I have a full season of hunters for bongo and dwarf forest buffalo scheduled from mid-May to the end of July, which is when the season ends. Every 14 days I have two hunters rotating in to do 1 x 1 hunts from my forest camps. Each group will utilize two sets of village guides, along with porters and other assistants. The community of Kong is very excited and pleased that foreign hunters will be hunting in their forest and providing financing for projects that will enhance their lives.
With regards to the northern area, CAMNARES will have two areas available to it for Lord Derby eland, savannah buffalo and - a real surprise roan. Lots of roan! In the first negotiations, only one village was contracted. But after the initial CAMNARES hunts earned money for that village's projects, another community joined the program, adding a second large concession area.
Hunts for Lord Derby eland and other species can be done from January through March 2009. I cannot give you prices until after I meet with the village chief to finalize the agreement, but like the bongo hunts, these eland hunts will be very inexpensive. And the good news is, after two years of training, CAMNARES village guides are clearly going to be able to handle foreign hunters with a high degree of success and professionalism. There is no shortage of enthusiasm on their part, believe me. As on all CAMNARES hunts, translators will accompany visiting hunters.
I cannot tell you how exciting it is to see rural people benefiting directly from hunting. It is simply wonderful to see the discipline and respect........(continued)
