Sable123
AH veteran
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2014
- Messages
- 190
- Reaction score
- 191
- Location
- Okavango Delta
- Articles
- 1
- Member of
- ECGMA, PHASA
Afternoon to all AH members.
Over the past few days I have worked my way through the various threads/posts and conversations within this site and two major things jumped out at me. 1. Was the obvious love and admiration everyone on this site has for hunting, wildlife and the preservation of both. and 2. Is the amount of knowledge, experience, expertise and resources available. So firstly I must congratulate all in developing such a great site.
Let me give you a quick background of myself before I get to the crux of this post, which I am sure some of you have already figured out what it is by the title.
I'am an Eastern Cape boy born and raised. Been brought up hunting, fishing and getting my feet dirty in the mud since I was a kid. My dream has always been and still is to own or manage my own game farm along with my wife. I have studied (Honours degree in Wildlife Management, my wife has a BSc. Hons Conservation and Ecology), become qualified (Professional Hunter) and gained experience (Run a 5* Lodge and Concession in the Okavango Delta, Botswana) in most aspects leading towards one day getting that farm and eventually establishing myself as a respectful Outfitter. I am fortunate in that my father-in law is a farmer in the Eastern Cape and we have both spoken about one day converting the farm from Proteas and Cattle into a hunting farm. He is 60 years old but has the spirit and energy of a 25 year old and arms to match and the farming enterprise is doing nicely so there is no immediate rush to have the farm converted and my wife and I return from Botswana to take over....which leads me to the heart of this conversation. We have saved sufficient funds and planned everything from the layout of the accommadation, to what game species we will introduce, to the name of the company to even what sun-downer snacks we would offer to our clients, but to effectively produce a successful business, one needs to hear and learn from those that have been there and done it. I am closer to my dream now than I have ever been and yet fortunate enough that I still have time on my side to learn as much as possible from those in the industry before taking the leap.
My request is this, to establish a means of a "Mentorship Program" and not only for me but for all involved in the industry. Whether it is an opportunity to visit ones Outfitting operation, work alongside as a freelance PH or even recieve an email with a few words of advice in it, a name of some willing to help or an organisation with resources....anything. And it is not only me that has this type of dream, I can assure you. Because when I am ready to begin my time as a Hunting Outfitter, I want to do it well, I want give my clients an experience they will remember for a lifetime and mostly I want to do it in a way that is respectful of the industry as a whole and upholds all that it stands for. And who knows maybe one day I'll be able to pass on some advice!
Thanks guys, happy hunting and be safe
Regards
Jono McHugh
Over the past few days I have worked my way through the various threads/posts and conversations within this site and two major things jumped out at me. 1. Was the obvious love and admiration everyone on this site has for hunting, wildlife and the preservation of both. and 2. Is the amount of knowledge, experience, expertise and resources available. So firstly I must congratulate all in developing such a great site.
Let me give you a quick background of myself before I get to the crux of this post, which I am sure some of you have already figured out what it is by the title.
I'am an Eastern Cape boy born and raised. Been brought up hunting, fishing and getting my feet dirty in the mud since I was a kid. My dream has always been and still is to own or manage my own game farm along with my wife. I have studied (Honours degree in Wildlife Management, my wife has a BSc. Hons Conservation and Ecology), become qualified (Professional Hunter) and gained experience (Run a 5* Lodge and Concession in the Okavango Delta, Botswana) in most aspects leading towards one day getting that farm and eventually establishing myself as a respectful Outfitter. I am fortunate in that my father-in law is a farmer in the Eastern Cape and we have both spoken about one day converting the farm from Proteas and Cattle into a hunting farm. He is 60 years old but has the spirit and energy of a 25 year old and arms to match and the farming enterprise is doing nicely so there is no immediate rush to have the farm converted and my wife and I return from Botswana to take over....which leads me to the heart of this conversation. We have saved sufficient funds and planned everything from the layout of the accommadation, to what game species we will introduce, to the name of the company to even what sun-downer snacks we would offer to our clients, but to effectively produce a successful business, one needs to hear and learn from those that have been there and done it. I am closer to my dream now than I have ever been and yet fortunate enough that I still have time on my side to learn as much as possible from those in the industry before taking the leap.
My request is this, to establish a means of a "Mentorship Program" and not only for me but for all involved in the industry. Whether it is an opportunity to visit ones Outfitting operation, work alongside as a freelance PH or even recieve an email with a few words of advice in it, a name of some willing to help or an organisation with resources....anything. And it is not only me that has this type of dream, I can assure you. Because when I am ready to begin my time as a Hunting Outfitter, I want to do it well, I want give my clients an experience they will remember for a lifetime and mostly I want to do it in a way that is respectful of the industry as a whole and upholds all that it stands for. And who knows maybe one day I'll be able to pass on some advice!
Thanks guys, happy hunting and be safe
Regards
Jono McHugh
. Thankfully I have recieved a lot of help from members on this forum that contacted me personally with fantastic advice, offers of help and words of wisdom (I may of even pestered a few of them)
, even an offer such as Justin's is a reflection of how incredibly friendly and helpful the hunting community is.
