Hunting Articles

The London based British rifle manufacturer Holland & Holland launched its .375 Holland & Holland Magnum (also known as the .375 H&H Magnum) calibre in 1912. A number of developments in action, cartridge and rifle design preceded and influenced the design of this cartridge and determined its eventual popularity with hunters.

Die .375 Holland & Holland Magnum (ook bekend as die .375 H&H Mag) kaliber is in 1912 deur die Engelse geweermakers Holland & Holland in Engeland bekendgestel. ʼn Paar ontwikkelinge in aksie, patroon en geweer ontwerp het die ontwerp van hierdie patroon voorafgegaan en beïnvloed en die uiteindelike gewildheid daarvan onder jagters bepaal.

Inleiding: Jag is ʼn ongelooflike voorreg en dit bly ʼn spesiale verantwoordelikheid om ʼn lewende wese se hartklop vir altyd te stop!  ʼn Jagter moet nooit hierdie voorreg as vanselfsprekend aanvaar nie. Die volgende aanhaling uit die Erekode van die SA Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging beklemtoon dit op ʼn besondere wyse:

• “om met deernis te jag en net uit die natuur te neem wat ek kan benut;
• my vuurwapens met kundigheid en oordeel te benut en met eerbied vir die lewe aan te wend”.

Die skiet van kopskote tydens jag, sal altyd ’n kontroversiële onderwerp bly tussen jagters en wildeienaars wat die voor- en nadele daarvan debatteer. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om aan die jagter perspektief te verskaf in verband met die risiko’s van ʼn kopskoot onder jagtoestande. 

Hunting is an incredible privilege and it remain a special responsibility to stop the heart of a living being forever. This privilege should never be taken for granted by hunters and the following excerpt from the Code of Conduct of the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association emphasises this in a very special way:

• “Hunt with compassion and to utilise from nature with utmost discretion;
• Employ my firearms with skill and consideration, and with understanding for the value of life”

 The headshot when hunting will always be a controversial topic when hunters and game owners debate its advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this article is to provide insight regarding the risks of the head shot under hunting conditions.

“Nee Pa, dit is nie hoe jy die vorige keer die storie vertel het nie!” Ek het dié vermaning oor die jare meer as een keer van my twee dogters, Karlie en Anita, gehoor en elke keer kon ek aan die vonkel in my vrou, Henna, se oë sien hoe sy die ritueel van storievertel saam met ons kinders geniet.

“No Dad, that's not how you told the story before!” my two daughters, Karlie and Anita would protest. My wife, Henna, would look on with amusement, enjoying our family's story time rituals.

Die aangename herinneringe van my jagervarings oor die jare heen herinner my aan die rol van jaggidse en spoorsnyers. Ons jag op plase waar die gidse wissel van gewone plaaswerkers wat bloot die rol vervul omdat hy die plaas ken en hoofsaaklik toesien dat die jagter nie verdwaal nie, tot opgeleide gidse.

Die vereistes vir ’n goed opgeleide gids gedurende bv. ʼn Bosveldjag is om met die jagter in Afrikaans of Engels te kan kommunikeer (so jammer dat só baie van ons jagters nie ’n swart taal magtig is nie). Ander kenmerke sluit in goeie algemene kennis van die plantegroei; diere se gewoontes; spore en mis; fyn waarnemingsvermoë; korrekte gebruik van die wind en son; die vermoë om stadig en sag te beweeg; spoorsny en opspoor van die teikenwild; vermoë om die jagter in die mees gunstige posisie te kry vir ’n skoot; spoorsny en die opspoor van gekweste wild; hantering van ’n tweerigting radio; behoorlike en higiëniese slag van diere indien daar nie spesifiek slagters vir die doel op die plaas is nie; en die vermoë om bv. die kopvel of masker van ’n trofeedier volgens die korrekte tegnieke, sonder skade aan die vel, af te slag.

The memories of my hunting trips over the years reminded me of the role that hunting guides or trackers play. We have all visited hunting destinations where the hunting guide could be anyone, even a regular farm labourer that knows the farm well. His main task is to ensure that the hunter does not get lost, and to provide the services of a well-trained guide.

The minimum requirement for a well-trained guide in the Bushveld, for example, is the ability to communicate in English or Afrikaans (what a pity that so few hunters speak an indigenous African language). Other requirements include good general knowledge of the vegetation; animal behaviour; tracks and scat; a keen sense of observation; optimal use of wind and sun; the ability to move slowly and quietly; tracking and locating targeted game; assisting the hunter to get into the most favourable position for the shot; tracking and locating wounded animals; using a two-way radio; proper hygienic carcass processing; and the ability to cape a trophy animal correctly without damaging the skin.

Kevin Costner’s epic movie Dances with wolves showed heart-breaking scenes of hundreds of dead bison on the prairie, slaughtered for their skins and tongues by the American frontiersmen. Later scenes showed the Sioux hunting them and how a young man nearly fell victim to a wounded bison. Lieutenant Dunbar dropped the beast a few feet in front of the young brave and saved him from being gored by the bison.

Game ranchers have a responsibility to ensure that game meat taken, whether hunted carcasses or animals harvested for their meat, from their farms is free of possibly harmful residues and safe for the consumer.