Own Use Hunts - are they possible in countries other than Namibia?

[Longwalker]

I've had the good fortune to be able to hunt in Namibia in 2019 on a communal conservancy. I like their idea of community land management, getting support from local residents and leasing hunting rights to outfitters who then offer trophy hunts to visitors. A very positive success story with many benefits for people and wildlife. I'd like to go back and do that again.

In addition to trophy hunts, I understand that some communities are issued "Own Use" permits to give them a quota of game strictly for the use of local residents. Some of those permits are offered to visiting hunters, who can shoot game for the community to eat, but the hunter cannot keep any part of the animal for themselves. The fees are typically less than normal trophy fees.

I am wondering about possible opportunities to combine a trophy hunt for some species with an "own use" hunt for others. Is this only possible in Namibia? Do any other countries offer something similar?

My main goal is to have interesting hunting and cultural experiences when I travel. I'm not a dedicated trophy collector so hunting for the local community is very attractive to me and the lower fees per animal is nice too.

Namibia is certainly on my "must do again" list, and I have much more to learn and experience there. I'd like to research and explore the possibilities. Buffalo, Elephant, Hippo were all mentioned as possible "Own use" game last time.

For future consideration I am also wondering where else can this be done? Botswana perhaps? Zambia or Zimbabwe? I am aware of the opportunity to hunt tuskless elephant in Zimbabwe, which seems like a somewhat similar situation. South African outfitters offer "cull" hunts. I'm sure other variations on this theme exist that I'm not aware of. Please enlighten me.

 

[Traveler1]

Look into Zimbabwe. A few years ago a friend hunted buffalo on communal land there. But I know the laws there are ever changing. I also I did "own use" hunt in Tanzania for warthog, duiker and suni a number of years ago. Say like 35 years ago, so any info I can provide would be useless. But the Hunt was awesome! Here is short summary. My father and I had several days to kill in Dar es Salaam, so I ask the concierge about going fishing, he suggest a hunt at a local community. He knew we had been hunting, as saw bring our gun case upstairs. He arranged the whole trip and we were offer the next day. He drive me about an hour an half east of the city to small village and a local guide took my on their lands. I had to use I an older side by side, luckily the concierge told me to bring shells. The guide only had a few shells of 9 shot. I ended up taken a warthog and duiker both with 00 buck. It was great hunt and afterwords we went back to the village, cooked the duiker and ate dinner with his family. I left the guide the rest my box of shells an good tip. My dad was a little worried as I was gone way past dark, but took in stride after he saw all the Polaroids.

 

[rinehart0050]

Zim CAMPFIRE areas, animals are used by the community for meat, but you can keep the trophies.

So, similar, but not the same.

 

[Longwalker]

Traveler1, that seems like an awesome experience! I don’t think I’m interested in quite that much freedom to do my own thing though, I am more interested in doing this through an established outfitter/ PH. I don’t mind paying for the professional services and accommodations and transportation, it’s just paying for trophy fees without taking a trophy home seems unnecessary if there is a mutually agreeable alternative that benefits everyone involved.

 

[Traveler1]

I agree... I have or had way to many to mounts. At this point my life I am not interested in taking any trophy(s) home either, except maybe a few pygmy antelope. As for "plains" game you might difficulty in countries were the game is not "owned" by the land owner. In all my years hunting in Africa you paid by species not size of the horns, unlike parts of Europe. Some of game ranches might be your best change to pay less for not bringing home trophies but then you don't the experience your are after. After thought, check into Liberia, Cameron, Burkina Faso and few other west African counties.

 

[Cam Moon]

@Traveler1 I'm curious as to why you had to use the shotgun rather than whatever it was that you brought with you?

He knew we had been hunting, as saw bring our gun case upstairs.

I had to use I an older side by side

 

[Traveler1]

Maybe it was a permitting thing, the closeness of the villages or a gray area of the law. I did not ask to many questions and the hunt was dirt cheap (like $100). I look back on it now, no way in hell would I do that again, times have change. But I really want a eastern suni. I can tell you what the guide was real surprised when I dropped the warthog with the buckshot, you see that they had only hunting with birdshot and snares.