The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), has announced the season for the hunting of huntable game and huntable game birds. The hunting season enables members of the public to hunt certain species of game on invitation of a farm owner, lessee of a farm or a registered conservancy.
As for this season, the hunting of game species will span over the period from 1 May 2021 to 31 July 2021 (both days included). This applies in the case of commercial farms of not less than 1000 hectares and which are enclosed with registered game proof fences. This do also apply on registered conservancies where quotas have been approved for huntable game species.
In the case of commercial farms not less than 1000 hectares in size and which are enclosed with an adequate fence (normal livestock fence), huntable game species will be hunted as from the 1st of June 2021 to 31 July 2021 (both days included). Large game species consist of Kudu and/or Oryx and/or Red Hartebeest. Small game species consist of Springbok and/or warthog.
In regard to hunting game bird species, MEFT has revealed that the hunting period have been determined according to non-breeding times. Huntable game birds may be hunted by virtue of a written permission of the owner or lessee of a farm. The piece of land where the hunting will be occurring (size in extent), should not be less than 1000 hectares and should be enclosed with at least an adequate fence. Furthermore, it should be within the boundaries of registered conservancies with the written permission from the conservancy committee.
The ministry has announced that, there are prescribed limitations regarding the number of huntable game animals that may be hunted by a single hunter on a commercial farm or farms which is/are enclosed with an adequate fence. As for this hunting season, hunters are given the following options when hunting:
This options applies to either commercial farm or farms which are enclosed with an adequate fence during the hunting season. The ministry has cautioned hunters that during this hunting season, no person shall hunt more than one (1) Kudu and no person shall hunt in total more than one or other combination of numbers, of huntable game animals as specified above. This however do not apply in case where permission is granted for the hunting of game animals on a farm which is enclosed with a registered game proof fence.
Hunting permits will only be issued to farm owners or lessees, or in the case of registered conservancies, to the conservancy committees. The ministry has also revealed that, the Namibian Police Force, will not allow the import of any automatic firearm or any hand gun by visiting hunters, and such firearm may not be used for hunting.
The importation of hunting rifles for the hunting of huntable game and shotguns for the hunting of huntable game birds will only be allowed; on the presentation by the hunter of a letter of invitation from the farm owner, lessee or conservancy committee where the hunt will take place. It is the responsibility of the relevant owner, lessee or committee to fax or mail an invitation letter to the hunter.