizen hunt packages and hunt areas like Tuli Circle, the Zambezi Valley, Rifa etc. - which were huge hunting consessions (several 100,000 hectares) and still very "natural" and "wild" game. By now, these wonderful hunting areas have been poached and destroyed to the extent that they are not recognizable!
So.....has anyone here on TG hunted Tanzania walk and stalk recently? Thanks for any input,
Nigel
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Nigel,
I have only hunted Zim and South Africa, but have a number of friends that have hunted the Selous in the past two years. These guys were all rifle hunters mind you. They all said that it is one of the last, vast areas in Africa for a true Safari. That said, Africa is a big place, the Okovongo is on par with the Selous and there are many really wild spots in Cameroun, CAR and the Congo. A friend of mine, born in Zim is conducting foot safari's into the Zambezi valley mainly Chewore concessions. They do it all on foot, eat what they shoot and camp were they get tired. It's not for everyone but it's on my list of things to do. Nick's a big fan of bowhunting and shoots a recurve himself.
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I hunt in Tanzania selous game reserve since 1987 as a guide .
And had only one bowhunter as a client .
And yes it is a pretty wild place yet : no village , no people exept ours campements and an increasing elephant population in our concession which is half of the selous .
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Nigel,
I forgot to mention that Tanzania just recently increased all their trophy fees and the archery trophy fees are now double the rifle trophy fees. Not a favourable move but Tanzania has not been a big supporter of archery at any point.
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Hello Nigel
It is true that the thophy fees have been increased .
But I dont think that they make a difference between a trophy taken by a bow or a rifle ???
Never heard about that !!!! , But i will check this season as i am leaving the 25th of june .
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David, sent you a PM mate.
AK.
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Nigel,
I have been living and hunting in Tanzania for more than 20 years. Actually I am a hunting guide here and I am also a keen bowhunter. "Hunt it" is right in saying that Tanzania is not a big supporter of bow hunters. It is a very frustrating issue here. Even more for me being a resident it is difficult to go bow hunting in this country. It is true that bow hunters are requested to pay double government fees on everything including double trophy fees. Not really a way of promoting bow hunting in this country. We are trying to change this in future. Will take some time.
The Selous Game Reserve is still a place of great wilderness. However, many of the small concessions in the north and north-west are over hunted. In combination with the high costs maybe not the best choice for a good and fair safari.
Anyway, that is my impression of the situation in TZ.
Good luck,
Rainer