Thanks for the warm welcomes.
Hunting over here has over the last 2 decades been commercialized. Many stock ranches have converted to game ranches for obvious reasons. "Farming" is fast becomming an extinct occupation....., and theft of wild game (except rhino's these days) are not as easy as with stock.
Most hunting areas nowdays are converted stock farms. All interior fencing used for cattle, goats and sheep are taken down and only the boundry fences not only kept, but made higher and inproved. Smaller stock farms were "consumed" by larger game neighbours and these game ranches are anything between 1000 to 20000 hectars. You do get the occational larger ranch. Americans are the favourite hunter species, and there are some of these ranches that would only cater for foreign hunters. It is at these ranches where you pay for 5 star treatment and be sure to add 5 x 00000 to your bill.
There are also still stock ranches where game is roaming and even these farmers cater hunters, but only in hunting season. It is at these ranches where we normally hunt, and since hunting is now a business concern, we pay as well. This is all to the better as the economical / business approach does more for nature / game conservation that a "free for all" situation.
We have a "hunting season", normally Jun - Aug, were free range plains game species like Kudu, Bushbuck can be hunted. Only way to legally hunt Kudu and Bushbuck "out of season" is on one of these commercialized ranches. All hunters are required to take out an annual hunting license which cost you R25-00 (ZAR) about 3 to 4 $ US.
Favourite calibers, depending on specie size range from .243, 22-250, 270, .308, 30-06. In my opinion the 30-06 is the most versitile all rounder, although the most animals take by me was with my .303 Brit. For long I used the 174gr and lately changed to the 150gr. I could later post a picture or two of the success with my .303.
Silencers or rather suppressors are legal to hunt with, and I have one fitted on my .303. The main objective is the recoil minimizing effect, that enables my boys to also use my rifle. With the suppressor my youngest son was able to bag his first Springbuck when he was 8 yrs.
South Africa had for as long as I can remember "gun control", and these days with some new control legislation worsening the situation. I have paid for a Musgrave 30-06, and applied for the license more that a year ago, and am still waiting. I understand that "gun control" these days are also a hot topic in the USA.
Just a little background info.
