Although it is essential to prevent the killing of animals left, right, and centre, hunting as a sport should not be condemned because some animals are cute and cuddly. The bambi effect is a term used by hunters to refer to people who irrationally object to the killing of certain animals because they are so loveable including rabbits and duikers etc. The environment is fragile and in many cases such objections will promote an imbalance in nature. To ensure that the habitat in a specific area stays in balance it may from time to time be a requirement to kill animals even though they are cute. Through normal sport hunting it is possible to regulate the killing of animals and do so to ensure a balance in nature.

One of the most known clubs for hunting safaris worldwide is known as the Safari Club International. Its membership is made up of hunters that follow ethical hunting practices. It is one of the few hunting safari clubs that transcend international borders. As a hunting safari club on international level it hosts annual conventions and speaks out against practices such as the fenced hunting of endangered antelopes from the African continent on USA farms. We recommend that you join the club or similar hunting safari clubs which will give you information about latest hunting practices, regulations, and controversies. Belonging to hunting safari clubs will also give you more exposure to hunting opportunities, excellent rates, and the best methods for hunting specific animals.

Canning is a process whereby the animal is caught or bred and raised as a domestic or caged animal and then is released only a few hours before the hunt begins. Other forms of unethical hunting practices which should be avoided in trophy hunts include for instance, the use of spotlights to blind the animal or to severely affect its night vision and then to shoot it is in the state of blindness or semi-blindness. Using of glue to kill birds and making use of traps to catch the animals also form part of unethical hunting practices. Internet hunting is one of the newest forms of unethical hunting practices. Webcams are used as well as remote controlled guns to locate and then kill animals. Make sure that you only use outfitters and professional hunters such as WTA that will never participate in unethical hunting practices.

With media hype about canned lions it is understandable that people may think that hunting plays no part of conservation. The truth is that ethical hunters will not participate in canned hunting. Conservation hunting is thus possible and plays an important role in the provision of resources for the conservation of wildlife and the environment. With conservation hunting the landowners and managers of conservation areas can manage animal populations. Elephant populations as well as the populations of lions, rhinos, and various antelope species can quickly become too dense for the allocated area. By allowing conservation hunting the animal numbers are kept in check and the competition for water as well as food resources is reduced ensuring a balanced habitat.

Safari comes from a Swahili word that means long trip or journey. In terms of eco-tourism it is used to refer to an overland trip with the purpose of enjoying the outdoor life. When used with hunting it means a long journey of hunting. Instead of just taking the trip for the purpose of game viewing and exploring the bush it has as purpose travelling to and after animals for hunting purposes. The hunters on safari hunting trips are accompanied by licensed outfitters or hunting leaders called professional hunters in short normally referred to as PH. As part of the hunting safari trips you will also have skinners, guides who know the area exceptionally well and porters where luggage carriers are required in difficult terrains.

Hunting is a process whereby living wildlife is pursued to kill for food, trading or for the art of the kill – thus sport. Lawful hunting is the pursuing of animals with the purpose of killing them within the ethical and legal boundaries of a specific area and country. It differs from poaching or trapping an animal. Poaching is unlawful killing of animals for whatever purpose. Trapping an animal cannot be seen as part of hunting and especially not sport hunting where the animal is given a fair chance to survive and where the skill of the hunter is placed against the skill of the animal to survive. Sport hunting includes trophy hunting and is a highly regulated sport. As such sport hunting should not be confused with trapping or canned hunting. Apart from the legal regulations that should be adhered to, there are many ethical codes which should be followed.

Do hunters follow hunting ethics just to be politically correct and is there a politically correct way to chase and kill an animal for the sport? Activists often judge hunters for hunting animals for the sport, but without hunting, will there not be an overpopulation of animals and is it right to condemn hunting when a person wears leather shoes, drives a 4×4 vehicle into wildlife areas where small animals are then bewildered and calls himself an animal activist? True, sport hunting may not be accepted by all groups in modern society, but hunting ethics go a long way in ensuring nature conservation. Southern Africa and areas such as Tanzania are the only regions where wildlife can still be found in abundance, simply because game farmers conserve nature and allow international hunters to hunt on their ground according to the rules of hunting ethics. In countries in Africa where no private landownership exist which promote the conservation of land and animals, most species have disappeared of the map. As such practicing the sport according to rules of hunting ethics as underwritten by hunting associations thus preserve nature and species.

Many debates surround the question of what is ethical hunting since the modern hunter no longer hunts to feed his family, but rather does it as a sport. The rules defining ethical hunting are vague and rather difficult to define. In short ethical hunting at least would allow the animal a sporting chance. This means that the animal must at least have the opportunity to get away. Hunting practices where a caged and tamed animal is released for a few hours and then considered wild enough to hunt, can thus not be part of ethical hunting practices. In essence ethical hunting is more than the actual chase, it is a way of thinking. Ethical hunting therefore will show respect to the hunted, the environment and will involve a love for nature including to conserve and promote the conservation of animals.

Due to a documentary a few years ago which severely damaged the image of hunting as a sport in South Africa, new bowhunting regulations were also introduced in 2007 of which effect would only be from June 2008. For the first time ever specific bowhunting regulations would also apply in South Africa. With the new bowhunting regulations stipulating that hunters may no longer hunt leopards, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and brown hyenas as a few examples using bows, some controversy followed. Hunters felt that since hippo and buffalo may be hunted with bows, that the above animals should not be excluded or that for instance hippos should also be excluded. With bowhunting regulations changing it is important to stay within the legal boundaries of what can be hunted. Ethical hunting practices must be followed at all times.

Christians and Hunting

I always wondered what the Bible says about hunting being a Christian myself and owning a game farm and outfitter company. I also went through a stage were hunting any animal not just for meat was normal and would always find somebody who bought the meat or just give it to the family. The past couple of years hunting were only done for trophy mounts and specific species targeted to learn more about them. The final mount was just an extension to the hunt, but the real trophy will always be in my heart. One of the first things I learned as a hunter is that if you don’t show respect for a animal after you hunted and killed it, then you must rather consider to stop hunting.

From an outfitter and hunters point of view God created animals for our benefit and to rule over them in a respectful manner. The foreign clients are not allowed to take the meat with him, but we found that the real hunters visiting our country always want to eat and sample as much possible of the animals they hunted. We always prepare the fresh meat for them and the rest are used for the camp staff to give them a food source throughout the year. With big hunting groups the extra meat that we can’t utilize gets sold to the local butcher at a price much less than any other meat source like beef, lamb or chicken. We also donate a certain amount for the local community on an organized basis. This in return enables the less fortunate people in Africa to get a protein supplementary at a more affordable price. So, from a Christian point of view the meat are used for the purpose intended, to use it as a food source where needed and the foreign client just collects the bill. From a management point of view the animals hunted by foreign trophy hunters pay the way for other animals to be protected for future generations and to make sure from a conservation point that the numbers work for everybody. This circle is surely what God intended for us to utilize and conserve the animals in a respectful and sustainable manner in modern times where it is not possible for the animals to roam freely everywhere.

The following text from an external writer gives his thoughts on this subject;

Question: “What does the Bible say about Christians hunting animals for sport?”

Answer: The closest reference to sport hunting is Proverbs 12:27, “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession” (NKJV). So whatever view one takes on sport hunting, it is good and right for the hunted animal to be eaten, not just killed for a trophy. The sport hunting was not a common practice in Bible times. The reason for this is the fact that man hunted for food. In order to put food on the table you either had to grow it, hunt it, and in some cases buy or trade for it. Furs were used for clothing or sold in order to purchase things, and in many cases the furs of animals were currency. For early Americans, this was the case. You simply did not sport hunt in those days. It is hard to make a sport out of something you did everyday.

Today is a lot different. Hunting is simply not done as a way of life in western countries, with few exceptions. Markets are readily available and civilized cultures have currency. Sport hunting has evolved simply because man has always hunted, and it is in his nature. Scripture does not indicate either way whether it is ok or not ok to hunt animals for fun or sport, nor does it indicate a principle that would assume it is a sin or ungodly practice. In Genesis we read that animals were created for the benefit of man. Adam was given the pleasure of naming them and they were there for his enjoyment, help, and later on as a source of food.

At the beginning of creation, animals mainly served as helpers and enjoyment and not food because Adam and animals alike were vegetarians (Genesis 1:29-30). Note also that man was to rule over the earth and subdue it. The earth and all that it had were meant to serve the needs of man. It wasn’t until after the fall of man in Genesis 3 did meat becomes a source of food for both animals and man. Since the animals and the plants of the earth were put under the control of man, God gave the responsibility to man to learn and to use them to his pleasure. That is why animals in research are acceptable, because they are meant to be used instead of humans. Animals do not have the same form of eternal soul, and likely do not experience an afterlife. This does not mean that we can be cruel and intend evil towards them. We need to be careful in sport hunting so we don’t make it our consumption or do it illegally.

Sport hunting has it purposes also, although different by far in meaning. Conservationists would all agree that sport hunting is valuable in keeping the population of some animals in check. There is nothing biblically wrong with it; however, it is also an issue that each person must decide for themselves. It is under the liberty of Christians to do it or to not do it. If you do not feel comfortable with it, then search out why that is and abstain from it.

At World to Africa Hunting we started church planting projects in conjunction with Better Life Ministries and will soon offer hunting safaris and photographic safaris through this Ministry. A certain amount of these funds will go towards assisting Assemblies in need throughout Africa to build churches and start job and food creation programs. The meat that stays behind when a foreign hunter leaves will go towards this programs and be utilized for a great purpose.

We believe that no politician or leader can create a Better Life for people in Africa without the Lord playing a part in the process. The hearts of people must be changed in a family structure and the stability and guidance can only be found in the House of the Lord. This will in return ensure that future leaders in Africa grew up in a home with Godly principals and this can play a big part to bringing stability to our beautiful country.

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