Sustainable hunting
In Namibia, sustainable hunting is an important part of the economy and essential for the survival of many species.
The key players: MEFT, NAPHA, hunting farms, concessions & hunters
Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), in close cooperation with the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), manages the country’s natural resources. This includes setting the hunting regulations and making sure hunting is carried out sustainably. The hunting sector sits within the MEFT, and the ministry actively supports hunting tourism to strengthen this part of the economy.
Rules and regulations for sustainable hunting
NAPHA is the Namibian professional hunting association. It represents the interests of the Namibian hunting industry and works with the government so that hunting is sustainable and the industry is well regulated.
Strict rules and regulations make sure that hunting does not harm wildlife or its habitats.
Hunters who use sustainable and ethical hunting methods are especially welcome in Namibia.
The aim of this page is to explain this complex topic, create more transparency and put the focus on sustainability – so you can choose a hunting farm that sets the right priorities and values.
Checklist
10 key elements of sustainable hunting in Namibia
Sustainability in hunting is a complex topic. It is about keeping game populations healthy through sound management. These are the key elements:
Hunting season
Trophy hunting is only allowed between February and November. Hunting is permitted from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Size of the game population
Ask whether the hunt takes place in areas with healthy, sustainable wildlife populations. Only hunt animals that are part of sustainable populations.
Age and sex
of the animal
The goal should be to take animals that have already had the chance to reproduce.
Fair chase
hunting methods
Fair chase means: never hunt with spotlights, at night or from a vehicle. Only standing game may be shot.
Fair trophy fees
Trophy fees vary with population size, demand and the location of the farm, so there is usually a price range. Stay away from “special offers” or unusually cheap deals on animals!
Qualified professional hunters
Only hunt with government-licensed professional hunters. They have the knowledge to judge an animal by the right criteria and to hunt selectively.
NAPHA-registered hunting farm
Make sure the hunting farm is a member of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA).
Native
game
In Namibia, too, different species live in different habitats, depending on vegetation and other factors. Here you can find out which game is native where. The animals you hunt should be native to the area.
Involving the
communities
Professional hunting farms create jobs for local people. Hunted animals are fully used – the meat of your animal feeds not only the farm staff but also their families.
This also helps to prevent poaching: when local people benefit from wildlife, they have a reason to protect it.
Unfenced
game
Unfenced farms, or farms with only cattle fences, allow game to roam freely, which keeps the gene pool healthy. Whether you choose a game-fenced farm or a farm with free-roaming wildlife depends on the experience you are looking for. TheEcoHunter only works with unfenced farms.
What does a "mature" trophy actually mean?
The term "past prime" and why it matters for sustainability
“Past prime” means that hunters only take older animals that have already passed their reproductive peak. When animals are hunted selectively in their “past prime” stage, the rest of the population has the best chance to survive: removing older animals gives the young ones room to grow and keep the population going.
On this page you will find the signs that tell you when an animal is really old.
White blesbok, white springbok, golden wildebeest
Is genetically bred game part of sustainable hunting?
No.
Golden wildebeest, white blesbok, white springbok and the like – this unnatural manipulation of exotically bred game is about profit, not conservation. These color variants do not occur naturally and are highly valued, especially by hunters in neighbouring South Africa. They are bought, released and offered for a high price. Breeding such variants does not contribute to a healthy wild population.
Is the term trophy hunting still right for Namibia?
"Selective hunting" instead of "trophy hunting"
NAPHA argues that trophy hunting in Namibia should be called “selective hunting” or “conservation hunting”. These terms best express the country’s goal of making hunting a key and sustainable tool for conservation. The word trophy hunting is criticized because it puts only the size of the trophy first and ignores sustainability. Hunting animals in their prime breeding years, or even younger, has serious consequences for the gene pool of the species. That is why NAPHA introduced an age-related measurement system (ART), with the aim of rewarding the hunt for truly old animals that are past their prime. The professional hunting association has set standards for what counts as a “mature” trophy, and NAPHA recognizes hunters and hunting farms for especially mature trophies. The basis for judging whether an animal has reached “past prime” status is the age-related measurement system – in Namibia, age matters, not size.
Native game in “past prime” status
Which game can be hunted sustainably in Namibia?
On the hunt, a good professional hunter will choose an old animal. He knows the game on the farm and considers which population control is really needed and which species can be hunted at all.
A few years ago, for example, a rabies outbreak caused the kudu population to collapse. The effects are still felt today: there are hardly any kudu bulls that have reached the “past prime” stage. In some areas hunters have to be patient until the population has recovered and selective hunting is ethically justifiable again.
Another example is the sharp drop in the warthog population during the great drought of 2019. Here, too, it takes a few years for the population to recover.
What does Namibia want to achieve with the age-related measurement system for trophies?
The goal: preserve natural resources for future generations
The age-related measurement system introduced by the Ministry and NAPHA has these goals:
- to prevent the hunting of immature animals
- to support genetic sustainability
- to show that sustainable hunting makes an important contribution to conservation
- instead of “the longest”, value “the oldest”: to appreciate animals for their age and to aim for “past prime” animals on the hunt. The incentive system also gives more meaning to the often worn-down horns of especially old animals.
That said, the age-related measurement system alone is not enough. At the same time, responsible and sustainable quotas are already in place for many species.
Put & take is not sustainable hunting
What does "put & take" mean?
When choosing a hunting farm, make sure no “put & take” is practiced. “Put & take” means animals are bred and released into a game-fenced area only to be shot. This has nothing to do with sustainable wildlife management.
A fence is not a high fence.
On your hunt you may come across a fence and think: “High-fence hunting? That’s not ethical!”
The cattle fence shown in this picture is not game-proof – the game can still move freely. It only keeps cattle and horses in a certain area for grazing management. Game either jumps gracefully over the low fence or crawls through the game passages the farmers have made.
So it is important to know: a cattle fence is not a game fence, and hunting there is not high-fence hunting.
Why does trophy hunting have such a bad reputation?
The consequences of unregulated, unsustainable hunting
Unregulated, unsustainable hunting is not only responsible for the bad image of hunting – much worse, it is devastating for wildlife.
Critics of trophy hunting say that it
- targets the biggest and strongest animals, which are especially important for passing on their genes to the next generations
- creates an imbalance of sex and age, which makes reproduction even harder for the species
Regulated, selective hunting of truly old animals that have already fulfilled their role in the gene pool answers these arguments.
Sustainability
Special offers on animals
To attract hunters, farms often make offers that look almost like discount prices on animals. Hunting farms may of course give discounts on their service or accommodation – but is it really necessary to lower the value of the animal? In the end, sustainable hunting is about respecting the value of the animal. You can find fair prices for the different species on our overview page.
Guaranteed kills
If a hunting farm promises you a guaranteed kill, be careful. When game roams freely in nature, an absolute guarantee should not be possible – unless the farm has bought its game and fenced it in.
Hunting photos on social media
Action provokes reaction. Namibia cannot afford opposition to hunting, because responsible hunting is essential for conservation and sustainable use. Please be sensitive with the photos of your hunt.
Not sure how to choose a sustainable hunting farm?
We are happy to help. Ask us anything about sustainability and how we make sure your hunting experience is sustainable.