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AGRED sporting clay pigeon day - 16 May 2009
Come to AGRED’s sporting clay shoot on 16 May - a sporting and social occasion not be missed. Experience Harry Katrakillis’s marvellous range at the scenic Sidiba Lodge in the Suikerbosrand just one hour from Joburg. We have had an excellent response and there are just a few places left. So book now!
The cost is R600 per person and R200 for non-shooting partners and family. Non-AGRED members are very welcome but will pay an extra R100. The cost includes refreshments through the day, a superb catered lunch and wine, whilst a cash bar is available. Clays will be provided. There will be a black powder demonstration including flintlock, muzzle-loaders and breech-loaders by the Black Powder Association.
Invite friends to join you and make up a team of four or five. However, individuals are very welcome, and we will find you a team. This is an excellent way to sharpen up for the main shooting season.
Contact the AGRED office on 017-7780299, agred@netdial.co.za, 083-4452685.
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The AGRED viewpoint on Gamebird species, bags and seasons
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30 May 2007 - Aldo Berruti
Several AGRED and CHASA members have contacted AGRED for an opinion on a recently-published proposal for a standardised list of gamebird species, bags and limits for all South African provinces. The same proposal was tabled at a March meeting of the Wildlife Forum (a meeting of national, provincial and government agencies and the hunting industry). In short, AGRED has substantive differences with the proposal.
Firstly, AGRED believes that consultation is the best way to develop such a proposal, including invitations on input to all major stakeholders (all hunting organisations and all provincial government agencies), rather than the presentation of a final product. Major changes are most easily adopted by inclusive processes, which build support from critical stakeholders.
Secondly, AGRED believes that some species should be removed from the list for two principal reasons. The first is the reality that provinces have the executive authority for gamebird conservation in their regions. Each province has own conservation biodiversity priorities and differences from province to province are inevitable. Some provinces will restrict access to certain species whilst others will not. The second reason is that AGRED believes that gamebird shooting should focus on common species, and management and hunting regulations should ensure that common gamebirds remain so. One should be careful in proposing that restricted-range species should be included as target species. Such species have restricted ranges for biological reasons, and are much more likely to be susceptible to major impacts as a result of additional pressures of hunting. AGRED believes it is critical to remember that the inclusion of restricted-range species, which are also charismatic or attractive birds as gamebirds, will be a gift for anti-hunting activists, who can easily make an emotional case for the lack of ethics amongst hunters wanting to “slaughter” such species.
Thirdly, AGRED believes that a single unified proposal for species, bag limits and seasons cannot be valid biologically in a country as big as South Africa. The rainfall changes from a winter peak in the west to a summer peak over most of the country. Gamebirds breed at differing times of year, and occur at differing densities. In particular, any simplified single system will tend to biologically inappropriate for the Western Cape.
There are current inconsistencies between provinces in terms of species, bags and seasons and adjustments are warranted. Whilst it may be that multiple provincially-based licensing systems are inconvenient, a replacement system based on a unified single proposal using biologically unsound principles will probably create far more problems than it solves, particularly if gamebird shooting wishes to present itself as an ethical and sustainable enterprise.
Following the Wildlife Forum meeting, AGRED began developing a proposal based on the above principles, and as a matter of stark reality, with a provincial basis for implementation. The AGRED proposal will be circulated to members for comment before discussion with other stake-holders, including all CHASA affiliates, other hunting organisations and provincial authorities. |
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Headlines
AGRED has been driving the development of sensible regulations in partnership with SA Wingshooters through the Wingshooting Task team of the Wildlife Forum, which is a meeting of the hunting industry, provincial and national conservation departments. There have been two meetings of the Wingshooting Task team, in 2007 and 2009, aimed at bringing about greater uniformity in “ordinary” gamebirds species, bags and seasons.
This interactive approach will probably require another three years or more, to ensure that all provinces are aware of the arguments and issues. We hope that a common basis for national understanding will promote more robust and uniform provincial regulations. More...
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The potential of gamebird shooting as part of the massive game ranching industry in South Africa is enormous. Game ranches occur throughout South Africa, covering 17 million hectares. If gamebird densities could be increased on game ranches, it would certainly help persuade managers to consider offering high-quality gamebird shoots to adding diversity and value to the usual furred game hunting options.
This article is about managing gamebirds in the bushveld of northern and eastern South Africa. It is based on Mark Berry’s two decades of experience in managing gamebirds on his game ranch, Mmabolela Estates, in north-western Limpopo. More...
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On the Highveld, Swainson’s Francolins are common where there is substantial food (usually maize) and good cover. However, much of the cover vanishes during winter through grazing, fires (planned and runaway), ploughing and through burning or cutting headlands. Unlike the Greywing Partridge, which actually prefers shorter grass, Swainson’s requires relatively heavy cover. And so as winter progresses, the Swainson’s retreat to thickets along drainage lines, road reserves, weedy growth and patches of bush as the cover disappears from large stretches of farms.
This article describes supplemental feeding techniques and whilst this is aimed at Swainson’s on the Highveld, the principle of providing late winter cover and food for terrestrial gamebirds which require relatively heavy cover is probably widely applicable to other francolins, including Cape and Natal Francolin. More...
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Many people know the Cyperus sedge plant eaten by francolins and partridges.
In the Vrede area, we have found that Guineafowl, Swainson’s francolin and even Greywing partridge consume the corms. The Cyperus is source of energy, oils and minerals, and is a vital winter food in this area for these species, and probably for the Orange River Partridge as well.
South African farmers have a different view of the patrysuintjie, which is a competitive weed that is highly resistant to herbicides such as Roundup. It reproduces vegetatively (not by seed) and can become extremely abundant amongst crops such as soya bean. This is a clear example of the benefits that gamebirds can bring in consuming a pest species.
More...
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How many gamebirds – this is the basis of any sustainable shooting. Amongst the most difficult birds to census are the partridges and francolins.
This article reports on the techniques which AGRED has used at Vrede for surveying Greywing and Orange River Partridges, and which are a combination of road visual counts, dog counts and call counts. It produces an effective total count for a farm of 4 000 ha.
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The Vrede project began in 2006, centred on Fairview farm owned by David Lowry and managed by Nic Lowry. The object is to develop a model of sustainable and ethical gamebird management and utilisation which can be used widely throughout South Africa. The elements involved in developing this model are described in this article.
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Every gamebird enthusiast knows that francolins and partridges appear on roads in the early morning and late afternoon, and are usually absent from roads during the middle of the day.
We have been studying and monitoring Greywing Partridge Scleroptila africanus and Swainson’s Francolin Pternistis swainsonii at Fairview Farm, Vrede District since 2006. Many hours of personal observation have generated possible reasons as to why this behaviour occurs. More...
The pivotal importance of maize in the ecology of the Yellow-billed Duck in South Africa has not been fully recognised.
The development of AGRED’s Vrede gamebird conservancy has provided a new understanding on the ecology of the Yellow-billed Duck. More...
Several AGRED and CHASA members have contacted AGRED for an opinion on a recently-published proposal for a standardised list of gamebird species, bags and limits for all South African provinces. The same proposal was tabled at a March meeting of the Wildlife Forum (a meeting of national, provincial and government agencies and the hunting industry). In short, AGRED has substantive differences with the proposal. More...
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