Hunting season opens

The ministry of environment, forestry and tourism has announced the opening of the hunting season.

Huntable game species can be hunted over the period from 1 May to 31 August in the case of commercial farms of not less than 1 000 hectares and which are enclosed with registered game-proof fences and on registered conservancies where quotas have been approved for huntable game species.

Also, huntable game species can be hunted from 1 June to 31 July in the case of commercial farms not less than 1 000 hectares in size and which are enclosed with an adequate fence (normal livestock fence).

A singer hunter may hunt the following: Three large game animals, or two large game and four small game animals, or one large game and eight small game animals, or 12 small game animals.

Large game species consist of kudu and/or oryx and small game species consist of springbok and/or warthog.

No person shall hunt more than one kudu during the hunting season.

Prior permission from the agriculture, water and land reform ministry's directorate of veterinary services (DVS) is required to transport warthog or part of warthog from the land where it was obtained, and for any game meat or product of game meat or game birds or products of game birds to be exported from Namibia.

DVS does not allow game meat to be transported from north of the veterinary cordon fence.



Firearms

Meanwhile, the Namibian Police will not allow the import of any automatic firearm or any handgun by visiting hunters, and such firearm may not be used for hunting.

The importation of hunting rifles for the hunting of huntable game and shotguns for the hunting of huntable game birds will only be allowed on the presentation by the hunter of a letter of invitation from the farm owner, lessee or conservancy committee where the hunt will take place. It is the responsibility of the relevant owner, lessee or committee to fax or mail an invitation letter to the hunter.

Hunting permits will only be issued to farm owners or lessees, or in the case of registered conservancies, to the conservancy committees. A fee of N$100 shall apply for each permit.

Hunting permits cannot be used to take horns (trophies) out of Namibia. No such export may take place without prior permission from the environment ministry.

Hunting permits will be issued to the farm owner or lessee or registered communal conservancy committee upon submission of a written invitation to the prospective hunter. The farm owner, lessee or committee must provide the white copy of the permit to the hunter and report back to permit office by returning the blue copy with the required information filled in. The white copy of the permit is required for the transport and export of any game meat resulting from such hunting and should remain in the possession of the hunter.

Failure by farm owners, lessees or committees to report back is an offence and punishable by law and may lead to the refusal by the environment ministry to issue further permits to the relevant party.

No permit will be directly issued to any hunter. It is the responsibility of the farm owner, lessee or committee to apply for and obtain the permits.

Hunting permits can be obtained during normal office hours at the ministry's regional offices or in Windhoek at the permit office of the directorate of scientific services.

For more information, call 061 284 254, 061 284 282 or 061 284 2518.