Is 'Big Five' game hunting in Africa beneficial to the African community or that of the hunter?

Question

Hi, I have long been interested in Africa having Rhodesian roots and read about the 'Big Five' hunting whenever I can. Whether or not I am pro-or-anti hunting is irrelevant.

I know that hunting some animals is beneficial to the local environment and may benefit the hunter's own community (if they're from foreign fields) in terms of research and education. But what about hunting the Big Five?

Any educated answers are welcome but please don't use this to rant about your own views surrounding the ethics of hunting in general. I am interested specifically in the results of hunting the Big Five. Incidentally, how easy is it for an American or European to go and hunt the 5 these days?

Also, as an aside, is it possible to get hunting rifles these days that have wooden flanks covering the whole barrel, as with the M1 and .303 infantry rifles of ww2? Can you provide a link or name, and what are the pro's/ con's of this design in terms of hunting, if still used?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I also have some connections to Rhodesia and often think that I'd like to go to Africa for a hunt but I think that time has passed. My Godfather served as a volunteer in army in the late 70s and I have his memorabilia including his flight uniform, medals and a number of photos. In one series of photos, he and his mates were hunting herding animals and rhino with Enfield No. 4 .303 caliber rifles, even as they carried their FN/FALs on their shoulders.

Alas, the days of the great African Big 5 safaris have passed and no amount of eco-tourism or controlled Big 5 or herding game hunts will stem the direction that most of the countries in Africa are headed.

While some of the sub-Saharan countries have made noble efforts to protect their animal populations and developed a good eco-tourism and hunting safari industry, the reality is that human conditions have dropped to the level of barely surviving.

In such conditions and with the breakdown of organized governments policing hunts, most of the Big 5 game and animals like the ape face certain extinction. Even the more stable governments lately have been falling apart.

If I recall, the current life expectancy in Zimbabwe is like 35 years old and the percentage of the population with AIDS is one third or higher. Inter-Tribal warfare and Islamic Jihad ravage much of the continent.

Under such conditions, the hunting that is going on is neither legal or controlled and with the right amount of cash you can find someone to take you to hunt anything endangered or not. I hear that a growing number of these foreign illegal hunters are coming from Asian countries, but still quite a few from Europe and America.

To your aside, the reason that military rifles had full wood stocks and handguards was to protect the soldier's hands and to make the rifle into a more usable clubbing weapon.

A sporting rifle will have a few rounds put through it to calibrate the sights, then out in the field a few rounds at most.

A military bolt action rifle of the 20th century could in combat have dozens or even hundreds of rounds to be fired per hour and the barrel will get hot enough to burn the skin off a hand that inadvertantly grabed it. This is why the wood covering the barrel is called the handguard and stocks extended to near the muzzle. When the time came to crawl up out of your trench or foxhole and charge the enemy's position, you wouldn't want a bunch of your soldiers badly burning their hands. The extra hold that the stock provided facilitated bashing in the skulls of the wounded enemy soldiers when you got to their overun position.

Sporting rifles that carry full length stocks today are getting very rare, althouth they are still popular in Europe to some degree. They are commonly called "Mannlicher" style stocks after the noted Austrian gun designer of the late 1800s. Note that Mannlicher is still a company in existance and not all Mannlichers have full length stocks.

Ruger is the only American company I believe that still makes a Mannlicher-style stock, although called the "International". Mannlicher makes some too, in conjunction with Steyr or Shoenauer, two other Austrian gun makers they are in partnership with.

Answer 2

The type of stock you are talking about is called "manlicher" although I always mispell that name!! It came about from a european noble who loved to hunt, he always used his rifle as a walking stick or cane as he moved thru the field ( definitley not a good idea by the way) and as a result, he had the stock lengthened so that he could hold it better while walking. It has no effect on accuracy etc as long as it is fitted properly and doesn't put pressure on the barrel.
On Africa, modern hunting is very much a good thing for the locals and the animals. In years past, animals were not only hunted by sportsman for pleasure. Locals poached the animals and sold the ivory, horns, hides etc to collectors and artists around the world. This led to the near extinction of many animals, including "the big 5". Nowadays, the natives have been shown that managing the herds and selling hunting permits brings in more, and a steadier income than poaching. Also, the meat from most animals harvested is shared with the locals, thusly becoming an important part of their lives. Using the locals as trackers and porters etc also brings an income to the locals.In addition, the hunts are closely monitored as to which animals can be taken, which area they can be taken from, which size or sex of animal can be taken as well. This means that herd sizes have increased dramaticly, as has the over all health of the herds. Also, animals such as the white Rhino, still being in lower numbers, are not allowed to be hunted until such time as their numbers increase to a healthy level. Those wishing to hunt Rhino, are allowed to use a "tranquilizer" gun to take the animal, then it is studied, blood is drawn, it is measured, dna is taken, a "chip" is implanted in it's horn for tracking purposes, the animal receives any needed medicines, the animal is then revived and returns to the wild. The hunter gets his picture, scientists get their data, and best of all, the animal goes free.
As for how easy it is to get to hunt africa, it is very simple, you need a valid passport, you need to hire a "PH" (professional hunter/guide) you need to pay for any required permits etc for the area you hunt, you agree to abide by the rules and the PH is responsible to make sure you have a good hunt and take only the correct animals.
Hope this helped.

Answer 3

Hunting big game in Africa is actually a symbiotic relationship whether hunting the Big Five or any of the African game. The hunter derrives thet pleasure of the hunt while Africa is able to manage the various herds. In addition to the game management, it also provides a source of income for the varoius countires and tribes. In some instances there is the added advantage of removing rogue animals that are harming the environment such as the damage done by elephants or the danger of a man eating big cat.

I have never hunted Africa and have no interest is doing so. It is quite expensive and too rich for my blood but I have friends who have gone and thoroughly enjoyed their hunt. They told me that the hunt is very regulated and the areas where they can hunt as well as the animals thay can take are strictly controlled. You are required to have a professional hunter with you and he ius charged with seeing that you adhere to the rules.

It is not particularly difficult to get the necessary permits and licenses nor is it difficult to book a hunt with a professional hunter. Many of the larger sporting goods stores will do this for you or you can find them listed in many of the hunting magazines. As I see it, the major problem lies in the political instability of the varous regions. Political rebels and criminals can make travel in those areas pretty dicy.

As for the full length stocks that you are interedsted in, there are several manufacturers who offer such configurations on their sporting rifles. If you are interested in military rifles (you mentioned the M-1 in particular), they are available through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Pick up any copy of one of the publications of the NRA and you will find advertisements for membership in and the purchase of military rifles from the CMP.

My personal feelings on any wooden stock is that they are not appropriate for a real "working" gun. Wooden stocks, whether full or not are subject to the effects of moisture. As the wood swells and shrinks, however small, it effects the point of aim. My preference is the comnposite or synthetic stock. My second preference is the laminated stock. Neither is particularly asthetically pleasing but are immune to the effects of moisture and humidity.

Hope this has been a help to you.

Answer 4

I'm not an expert on African hunting so I only know what I've seen and heard in hunting publications and news stories. I know that there are some areas that allow hunting for elephant. Studies in these areas have shown that the animals are doing better in areas where hunter money helps offset the damage that these huge animals do the crops and properties of the local people. In unhunted areas, the elephants are more likely to be killed as "problem animals" or outright poached for their ivory. The local people also benefit from these hunts in that they usually keep most, if not all, of the meat from the animals harvested by hunters. So far as i know it is extremely difficult to find any hunting for Rhino as they are far too endangered. As for the big cats...I have heard of some places allowing hunting for lion but am not sure about the leopard. The last of the big 5, the cape buffalo is hunted in many areas and would be the easiest of the big 5 to be allowed to hunt for. Keep in mind, if you are a U.S. hunter you are not allowed to import any part of any "endangered" animal into the U.S. Of the African big 5 I believe the only one not on these lists is the buff. Would be willing to pay the exorbitant prices to hunt for animals knowing that you will never be allowed to bring any part of that animal (trophy, meat etc.) home with you.

Answer 5

Its beneficial to Africa to hunt there. Originally white hunters shot a lot of the big five to pieces(with the exception of buffalo)and did a lot of damage, but in the early/middle 20th century un-restricted hunting was largely banned.

The animals came back but the new problem after the 1950's was over populated starving africans poaching them. They did even more damage than the white hunters of old(and still do)

The countries governments were too poor or too busy at war to care.

In the 60's large western companies moved in and said "let us shoot a few of them a year, and we will save the rest from poachers""You will get a cut of the massive trophy fees we will charge, and get to keep most your animals for tourism and prosperity"

And that is how it works. The safari companies want to sustain the business so they employ zoologists and wardens to pick a certain amount that can be killed each year.

In a lot of cases these animals are 'excess' to sustainability- rogue, crowded too close too people, eating vital crops for humans, or old and sterile and preventing new males from breeding with the females, so biologists have to cull them anyway.

A group of elephants can wipe out a villages years worth of food in a single night. As bad as it sounds, that's the reality of africa. Its people or animals.

And the best way to move 500 ton of elephants(safely) is kill a couple and make an example.

If the game wardens are going to do this anyway better to charge some white guy $20,000 and give some of that back to the game department to fight poachers, rather than have some scientist shoot it for no return at all.

A lot of countries who did not embrace the safari companies lost most of their game to poachers, and it is now too late to save them.

As to how easy it is to hunt there very easy. There are dozens of safari companies who take guided hunts, for pretty much any experience level.

It's no longer the premise of the rich white hunter, however be prepared to spend at least $10,000-$50,000.

Answer 6

The first thing you need is... More money! Seriously, it is an expensive venture. As for the rifle, get one custom made to suit your needs. I believe you are asking about Mannlicher type stocks. Be sure of the caliber as well. I believe that the minimum dangerous game round in Africa is still the old .375 Holland & Holland round. This one's got a bit of a kick to it; somewhere in the 36 to 50 pounds range depending on the bullet weight so be advised.

Good luck.

H

Answer 7

I guess the folks you need to talk to are the people who you will pay to get you out to hunt the big 5.... Are you out to kill then?
You may get a better chance of photographing the big 5. You can book tour guides who will take you "bush" to do that. I really don't know if they allow just anyone to go and kill things thees days, just for the hell of it, leagally that is. I'm sure you can hunt and kill just about anything you want to in the greedy climet we humans have created... although I do know you can shoot dear in Scotland for hung amounts of cash