South Africa to ban Bowhunting says Govt

[sticks]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060502/ap_on_re_af/south_africa_hunting;
_ylt=Amq6C69IclU7mBR0JcJmkPhvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

if you plan to hunt big game better get it done quick!

[Neil Summers]

There have been many comments, concerns and opinions expressed the past couple of days regarding the situation in South Africa and its new recommendations to amend the hunting laws there, particularly as they relate to bowhunting.  

Today I spoke with Stewart Dorrington, probably the most informed person about this issue and who is also privy to the most current information.  Not only is Stewart a bowhunter and the owner of Melorani Bowhunting Safaris, he is also the president of PHASA (Professional Hunters Association of South Africa) and was appointed to the government’s "Panel of Experts" who drafted the current recommendations.   Today his words to me were, "What many people do not understand about the current situation with bowhunting in South Africa is that it is a prohibited activity which is allowed under special permits. The new proposed language is exactly the same. Bowhunters need not panic, as the new legislation will not likely affect legitimate, permitted facilities to continue bowhunting of plains game. There may be some changes on dangerous game, but it is too early to tell what those changes may be."

Stewart will be returning from a wildlife/hunting meeting in Cyprus to South Africa next week and will update me as details become available.

[Jack Shanks]

Thanks Neil. If anyone should know what is going on about bowhunting in Africa I would expect it to be you.

[tradtusker]

will be interesting to see how this whole thing pans out!

[Frank AK]

Yes our freedom in the USA is second to none.

South Africa even banned Pink Floyds  " Another Brick In The Wall"

Not much we can do to stop them from banning bowhunting.

[Brian Krebs]

I read the article; and it seems like there was only one thing in there that I could really question; and that is if an animal that dies from an archery wound is more likely to suffer than one shot from a rifle wound.
 Having talked with people shot with bows in accidents; a lung or body shot does not cause pain; where a shot to the eye or leg muscle might; and can.
 The animal running off to die; running as it always has to escape death- is that a fate that is cruel? I don't believe so.
 But that aside; if African hunters are just people with a lot of money; that can have someone walk them or drive them to a caged animal; or really do all the hunting; and decisions about the shot; and the tracking and taking care of the game....
 Then your really not bowhunting; your shooting things with a bow; and your going to get exactly what you deserve in this situation.
  Money can buy you a whore; but it can not buy you intimacy.
   Learning the habits of an animal; figuring them out; well to make it short HUNTING the animal- its something that might take a lifetime.
  If you plunk dollars down and toss arrows when your told to by a hunter- your buying a whore.
  If they outlaw it- then shame on you for participating in it; and supporting it.
  I love to bowhunt;  but there are two parts to that word; one is bow- which we all know the challenges and demands of and disipline of: can be replaced with a presighted technological arrow shooting machine.
 And if you call hunting walking behind a hunter and then shooting one of these 'insults to archery bows'; and think you doing anything less than dating a whore- then your money and your pompiety has fed only your ego.
 For the people that I know that are out there really bowhunting- well the logic of letting people get away with this behavior- is starting to sink its teeth into you- and I feel sorry for all of you and for the art of bowhunting.
 This is said in the spirit of what is good for bowhunting. An activity and way of life that includes more than a fat wallet......

[JC]

Apparently these folks have never seen a pack of predators devour an animal while it's still alive. We as humans, have little concept on the cruelty of true wild nature....a sharp arrow would be a blessed messenger.

[Frank AK]

Yet again its another case of.... People who dont know crap about hunting controling hunting.

What has this world come to.....

I woulder if they know what vegitarian means in Indian words.