What is it like owning a game ranch in South Africa?

[Bsums]

I hate ticks, the only animal that had a noticeable amount of ticks on it was an Eland when I was in Africa. What do you do when you find a blind animal like that on your property, leave them to natural causes or put them down?

 

[TokkieM]

@Bsums ticks are part of hunting the thick coastel bush, hate the little bastards, had to wash in dog shampoo so many times I nearly started licking my own ..... you know what.
As far as the blind animal goes we leave them for the bad shots Just kidding, bushbuck are pretty territorial so I kept an eye out on him, when his condition became worse I shot him, depends on the specie,but in general I shoot them immediatelly. Just wish the jackal and Lynx would go blind

 

[billc]

My eland at loodts was loaded with ticks.They are thick down in the cape area.

Is it only me or did anyone else see that big eland bull in that post bossie did.He looks like a great blue bull.

Like the thread but a game ranch is only a dream for me.

 

[TokkieM]

@billc you have been to Africa too many times Not the longest bull we have taken, but we could not beat him for mass and caracter.

 

[billc]

That is a dream eland bull for sure.Look at that mop on that head and nice thick horns to.

Never thought I myself would take a eland.It was on my sons list after the first trip when he seen how big they are.Now I could see myself taking another if it is the right one.

Great bull and congrats

 

[Bsums]

Eland have really grown on me and now I want to shoot a monster for sure. Ticks are easily the bugs I hate the most, back here in the states on the East coast our ticks carry lyme's so I've got a base layer that consists of socks, pants, and a long sleeve top that are skin tight and expose to keep ticks, etc from bitting you and I use perethrin to help kill and keep them off. In Africa, western US, and during the winter I don't worry much about them. I know a lot of people that have been really messed up by lyme's so I try to be extra careful out East. The ticks that came off the Eland when I was in Africa were huge; like the size of quarters.

 

[enysse]

I love the thread, I grew up on a farm, but wildlife management is my true passion.

 

[Norwegianwoods]

1. What would be the first 5 game species you would stock on the farm?
Kudu, Bushbuck, Impala, Warthog and Eland.

2. Purely rifle, bow only or both? Photographic?
Bow only

3. nice big fancy lodge or rustic safari style tents?
Good kitchen area, the rest would be tents.

4. Steep mountains and deep valleys or long flat open plains?
Steep mountains and deep valleys.

5. Walk and stalk only or a few blinds?
Mostly walk and stalk, some treestands and a few blinds for kids and people that can't walk much.

6. Anything else you would put on YOUR game farm that you would liked to see somewhere else?
Not that I can think of now.

7. Would introduce predators? If so, which species?
NO. The only one I might consider, would be Caracal, but I guess they would manage to get inside the fence anyway.

8. Your wife allowed you to buy this property on one condition? ..............?
That she could hunt it too

 

[shooter]

The comment along with the photo.
"Place was last month sold and get no permits to hunt.......... so it makes a lot of sense to me"

Culling at night, after the property has been sold.
Notice all the females taken in the cull!!!

 

[TokkieM]

@shooter, those are all male Bushbuck,the Bushpigs may be female,but cant say for sure.
I happen to have been in the undesireable position were the government bought a game farm from the owner, the contract stipulated that there should be no game left on the property and that no extra money will be paid for any game. We capptured and relocated as much as we could, but you cannot catch everything. It took weeks of shooting at night (not hunting) to even get close to take all the game off, we left only the indiginous small species. It is not the kind of work you want to do, but it has to be done.
I dont know what the setup with the photo is, but those are pretty nice Bushbuck to just cull at night. Not always easy to judge if we dont know the whole storybehind the photo.

 

[Sable123]

The comment along with the photo.
"Place was last month sold and get no permits to hunt.......... so it makes a lot of sense to me"


View attachment 34712

Senseless and unnecessary!

 

[spike.t]

The comment along with the photo.
"Place was last month sold and get no permits to hunt.......... so it makes a lot of sense to me"

Culling at night, after the property has been sold.
Notice all the females taken in the cull!!!

View attachment 34712

it wasnt make not much understanding to me........please put in england i can understand.......

 

[BRICKBURN]

it wasnt make not much understanding to me........please put in england i can understand.......

That's funny!

 

[Wheels]

it wasnt make not much understanding to me........please put in england i can understand.......

Always wanted to know what "The Kings English" was.

Thanks for putting it so succinctly!

 

[BRICKBURN]

..................
I happen to have been in the undesireable position were the government bought a game farm from the owner, the contract stipulated that there should be no game left on the property and that no extra money will be paid for any game.

Scorched Earth Policy. Bloody sad really.

We capptured and relocated as much as we could, but you cannot catch everything. It took weeks of shooting at night (not hunting) to even get close to take all the game off, we left only the indiginous small species. It is not the kind of work you want to do, but it has to be done. ..........

Sounds like you have been involved in one of these unfortunate situations.
Result of Land claims???

 

[TokkieM]

@BRICKBURN, the SA government would purchase fully functioning game farms and give them to the previous disadvataged. Only when they buy the farmland they want no game on them,nothing. Their objective was somehow to turn it into a crop or lifestock farms,many of these farms were turned into game farms because that was the only way they could be productive, so go figure.

 

[BRICKBURN]

............., so go figure.

I have driven past a few of these "conversions".

Reminded me of this....

 

[JohannS]

Depends on what you do on the farm. We have a farm about 1200hkt and to be simple about it. All costs per month is $300. Only need one worker to make sure water goes to all the water holes and clean the house. Game is wild so no need to take care of them. Leopards do catch about 5 animals a year and poachers another 5 but at the end of the day it is a small percentage. Our hunters know its self serve when you come so they know what to expect. Its very cheap if everything is paid off and you dont take on too much. But as i heard the government doesnt allow non-citizens to buy property anymore.

 

[spike.t]

and poachers another 5 but at the end of the day it is a small percentage. t.

ok $300.00 a month and .....yeah right you loose 5 animals a year to poachers...........................................one of the , no its new years day and i should be polite, but ....just realised dont think you are there most of the time...........

 

[JohannS]

Living in the states now. Only have to pay the worker and diesel for lister engine every month.