My husband and I had chatted up the turkeys one morning and when we started getting an answer in return, we decided to grab his crossbow and walk to the back of our property. The tom was gobbling so loudly, he and the hens did not hear us approaching. I was excited and hoped I would be able to get a clear shot. This was my first time using a crossbow. I hid behind a tree until I had a unobstructed shot. I shot him in the chest, and he dropped and began to flop around. My sweet husband, my “ride-or-die” hunting partner, ran after and grabbed him. It was a proud moment for both of us. My first turkey taken on my first crossbow hunt!

By Kathy Nicolson, SCI Music City Chapter Secretary

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SCI confirmed the attack took place April 29 at the headquarters of the Niassa Carnivore Project (NCP) and their Mariri Environmental and Skills Training Center in the southeastern section of the Niassa Special Reserve. In a press release, NCP Director Dr. Colleen Begg confirmed two NCP antipoaching scouts were killed. Another was severely injured but was evacuated to a hospital in Maputo and is now stable. Two scouts remain unaccounted for.

Residents of the nearby village Mbamba also fled into the bush for safety. Begg said the NCP team spent several days searching for staff and community members hiding in the wilderness and taking them to the district capital, Mecula.

In April, SCI reported the destruction of the Kambo Safaris camp in the Reserve by a group of armed insurgents, with later reports about the deaths of two staff members. The incident triggered a Security Alert from the US State Department warning travelers of terrorist activity. It was not until April 30, that ISIS Mozambique took credit for the attacks in a social media post by Amaq News Agency, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the US State Department.

Amaq is often the first venue to publicize claims of responsibility for terrorist attacks conducted by the Islamic State. According to media outlet CAXTON Network News, a loose translation of text published with the image says, “The fighters of the Islamic State attacked and burned a tourist site belonging to the Christians and killed six soldiers from the Mozambican army in Niassa Province, Northern Mozambique.”

The Level 4 Travel Alert from the US State Department states, “Terrorists continue to conduct and plot attacks on government forces, villages, and key supply routes in the districts of Ancuabe, Chuire, Ibo, Macombia, Meluco, Metuge, Mocimboa da Praia, Mueda, Muidame, Nangade, Palma and Quissanga in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, and the bordering districts of Memba and Erati in Nampula Province.

According to Begg, the ANAC warden of Niassa Special Reserve is coordinating efforts to increase safety in Niassa and is working with conservation partners on the ground. SCI will continue following developments here and reporting to members as we confirm information.

SCI expresses its deepest sympathies for the families and coworkers of those who lost their lives in these senseless acts. SCI members with hunts booked in Mozambique and with concerns over security are again encouraged to speak with their safari operators about security in their areas and to orient themselves on the locations of their hunting camp and its distance from the affected regions in northern Mozambique before changing any plans. Hunters should also review their travel insurance policies and consider security evacuation insurance. US citizens should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Other members should check their country’s state department equivalent for travel alerts and travel programs. For more information and assistance contact SCI’s Hunter Information Service at HunterHotline@safariclub.org.

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Reports are based on, as of now, un-verified photos and information apparently leaked by a member of the military that responded to the incident. Mozambican forces have restricted access to the entire area around the CKS camp, preventing CKS owners, employees and family members of the deceased from entering the camp or verifying facts firsthand.

CKS joint-partner Jumbo Moore informed SCI about this development on Monday, April 28, dismayed that officials did not inform the victims’ families or CKS first. Additional reports include other details that have not been verified by authorities. CKS is seeking information from officials for the affected families while moving client bookings for the Kambako camp to other camps and venues. SCI extends its condolences to the families.

News of this incident also affected safari operators far from the area, with several reporting cancellations by clients. While individual risk tolerance levels vary, hunters should remember that Mozambique is a large country encompassing over 300,000 square miles (800,500 square kilometers). The Niassa Reserve itself, is located in the northernmost stretch of Mozambique, comprises over 10 million remote acres (42,000 square kilometers) and sprawls across two provinces. The distance from the Niassa Reserve in the north to Maputo in the south is almost 1,400 miles (over 2,200 kilometers). That distance is farther than driving from New York City to Miami.

Hunters with trips planned for Mozambique should consider the locations of their safaris. Others may wish to review their travel insurance coverages. They may consider security evacuation insurance and discuss security with their operators. SCI members may contact the Hunter Information Service (hunterhotline@safariclub.org) for further information and assistance.

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San Antonio and Carrollton, TX

Safari Club International (SCI), the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide, has partnered with Wildlife Networks (WLN) to launch an exclusive SCI-branded streaming entertainment service dedicated to hunters, outdoorsmen, and conservationists across the globe.

The new digital hunting television platform will offer premium, on-demand access to original series, hunting and educational content, and advocacy updates — all under the SCI brand. The streaming service will be available across multiple devices.

“This is more than just content — We’re bringing the mission of SCI directly into the living rooms, camps, and hands of sportsmen and women everywhere. With WLN’s media expertise, we’re taking our message further and louder than ever before.” Said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International.

Key Features of the SCI Streaming Service Include:

• Programming Delivery: Digital video content that celebrates ethical hunting, big-game adventure, and conservation success stories.
• Global Access: Stream from anywhere in the world, on any device.
• Educational and Advocacy Content: Learn about the latest conservation policies, wildlife research, and how SCI is leading the charge to defend hunting rights worldwide.
• Member Highlights: Real stories from SCI members and chapters around the globe.

WLN Founder and CEO Manuel Mateos added, “We’re honored to partner with SCI to help tell the stories that matter — stories of stewardship, adventure, and the deep connection between hunters and the natural world. This platform is built to engage, inspire, and inform.”

The SCI streaming service will launch in October of 2025 with a full content slate and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to SCI’s biggest initiatives, including the annual SCI Convention, international hunts, and conservation fieldwork.

About Safari Club International

Safari Club International is the leading organization protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. For over 50 years, SCI has been the voice for hunters, working on the front lines of advocacy, education, and conservation.

About Wildlife Network

WLN is a next-generation content and media company focused on storytelling that celebrates tradition, outdoor heritage, and legacy. From original programming to platform development, WLN partners with top-tier organizations to bring meaningful stories to life.

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As SCI understands it, trophy importations for U.S. citizens and residents are classified in the tariff schedule as 9804.00.55 in Section XXII Chapter 98, which states that all game animals (including birds and fish) killed abroad by a returning U.S. citizen/resident after traveling abroad and imported by him/her for noncommercial purposes do not incur any duty fees. Chapter 99 also notes that most of the exempted goods listed in Chapter 98, including hunting trophies, are exempt from any additional tariffs.

Members of SCI, including members living in the U.S. and hunting operators, taxidermists and shipping agents from abroad, have inquired how the new tariffs implemented by the U.S. would affect the shipment of hunting trophies.

Michael Coppersmith, national coordinator for Coppersmith Global Logistics, explained how the newly released tariff schedule relieves these concerns. “This development ensures that the shipping process for sport-hunted trophies will remain uninterrupted by the recent tariff changes, helping to streamline logistics and reduce additional costs for shipments.”

Hunters with pending trophy shipments should contact their international shipping agents to inform them of the tariff exemption on trophy imports. Be aware, however, that other items hunters might include in a shipment with their trophies may not be exempt from tariffs. That includes curios, art, furniture, or other purchased goods, as well as trophies they purchased but did not hunt themselves. Also, any items made from animals that hunters did not hunt themselves may be subject to tariffs.

Please note that this is not legal advice, and the tariff schedule is subject to change. SCI members with additional questions or in need of further assistance can contact SCI’s Hunter Information Service (hunterhotline@safariclub.org). The Hunter Information Service is an exclusive SCI member benefit.

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Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration and Safety and Security announced the new requirements in March 2025. The only exemptions are for those from countries that do not require a visa for Namibian citizens.

Travelers have two options to get their visas: online before travel, or upon arrival. Application for online visas can be done through the e-visa portal (https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na). Travelers simply create an account in the application portal, then follow the prompts. Each member of a travel party will need a visa, including children. Applicants must provide certified copies of their passport, an invitation letter or a motivation letter from their safari operator, a return ticket home, proof of accommodation (hotel bookings/resident), proof of financial means for their stay (credit/debit card or proof of upfront payments), and medical travel insurance to cover any possible medical expenses. Immigration officials may ask for these documents, so travelers should have them available with their visa and passport when arriving in Namibia. Online visas will be provided through the e-visa portal for download and printing, and travelers can also check on the status of a visa there.

Those who are unable to apply for a visa online can still do so upon arrival. Complete the application form provided by airline attendants before landing, then submit the form and all the aforementioned documentation to Namibian immigration officials.

Be aware that families with children less than 17 years old will need to provide full birth certificates and a parental consent letter if both parents are not accompanying them. (Consent letters should be certified by a notary of the public.) Also, visitors’ passports must be valid for six months from entry to Namibia and have at least three blank visa pages. The fee for a visa is NAD$1,200 for travelers from other African countries; all other travelers pay NAD$1,600 (about USD $90). For more, information download the complete Fact Sheet.

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Originally published in the 2025 March/April issue of Safari Magazine.

It has been said that change is the only constant, and that is so true. Change is our friend. SCI views change as an opportunity. We welcome it. We embrace it.

Change has been good for SCI. The change in our Convention from Reno and Las Vegas to Nashville has been extremely successful. Witness the record-breaking Convention a couple of months ago.

As hunters, we change hunting seasons with changes in weather and geography. For example, we change from hunting deer and ducks in the fall-winter to hunting wild turkeys in the spring. And then we change again when safari season in the Southern Hemisphere kicks into high gear during the late spring and summer months.

Similarly, we change from the Convention season in the first part of the year to the local Chapter banquet season a little later, leading to the Board of Directors meeting in May. The point is that we routinely change as we go along our life journeys (the word “safari” means journey), so it’s not a mystery or anything to cause fear.

Rather, it offers opportunities to become stronger, spread our influence further and live our mission to protect the freedom to hunt and promote sustainable use wildlife conservation worldwide.

As much as some change takes us to new and uncharted territory, other changes can take us back to the future.

For example, SCI’s expansionary efforts over the past few years are foundations to Make Hunting Great Again. Historically, hunters were revered in societies around the world because we literally put food on the table.

Hunting was widely considered a noble pursuit through time, only to become vilified by anti-hunters in recent decades. It’s time to change that and return to the social realization that hunters are effective stewards of nature and that we are the good guys.

Change is in the air globally, especially in the U.S., following the election of Donald Trump in his second term.

As much as he realigns the way government interacts with people and institutions, we must realign the way hunting is viewed by the masses of non-hunters.

We may never change the minds of the hardcore anti-hunters, but we can change the understanding of those who are neither for nor against hunting — the vast majority of people around the globe.

We are changing the hearts and minds of hunters and the population at large through our effective communications efforts that are coupled with our associations and cooperation with government agencies around the world.

Sporting Conservation International was formed as an umbrella organization with numerous groups under it. SCI continues to grow quickly and widely.

Part of this overall expansionary initiative is to enter into various kinds of partnerships and other arrangements that will result in SCI serving as a hub around which the entire hunting world revolves.

This means changing things consistently and broadly. Hunting is one of the world’s oldest activities, and it is time for us to reclaim our rightful place.

We will do that by engaging the world at large with our message of hope and accomplishment and by assuring that there are huntable levels of wildlife in wild places forever.

That’s how we Make Hunting Great Again.

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For decades, environmental and animal rights groups more interested in control than conservation have hijacked the ESA. The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 restores the law’s original intent—helping species recover, not locking them in perpetual regulatory limbo. This bill injects much-needed common sense into federal wildlife policy by streamlining the delisting process for recovered species, rewarding effective international conservation efforts, and aligning U.S. import-export regulations with proven science-based practices.

ESA Reform of this kind is part of SCI’s 2025 Policy Priorities, which it relayed to the Trump administration earlier this year. SCI is committed to advocating for policies that protect hunting and conservation as essential tools for species recovery. SCI urges the House of Representatives and Senate to swiftly pass the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 to ensure that science, not an uninformed political agenda, guides future conservation efforts.

“Congressman Westerman’s legislation puts collaboration science and results ahead of politics and obstruction,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “Groups like the Center for Biological Diversity have spent years using the ESA as a weapon to block conservation success. They’re stuck in the past and unwilling to acknowledge when recovery efforts work. This bill corrects that and puts data a willingness to work with those on the ground, living with listed species, including in foreign countries at the forefront of conservation policy.”

“This legislation is a win for hunters, conservationists, and wildlife species alike,” said SCI President John McLaurin. “America’s sportsmen have funded the most successful conservation programs in the world, and it’s time the ESA recognized those achievements instead of pointlessly erecting meaningless roadblocks to sustainable-use hunting and wildlife conservation. Chairman Westerman’s bill brings the law back in line with real-world conservation success.”

Background:

For over 50 years, SCI has led the fight to defend hunting rights and promote wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI is the only hunting rights organization with a national and international advocacy team based in Washington, D.C., and an all-species focus. With more than 150 chapters and affiliate networks representing millions of hunters, SCI is the leading force for responsible, science-driven wildlife management.

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