RinB:

Lots of folks don't follow the laws here in the US either. Question comes down to what happens IF someone gets caught and the possible penalties they could encounter in that country and then opening themselves up to additional US Lacey Act violations/prosecution.

"Locals" can often legally do things that foreign tourist hunter cannot. Examples. Namibia does not allow handguns to be temporarily imported into the county - therefore handgun "trophy hunting" is not allowed. However, if a "local" has a handgun permit they can use it to take "game animals" for food or to put down wounded or injured animals etc. Second example in Namibia I can give is a "foreign" tourist can temp import a semi-automatic rifle for competitive sanctioned shooting events, it is not legal for that same tourist to use that same rifle to hunt with. If a "local" has a permit and owns that same semi-automatic rifle they can use it to take animals for food or pest control etc.

What IF something goes wrong and the hunter and PH are "caught" violating a law or worse yet someone is injured or killed. Do you really thinks that same PH or Game Scout that KNOWINGLY put you and himself into that situation is suddenly going to now become a moral and ethical person and take full responsibility and potentially loose his license and livelihood or toss you under the bus. Bottom line is, either knowingly or unknowingly you still violated the law and are still subject to it and the associated penalties.

The laws are what they are and everyone has the free choice to follow them or not and live with the consequence if something goes wrong or they get caught. Imagine the sh#t storm that will happen if someone is injured or killed. Free choice.

Edited to add:

This can cut the other way too. How about a client who shows up with a rifle that he/she either knowingly or unknowingly is under a particular country's published standards/regulations. Then this client either asks, expects or demands the PH let him/her to use it anyway and flatly refuses to use a suitable/legal loaner rifle. This client is thereby directly putting the PH in the situation of putting his license/livelihood in jeopardy or walking away from the hunt completely and lost income.

Again, free choice by all parties but, why not just follow the published laws and be done with it. Lower risk and everybody wins or at least greatly reduces potential risks/problems for all.

Last edited by M3taco; 10/16/14.