EP 178. A Thriving South Africa Game Management Industry

Episode • Oct 13, 2021 • 1h 3m

Most of South Africa can be described similarly to parts of South Texas: sprawling, brush-covered properties teaming with game animals managed under endless miles of high-fence. While watching a sporty dove and rock pigeon shoot, professional game manager Weynand De Jager describes the arduous undertakings required in reconciling herd numbers with habitat availability, and an enormous industry of supplying venison and game animal by-products worldwide. What do game managers like Weynand do? What's cull hunting, how's it differ from sport hunting, how's it implemented and by whom? Why does Ramsey claim he might have "found his calling if this GetDucks thing doesn't work out"? How heavily is this industry regulated, how quickly are game processed, meat wagons filled? What becomes of all that meat, what animal parts are used? How important is game farming to wildlife conservation in South Africa? Chalk this one up to really cool stuff learned on long drives between hunts, took me way out of my feather-covered wheelhouse and was too good not to share.

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