Emerging game farmers receive hunting certificates

TWENTY emerging game farmers from the Northern Cape, mostly women, have received their professional hunting certificates from the Northern Cape School of Professional Hunting in Vanderkloof.

The hunting course was part of the Department of Environment and Nature Conservation’s transformation of the hunting industry campaign. Beneficiaries from different Communal Property Associations (CPAs) participated in this week-long course.

The course included handling of trophies, tracking and broader professional hunting education.

The course was approved in 2016 with basic skills training at the heart of the project.

Department spokesperson, Lesego Pule, said yesterday that the department’s plan was not only to assist in terms of game donations for approved beneficiaries but also to support them with skills training.

“We believe training goes hand in hand with transforming the hunting industry,” he said.

While addressing recipients, MEC Tiny Chotelo likened donating game to beneficiaries without skills training and mentorship, to asking someone who has never been in an airplane to fly a jet – “it will crash before it even takes off,” she warned.

“The course is aimed at exposing the beneficiaries to basic skills needed in terms of game farming so that they can build up their skills profile in managing game farms.”

An emerging game farm management course has also been developed and funding is being sought to take the beneficiaries to the next level.