Good article to ponder.

https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/opinion/by-invitation/use-lose-hunting-key-conservation//

Article on values

It is an honour for me to represent professional hunters of South Africa and have a place on the PHASA executive committee for 2018. I was asked to write an article for the hunting magazine, Wild and Jag and they published this artilce earlier this year.                                                                 

 Values and PHASA

Universally we define values as principles or standards of behavior our judgment of what is important in life. Many synonyms can be attached to these values or standards, words and phrases such as moral code, morals, moral standards, code of behavior, rules of conduct, standards of behavior and ethics are all applicable. To what we apply these principles and standards is as important as the principles themselves. Our principles when treating people can without a doubt not always be the same when treating our animals, especially when we consider that humans consume (eat) animals, and have exploited them for millennia. There is no denying this fact, animals are not moral agents. Subjectivity plays a big part in the outcomes of personal decisions with regards to our principles and values when dealing with our relationships with animals, especially the ones we own. Rightly so, we are all entitled to our own decisions and preferences with regards to values and ethics. The great German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, who argued that the human mind creates the structure of human experience and that reason is the source of morality, interestingly maintained that with animals, humans have no direct duties towards them as sentient beings and only indirect duties towards them.  Animals lacking rational wills cannot themselves obligate us. Kant also reminded us that “all our knowledge begins with senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.” Clearly our relationships with animals are complex, intricate and ultimately subject to reason.

From a PHASA point of view, our values and principles are entrenched in three pillars being:                    1.) sustainable utilization 2.) Legal hunting  3.)  Respecting property rights and its associated rights.

The first pillar, sustainable utilization, is easily accepted and understood in the wildlife industry especially since the trade-off between domestic livestock and wildlife is central to it. Domesticated livestock farming also strives to be sustainable otherwise agriculture would not be economically viable. Wildlife that is utilized in a sustainable manner is subject to these same economic principles and we all know that no animal has ever been farmed into extinction. Sustainable utilization which includes economic development, conservation of natural resources and social development all form part of the country’s sustainable development plan as included in the Constitution of 1996.

The second pillar, namely legal hunting, is like a hot potato at the moment in the wildlife industry. PHASA had to take a stance, but in a South African wildlife landscape that is recognized by its private, decentralized ownership model, imposing more subjective values on the multitude of owners and stakeholders has proven to be virtually impossible within the parameters of the South African constitution of 1996. “If it’s legal, it’s ethical” is the stance the association had to take, which means that all illegal activities such as illegal hunting and deliberate animal cruelty are therefore also unethical. The fact is that there are many subjective views as to what is ethical and what is not in the hunting world, and leaving the fate of its members at the hands of a few superiors is a draconian recipe for disaster. It is important to understand that PHASA is a member’s association run by the members for its members according to its new Constitution of 2017.

The third pillar of values PHASA promotes is property rights and all the associated rights of a civil society.  These include civil liberties under the rule of law with emphasis on economic freedom. Promotion of legal, individual action shouldn’t be compromised in favour of aggregates and expediency. Freedom to associate, freedom of speech and voluntary action are all associated with property rights. We value non-aggression, and the individual’s right to associate peacefully which is free of unnecessary coercion. Social transformation is most likely to occur by promoting this approach. Barriers-to-entry should be reduced wherever possible and this rights-based approach is best suited to facilitate that, especially when realizing that South Africa has built the largest wildlife industry in the world and that PHASA is the largest association of professional hunters in the world too. Protecting and promoting the constitutional rights of its members is thus imperative and an extremely necessary function of PHASA.  Promoting these values have to include members and their clients to voluntarily hunt a large variety of game in South Africa. With the so many outfitters and PH’s to choose from and who hunt many different places in South Africa, hunting clients can make their own informed decisions according to their personal tastes. In fact, hunters are spoilt for choice in South Africa thanks to all the market forces that are working. Hunting is what truly drives the wildlife economy in South Africa.

The net result of a society whereby individuals are can make their own, informed decisions, within a free market environment has proven to be most successful in various international economic policies employed throughout the ages.  South Africa’s wildlife industry should adhere to this paradigm. When an industry scales, there will invariably be problems that need to be addressed and PHASA endeavors to serve and assist its members wherever possible within the parameters of the law. By doing so, it hopes to include as many people into the wildlife industry as possible, ensuring long-term sustainability of our wildlife resource. Emotions and feelings should not cloud our reason and logic and we should all value and promote to consciously make sense of things wherever possible. We consider this approach the most reasonable moral code, a superior level of ethics and values.

Eardley Rudman

29 May 2018

The 2018 Season is well under way.

Just a quick update, we have been hunting hard at Blaauwkrantz with both our lodges occupied often simultaneously. Conditions have been dry but the animals are in great condition but we do hope for rain soon as the antelope head into the rut.

By all accounts 2018 is going to a record season for us as May, June and July are fully booked. August, September and October are also great hunting months and although we understand that the traditional vacation season is May, June and July we encourage those who can come after this peak season try it out.

We try to post regular updates on the website, but our Instagram and Facebook accounts are where the hot news is.  Checkout blaauwkrantzsafaris ; eardleyrudman and our Facebook page @ Blaauwkrantz Safaris.

Best wishes to all, and thank-you to all the hunters who enable sustainable utilization and conservation on private land through hunting.

Eardley and Al Wynn from Colorado with Al's 54" bomber for 2018.