Red light hunting

[PhilLozano]

Dear Mr. Pomoxis,

I cannot be sure, but it sounds like a hunt in S.A.. If it is, or is not, I can explain a bit about hunting in South Africa.

Once you have fenced in your property and are a certified 'Game Farm/Ranch', you can hunt whenever you want to, and set your own regulations/restrictions. You (the owners) become the Game Department. They do not have to adhere to the laws of the State/Province Game Dept. If they did, they would not offer hunting year round. They would have to comply with the designated hunting seasons, set by the Govt., Kudu season might be open from May 1st, through July 1st (example, as I do not remember when the season was open).

However, you have opened a very big can of worms with the light question.

Is it ethical hunting animals in a 15,000 acre cage? It is ethical hunting animals that live on a small Island, or Sitatunga in a smaller swamp , where they have no reasonable chance to escape ?

Are these things ethical? Considered Fair Chase? It is hard to draw the line where fair chase begins and ends. I believe it is a matter of what you personally feel is "fair" to you. Fairness is one of those almost undefinable terms. Do you feel good about how you just acquired the animal. So long as you have complied with all laws and feel good about how you got there, then it is fair, for you. Others could judge differently, but they are then applying their beliefs and values.

None of these questions are easily answered.

Let me know your thoughts.

Best,
Phil