Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Botswana Elephant Hunting Update

Not to sure how many on this forum are interested in elephant hunting at all - not many posts about it. But, since I mentioned about it reopening in one of my Tuli block hunting posts, I thought I would follow up here with a with a fresh press release from the Botswana govt.

Quick recap - DG hunting was totally closed in BOTS 5-6 years ago. Due to pressure from the citizenry over serious increases in elephant-human conflict causing significant crop damage incurred by the local subsistence farmers and several hundred people a year being killed by elephant, combined with all the promises made by the anti hunting and animal rights groups made about increased revenue from increased tourism, increased employment of locals and all the things they were going to do, ALL of which NEVER occurred as promised.

So, after the new President took office, he held a series of meeting all around the country. He invited the locals and all of the Anti's to attend. During these meeting, the locals complained that all the promises made were not kept and how many people were being killed trying to protect their crops etc. The President also challenged all the Antis to provide proof that even one dollar of the promises they had made years ago had ever been spent - crickets. So, the govt is in the process of slowly reopening DG hunting.

A couple of months ago, they announced they were establishing a national quota of 400 permits per year, but initially they only issued less than 150 and limited those to only legal Bots citizens and they are NOT exportable. Apparently, there have been a few non-Botswana based outfitters advertising exportable elephant hunts for foreign hunters. Therefore, the attached press release. I've had to cut/paste it from the original *.pdf file because this site blocks *.pdf attachments.

PRIVATE BAG BO 199 TEL: (+267) 3914955
GABORONE FAX: (+267) 3951092
BOTSWANA
REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND TOURISM
REFERENCE: ENT 1/6/4 XI (86)
The Editor 18 September 2019
All Media Houses
PRESS RELEASE
ONLINE ELEPHANT HUNTING ADVERTISEMENTS
The public is advised to be cautious of online advertisements, which purport to be marketing elephant hunts in Botswana. These adverts make reference to opportunities for foreign hunters to hunt “non-exportable” elephants in Botswana. Under no circumstances will non-citizens be allowed to hunt elephants on quota for citizens. A Department of Wildlife and National Parks officer will escort each elephant hunt. Hunters will be required to produce valid identity documentation prior to embarking on the hunt.
Furthermore, the public is reminded that elephant licenses are non-transferable. The public is cautioned to remain vigilant for any abuse with regards to hunting licenses and to report any suspicious activity to the nearest wildlife office.
Contact the Public Relations Office at email MENT_PRgov.bw
Tel: +267 3647985/14/57

So, when will it open up to the American sportsman for elephant hunting?

From what I currently currently understand is possibly sometime in 2020. Their plan is to use the limited local hunter quota to sort out their processes and controls. The are not just using the "old" system and regulations from before it closed.

What they (Govt) wants to do is instead of opening up the quota nation-wide is, since the elephant herds, other than those that stay in the delta, tend to be a bit migratory and follow the rains/grasses and more importantly the crops, the goal is to issue/sell permits in certain areas for a certain number of animals and each permit will for a specific time frame. All this is being tested now with the local only quota permits.

I actually have to commend them (Govt) for going slow and wanting to get "it right" the first time. Because of all the noise the Antis are making, if they don't get it right, there is a possibility it could get re-closed.

At some point, they intend to open buffalo and the rest.

Then, we (Americans) need to make sure the US will allow the imports.

There is a LOT of serious open discussion among several southern African countries about withdrawing completely from CITES if they aren't allowed to manage the game as they see fit, including the sale of ivory and rhino horn.