Hamberlin describes Kelman's camp as "fantastic" for such a remote place. It overlooks a bay and wetland area that Kelman accesses with an airboat, which gets him into areas that would be impossible to access otherwise. Hamberlin says Kelman uses it for hunting as well as fishing and wildlife viewing. The area is home to a large population of crocodiles and serves as a rookery for magpie geese.
Although crocodile hunting remains closed in Australia, Hamberlin says that Kelman has a license to commercially harvest crocodiles and sell the skins. We checked on this with Kelman who explained that he has been harvesting crocodiles for the past nine years, taking about six large male crocs annually. He claims to be the only safari operator in Australia allowed to do this. He uses shallow-water traps baited with a wild pig carcass. He offers his hunting guests the opportunity to accompany him strictly as observers on what he calls crocodile harvesting safaris. It is absolutely illegal for the hunting client to kill the croc, but Kelman claims it's perfectly legal for them to observe and buy the skin afterwards. The price of a croc skin and finished skull starts at $4,000 for a 13-footer........(continued)
