Since then, the announced startup date has been pushed back to late summer, and there are rumbles of uncertainty about getting fully open at all this year. By the time you read this, we will have posted more information on our web site, www.huntingreport.com.
What's known at this writing is, plans call for opening a roughly 1,000-square-mile rainforest area north of Kinshasa. Main animals here will be bongo, giant forest hog, dwarf buffalo and various duikers. An area in Katanga, near the border of Zambia, will be second on the list. The hunting there will be for most of the animals available in Zambia, including lions. Daily rates are pegged at $1,300, Stephenson says, noting that the proposed trophy fees are "moderate."
Importantly, Stephenson says the hunting area north of Kinshasa has significant numbers of elephants. He was not ready to say that jumbo will be on license, however, as it is not clear at this point that Congo has a CITES quota for elephant. Even if it does, American hunters are out of luck, at least for now. For ivory imports from Congo to be allowed, a lot of work will have to be done, according to Conservation Force's John J. Jackson, III. The same is true for leopard imports.
For more information on Congo, the only contact details we have at present are Stephenson's e-mail address.
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