It’s that time of the year when early morning hunting parties bracing themselves against the cold winter air, can be seen driving into the ‘veld’ full of anticipation for the day ahead. Yes, hunting season is upon us.
However, due to the 2011 drought the hunting season in various districts has been curtailed. Some of the changes to this year’s hunting season are the reduction of the season from last year’s three months to only two months in 2012, which means the season will start on July 1, and end August 31.
It is further stipulated that Kudu bulls may only be hunted for the month of July in Somerset East and Pearston. Other Eastern Cape towns affected by hunting restrictions are Adelaide, Alexandria, Bedford, Cradock, Fort Beaufort, Graaff-Reinet, Grahamstown, Hofmeyr, Jansenville, Joubertina, Kirkwood, Middelburg, Paterson, Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Willowmore.
The law further stipulates that a maximum of two hunters per property may hunt Kudu in one day. This is all due to the severe drought that hit the Eastern Cape Midlands a year ago; the measures are there to give the Kudu population an opportunity to breed.
This will surely affect the sale of wild game biltong in the Province. Mr. JJ Botha, from Botha Son Butchery in Somerset East, says that butcheries in the area understand that sales will drop. “We understand that these laws are a necessary intervention and that in the end we gain from the Kudu being given a chance to breed”.
Biltong fanatics are being advised to not despair though, as there will be enough wild game biltong like Kudu, Springbok, Impala and even Giraffe on sale at the 2012 Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival along with the just as tasty beef and chicken biltong.
The 2012 Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival is not only the best party in town this winter, but eco–friendly too and all Kudu lovers and hunters are welcome to come and hang at the Festival which takes place on 13 and 14 July 2012 in Somerset East.
