Written by Andre vd Merwe | 10 July 2012

Law relating to Hunting of game, possession and transport of game products

Hunters do it legally, safely and responsibly and ensure that they do not get on the wrong side of the Law!
 
Applicable legislation:
-    Game Theft Act no 105 of 1991
-    Provincial hunting proclamations
Hunters should ensure that they are in possession of the following documentation before they embark on a hunt and they should be able to produce these documents on request when needed.
1.    For the hunting of game, possession and transport of game products on or from an exempted farm for:
1.1    ordinary game, only a written “permission to hunt/transport venison” letter from
 the landowner is required;
            1.2  protected game, a written “permission to hunt/transport venison” letter from the  
                   landowner and a permit from the applicable provincial nature conservation
                   department is required;  
2. For the hunting of game, possession and transport of game products on or from a
     non-exempted farm for:
            2.1 ordinary game, a written “permission to hunt/transport venison” letter from the  
                   landowner and a hunting license from the applicable provincial nature
                   conservation department is required;
            2.2 protected game, a written “permission to hunt/transport venison” letter from
                  the landowner and a permit from the applicable provincial nature conservation
                  department is required;
3. The transport of wild pig products (warthog and bush-pig) has specific restrictions because of the periodic occurrence of Swine Fever:  
             3.1 Wild pig carcasses should at all times be transported without skin, head,
                   hoofs and intestines and it is recommended that all lymph nodes (glands) are
                   removed;
             3.2 Landowners can apply for “pig permit books” and issue these permits to
                   hunters to legalise the transport of wild pig carcasses;
             3.3 If the landowners do not have a “pig permit book” the local State Veterinary
 Surgeon should inspect the wild pig carcass and issue a transport permit, if
 satisfied that the carcass is clean.

Above documentation can be requested by e.g. an official from Nature Conservation, from the SA Police and from Customs and should be shown on request.
 
Butcheries may not receive and process game products without documentary proof that the hunter has acquired these products legally.
 
When firearms are transported and are used for hunting, the owner should at all times have the firearm licenses available to be shown, when requested.