S.A. National Professional Hunting School

Letter to Prospective Students:

In 1992, with over twelve years outfitting and professional hunting experience with foreign and South African clients, I started the S.A. National Professional Hunting School.  My goal in starting the school was to use my own experiences and skills to improve the quality of new professional hunters entering the business.  Since then it has grown to the most respected PH School in South Africa. My students hold of the highest academic scores of any school in the country.  Students attending the S.A. National Professional Hunting School earn their qualification through hard work and dedication.      

                                             New School Photos!    

General Information:

The professional hunting course is twelve hard-working, fun-filled days.  The course syllabus is approved by the Department of Nature Conservation and is taught using captivating methods.  Interesting, informative lectures and demonstrations are given by school director, Melville du Plessis, and by guest speakers who are experts in their fields.  There is also opportunity for hands-on practice with horn-judging, caping, shooting, etc.

Practical exams are evaluated by the school director.   General and Ordinance exams are evaluated by the Department of Nature Conservation.   We supply the following for the course:

  Text book
  Room and Board (alcohol excluded)
  All Facilities for the course

You must bring the following:

• Rifle, at least, .270 or bigger calibre fitted with a scope.

• Three boxes of ammunition.

• Hunting knife and sharpener (smaller knife works best).

• Binoculars (good quality).

• Writing paper, pen, pencil, eraser, highlighting pen.

• Personal medication if needed.

• Comfortable shoes and hat (Evenings can be cool).

• Towel and toiletries.

The following books are strongly recommended:

•  Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa   (Maclean)

•  A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa   (Piet & Braam van Wyk)

•  A Field Guide to the Animal Tracks of South Africa   (L. Lienberg)

•  Field Guide to Snakes & Other Reptiles  of Southern Africa   (Bill Branch)

•  Mammals of South Africa   (Burger Cillie)

An easy to use online bookstore to order the above list of books and others is www.kalahari.net.  They stock most of the better books or will order them for you. 

Note: Because this is a finishing school for professional hunting, you are expected to have some practical bush knowledge.  Judging of horn lengths through binoculars at 100 meters is difficult.  We therefore highly recommend serious practice before you arrive at S.A. National Professional Hunting School.

Straight horns - length of the longest horn with the hair-like grain.

Spiral horns - length of the longest horn on the front ridge to the top.

BWB = Buffalo - greatest outside width between 'carpenter squares'.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Numerous lectures and demonstrations will be given during the twelve day course.  Subjects include the following topics, but are not limited to these alone.

Ordinance	Horn Judging	Bow-hunting
First Aid	Hunting Ethics	Ecology
Marketing	Bullet Placement	Ballistics
Catering	Practical Testing	Handling of Trophies

REQUIRED CRITERIA:

Students must meet the necessary criteria to obtain a permit as a PH and/or Hunting Outfitter (HO) in South Africa.  Click here.

Professional Hunting School Dates

      Contact the School Director:

Outfitter & PH Safari Accommodations Travel Smart Treatment of Trophies  

Firearms Hunting Trophies Safari Rates Trophy Fees References  Photo Safari

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