"As most hunters know, the process of culling or removing excess animals is a necessary part of modern wildlife management. In countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe where game ranching and the management of wildlife populations is serious business, culling is often done by ranch personnel with the meat sold on the open market. Recently, however, I heard of a combination cull-and-trophy hunting opportunity that is open to international hunters. The property in question is the Msaise Ranch in southeast Zimbabwe. This 40,000-acre property is part of the one million-acre Save Valley Conservancy, an area that has been returned to its natural state and is managed for wildlife. Due to increasing populations of kudu and impala, a culling program was started this year. The cull hunts are available from February through March.
In order to attract clients, the day rate has been reduced to an astonishing $75 per hunter. The rate includes all hunting services, accommodations in either tent camps or lodges, meals, laundry and all alcohol but hard liquor. However, there is a requirement that an additional $150 per day in cull value be spent. The cull values are $50 for impala, $150 for cow kudu and $250 for bull kudu (all non-trophy). Even with the $150 added, your day rate can still be as low as $225 and include a cow kudu or three impala.
In addition to the cull animals, the full complement of trophy animals are available as well. The area is particularly good for trophy kudu, many of which are in the 50-plus-inch class. The only additional charge to take a trophy animal is a trophy fee. Those fees run $1,000 for eland or waterbuck, $750 for kudu or zebra, $400 for bushbuck, $200 for warthog, $150 for impala, $50 for jackal or baboon, plus a few other species at reasonable prices. For information on the hunts, contact Barry Deacon at Landela Safaris.
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