Gaining a Professional Hunter license

[Ivan Carter]

redriverjake ...

many african countries do not care where you are from , they care more if you have the money to pay the licence !!
tanzania -
if you can get an outfitter to register you , study some and pass the exams that are held at the start of each year in dar es salaam , is an easy country to get into , as soon as you pass the exams , the outfitter takes your Ph licence and with that applies for a work permit

mozambique
you need a Ph licence from somewhere else , two passport photos , letters of recommendation, an outfitter to sponsor you and us$100

cameroon
an outfitter pays for a work permit on entry- yup thats it

CAR
see cameroon

BOTSWANA
open a shelf company (us$100)
with that company build a business plan based on tourism ,
submit said plan with police clearance certificate , health certificate , character refernce letters any other ph or guiding licences to immigration -its a tough and extensive process ... if the approve you they will give you a letter saying that pending the passing of the ph exam you get a residence permit-
when they advertise the ph exam that they do in local newspapers you apply and hope to be invited , when that happens , go to the exams that are surprisingly comprehensive and when you pass you get a work permit and the licence

ethiopia
see cameroon

uganda
they are just starting to think about exams there but i believe at present its pretty easy to get in

namibia
very tough , need a residence permit forst thats a tough one and then can do licence

south africa - same as namibia

zimbabwe - you have to be a citizen

hope that this helps ,

good luck there are many many options out there , dont give up at least have fun trying , if you are tenacious you have a wonderful lifetime of adventure ahead of you ..

GOOD LUCK

 

[longbowofMT]

This is very helpful advice Mr. Carter. Thanks for your imput

 

[shakari]

I hope my friend Ivan won't mind my correcting him on the Tanzania process.

Unless it's been changed in recent years, they also require a PH licence from another African country plus (IIRC) at least 3 written references from overseas clients who you have hunted DG with & photographic proof of such plus 3 written references from other PHs who are TZ licenced.

That aside: One also REALLY NEEDS to know what one is doing because PHing in TZ is very unforgiving not only because of the amount of DG in the areas but also because of the sex/age/weight requirements etc.

Oh & as part of the exam, one also has to sit an oral exam/interview where they give you the 3rd degree on TZ game laws etc.

 

[redriverjake]

Gentlemen, thank you for the input and information. I very much so look forward to more. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to reply, I have been "out of pocket" for quite some time now. That being said, I'm 43 days away from being done with my military service and should be regularly available. It seems to me that in any case a man will need a starting point, a chance to gain experience. I feel as though time has been slipping away and I have not gained much ground. I have written some emails to a handful of Pros and had only a couple of replys with none being any sort of invitation or even very positive. I'm really curious as to what a professional is looking for in an apprintice? This is something I take very serious and would certinaly would not want to cut any corners. Any further advice or information would be and is greatly appreciated. Feel more than free to ask me any questions you might have.

Regards,
Jake

 

[shakari]

Jake

It's the same as any other employer in many ways where every one of them is looking for something different but knowledge, attitude and ability obviously go a long way.

My book mentioned above will give you a lot of the knowledge and some of the ability but the rest is up to you. Don't expect it to be easy work though. It's hard work and long hours but it is also a whole lot of fun.

Funnily enough I had an email just recently from an American in a similar position (not ex-services though) to you who bought my book and took it from there. He went to the Reno convention and spent his time asking the exhibitors for work. In the last hour of the last day of the show he got the job offer he was looking for and he's now recently started work in Africa.

 

[redriverjake]

Shakari, that's a great story and an inspiration. I will make sure to order a copy of your book. I'll keep in touch and let you know how it plays out. I certainly won't be throwing in the towel, to tell you the truth I don't know how. Hard work and long hours are an every day thing, I would much rather be there working long and hard as opposed to not. I no longer have the fieonce and are as free as a bird in the sky. This is the one thing in my life I've got to do, everything else is take it or leave it. Thanks again.

 

[longbowofMT]

Jake, I have encountered the same thing with some Pros not being supportive, but keep your head up and you'll get there. Shakari's book has been a blessing and a must have for someone working towards becoming a PH.

 

[shakari]

I can never understand why so many PHs nowadays are unwilling to give the new wannabee guys a leg up by way of advice and opportunity and it never used to be like that....... At the risk of sounding like an old fart, when I was trying to get into the industry 30 odd years ago, I was usually (admittedly not always) given help and support from those I sought help from........ They did usually make me work my arse off for it though! LOL!

The good news is there are a reasonable number of guys who have bought my book and used the knowledge therein to work towards and/or gain their first licences.

I'm meeting up with 3 Portuguese guys next week who have become my friends since I moved here 18 months ago and 2 of them will be starting their first year working as qualified PHs later this year.

 

[DOC-404]

I can never understand why so many PHs nowadays are unwilling to give the new wannabee guys a leg up by way of advice and opportunity and it never used to be like that...

..the old pro's were (some still are) just in a different class, Steve. The reason that I would always be willing to help a youngster was because I could never forget the good men that went out of their way to help me. Sadly, it's not really the same anymore. There are some damn good young pro's around, but I miss the old camaraderie..

 

[shakari]

Doc,

I guess everything changes with time but I miss the old days and the old attitudes...... That said, I get a helluva kick every time I hear from someone who has bought my book and put it good use and got good results.

 

[DOC-404]

I get a helluva kick every time I hear from someone who has bought my book and put it good use and got good results.

..now now, old chap, everybody knows how you got me all whiskey'd up by the fire under the big tree and used all my tricks in your book.. :biggrin2:

 

[shakari]

..now now, old chap, everybody knows how you got me all whiskey'd up by the fire under the big tree and used all my tricks in your book.. :biggrin2:

LOL!

 

[shakari]

Gents,

I got my dates slightly wrong and the young man I mentioned is due to leave the US for Africa next week.

You might be interested to know he's set up a website at Jonny Africa | The Journey of a Lifetime where you can keep track of his experiences and comment on his images.

I've also directed him to this thread so if he has time, I'm sure he'll sign up and add his own comments.

He seems to be a fine young man with a GREAT attitude to life and I wish him luck.

 

[Odinsraven]

re can you help

Jake, Here are some options for information for you.
Also, search PH info on AH.

Professional Hunting Schools

PH Schools

http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-africa/6141-newest-canadian-ph-south-africa.html

Hi Brickburn you said you did a PH course - I have perhaps six weeks free in Oct/Nov and it would be a blast to so the course -------- I remember you said something about doing it- I would appreciate any contacts you may have etc and any advice

Stephen

 

[Bobpuckett]

Hi Odinsraven
I'm not wayne but I think it works the same way for folks from Iceland as it does for folks from the USA you have to be a resident of South Africa or live there under a work visa even if only long enough to get the course done. If you like send me a PM with your email and I will try and get you the contact info for the gentlemen that gives the course on the Eastern Cape. Bob

 

[shakari]

It's all detailed in my book but you can do the 14 day course on a tourist visa.

However, unless you're a permanent resident of RSA and hold a SA ID card, you cannot sit the legal exam (more precisely, you can sit the exam but it cannot be officially marked) and therefore cannot be given a PH licence.

As for best courses: I'd recommend Ian Goss in KZN who can be contacted at iangoss@telkomsa.net or Dave Sutherland at www.huntingacademy.co.za

Be warned though...... the course is immense fun but it's also an immense amount of hard work and learning so don't think it'll be a walk in the park because it's not.

 

[Bobpuckett]

It's all detailed in my book but you can do the 14 day course on a tourist visa.

However, unless you're a permanent resident of RSA and hold a SA ID card, you cannot sit the legal exam (more precisely, you can sit the exam but it cannot be officially marked) and therefore cannot be given a PH licence.

As for best courses: I'd recommend Ian Goss in KZN who can be contacted at iangoss@telkomsa.net or Dave Sutherland at www.huntingacademy.co.za

Be warned though...... the course is immense fun but it's also an immense amount of hard work and learning so don't think it'll be a walk in the park because it's not.

Thanks Shakari Thats what I had heard before about the exam as to the reason I ask while I was there a couple of weeks ago,and was told by the gentlemen giving the course at the time that it could be done on a work visa and that a lot of American come over to do it, but I have to admit I didn't go in to the details about the exam or marking it. But maybe someone can tell me if the work visa vs the tourist visa requires a SA ID.

 

[shakari]

Bob

Africa being Africa there's always a degree of grey between the black and the white and this has never been questioned, let alone proved in court and I have to say, I think it should be...... but FWIW, the South Africans apply the Aliens Act of 1937 to prevent non residents getting their PH licence and the generally accepted rule is that if and onlly if you have permanent residency including a SA ID number then your legal paper can be marked and therefore you can be awarded a PH licence but if you don't then you can't.

The rule about work permits (as opposed to residency) is to allow someone who does have SA residency to gain the licence but then leave RSA and take up residence elsewhere (consequently losing RA residency in the process of time) but can still work as a PH on a work permit.

If you have never held SA residency but do have a work permit, that Aliens Act will or at least, should prevent you from sitting the exam.

I'd love to see this challenged in court because I reckon it's BS and contrary to the RSA constitution but of course, one needs an awful lot of money and patience if one is to sue any Government in their own country.

All that said, as my book explains, there are easier ways to work as a PH but nevertheless the SA PH training course is a VERY good starting point and even if one doesn't want to work as a PH but does simply want to gain insight and experience, the course is a fantastic way to achieve that.

If anyone os thinking they can just get RSA residency to get over the problem....... it ain't as easy as that because the SA Govt doesn't want white immigrants and they make it VERY difficult indeed for any white to get resident....... If you're black however, all you have to do is walk across a border, go into any home affairs office and tell them you're an illegal immigrant and they give you PR straight away and without any proof or checks as to education, money or criminal record.

But that's Africa for you........

 

[Bobpuckett]

That grey area is everywhere, and they don't have to worry about me my friend and PH Rusty jokenly said that I should become a PH and I told him at age 58 I'd just as soon pay him to do the work and I'll just have the fun.

 

[shakari]

We're of a similar age then...... but even at 58, the course is well worth doing just to improve hunting skills and knowledge of how the African hunting industry works...... I'd honestly recommend it to any hunter no matter what their age.