Women Go Hunting is an SCI initiative that celebrates the participation of all women in the hunting lifestyle in whatever capacity they choose.

Women are critical to the future of hunting because, “When Momma hunts, the whole family hunts!”

To enter the next WGH Hunting Awards Challenge, download an entry form and submit it and a photo of you and your animal to Barbara Crown at bcrown@scifirstforhunters.org. Measurements and scores are not required.

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Women Go Hunting is an SCI initiative that celebrates the participation of all women in the hunting lifestyle in whatever capacity they choose.

Women are critical to the future of hunting because, “When Momma hunts, the whole family hunts!”

To enter the next WGH Hunting Awards Challenge, download an entry form and submit it and a photo of you and your animal to Barbara Crown at bcrown@scifirstforhunters.org. Measurements and scores are not required.

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When most people think of Peru, they think of Machu Picchu, the city of Cusco and alpacas. However, to a waterfowl enthusiast, Peru’s Pacific coast is known for the world’s greatest concentration of cinnamon teal. And the lakes of the Andes Mountains have waterfowl species not available anywhere else in the world.

While walking the aisles of the SCI Convention this past February, I stumbled into the GetDucks.com booth. I visited with Anita and Ramsey Russell, who showed me photos and videos of Ramsey’s waterfowl hunt in Peru. I booked the trip on the spot for August 2024.

I arrived in Lima and met my guide, Angelo Tavera, the owner of outfitter Chaku Peru. We first traveled north to pick up the bird boys and then to Chimbote, a small seaside town that would act as base camp for the first leg of my trip. Our accommodation consisted of an old hospital converted into a hotel. Sleeping in an old hospital was a little creepy, but the thought of duck hunting soon put me at ease.

The first morning hunt, we set up on a freshwater lagoon near town. As the sun rose, wave after wave of ducks swung by our blind. Watching the ducks was incredible, and I almost forgot why I was there. By 8 a.m. I had collected 19 cinnamon teal and figured that was enough for the first morning. The beauty of these birds was unique. The colors were deep, bright red and the most colorful cinnamon teal I had ever seen. It was a fantastic start to my Peruvian adventure.

After having lunch at a local restaurant, we headed out to a different location on the lagoon for the afternoon hunt. My outfitter told me I would have a chance at a white-cheeked pintail at this location, a species I had never taken before. The afternoon hunt was fantastic, and I ended up with 21 ducks, including cinnamon teal and the white-cheeked pintails I was hoping for.

We moved to yet another spot the following and final morning. There, I bagged 25 cinnamon teal and white-cheeked pintails. After the hunt, we gave the birds to the locals, who greatly appreciated them.

After lunch, we packed our bags and headed south to Angelo’s home, where we dropped off the bird boys and spent the night.

We awoke early the following morning and started the long drive up into the Andes Mountains to the town of Santo Rosario. Along the way, we passed a road sign that showed us to be at an elevation of 4,780 meters (about 15,600 feet). After what seemed like forever, we finally arrived at the first mountain lake.

Being a Florida lowlander, I was unprepared to hunt at these altitudes. But I was very thankful to my doctor for providing me with Acetazolamide to combat altitude sickness. During the seven hours we spent at that altitude, I never had any problems other than shortness of breath on uphill climbs.

When we reached the first alpine lake, Angelo spotted a crested duck from the truck about the size of a mallard. Using boulders as cover, I crept within shotgun range and harvested my first Andes waterfowl species.

At a larger lake higher up the mountain, we saw an Andean goose. Against a brown background of mountains, this large, white-bodied goose with a short bill was easy — even for me — to see. After several attempts to get within shotgun range, I was able to add one to the bag.

We followed up with a yellow-billed teal. To harvest this bird, I had to walk 200 yards to get to a bluff overlooking a small stream where Angelo had spotted the duck. Angelo had an amazing eye for seeing ducks. I would have passed it myself, thinking it was just another rock. I will admit that getting within range of these birds tired me out at this altitude. Thankfully, the duck waited for me to arrive before attempting to fly. Due to his mistake, I added another species to my list.

The final duck species we were after was the Puna teal. Though we saw several, most remained safely in the center of the lakes well outside of range. However, the one bird I really wanted to get was the giant coot. I had to crawl on my hands and knees more than once to get close. Every time I would get within range, they would see movement and fly off to another part of the lake. But my persistence paid off as I caught one near the shoreline and harvested my first giant coot.

The ride back was an adventure on a one-lane dirt road with no guard rails and hundreds of feet of vertical drop. I would never have considered driving this road in the dark, but Angelo was a great driver, and I never had any concerns. If heights bother you, you don’t want to make this trip!

After a good night’s sleep, I opted to shoot dove the next day. Traveling to a persimmon grove about an hour from Angelo’s house, we got set up just as the sun rose. It wasn’t long before doves were flying in all directions. My bag included the eared dove, as well as the West Peruvian dove and the golden-spotted ground dove, two species I had not encountered before.

That put an end to my hunt in Peru, and that night, I had an overnight flight back home.

I had a fantastic adventure in Peru that I will never forget and would do again in a heartbeat. If you ever have the chance to go, you should consider it. It’s a wonderful experience.

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In 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order that raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour and required time-and-a-half for overtime hours (above 40 hours), despite Congress’ rejection of a similar proposal in 2020.  The Order rescinded Executive Order 13838, issued by President Trump, which exempted seasonal outdoor recreational businesses operating on federal land from minimum wage and overtime obligations and recognized that a mandatory minimum wage and overtime requirement “threatens to raise significantly the cost of guided hikes and tours on Federal lands, preventing many visitors from enjoying the great beauty of America’s outdoors.”

In response, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) promulgated regulations that impose the minimum wage and overtime requirements for employees of providers of any permitted recreational activities on federal lands—everything from hunting to river rafting to horseback riding to other seasonal recreational activities.

Two river rafting companies challenged the Executive Order and the DOL’s regulations in federal court.  The court denied a preliminary injunction, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.  SCI filed a brief in the Tenth Circuit in support of the challenge.  

The outfitters sought U.S. Supreme Court review.  Last week, SCI filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the outfitters’ arguments.  SCI’s brief highlights the damage that a $15 minimum wage and $22.50 overtime rate would have on the guided hunting industry.  Most outfitters offer multi-day trips that quickly exceed a 40-hour week.  They cannot replace specialized guides with additional shifts, especially in remote areas.  Further, most guides wish to maximize their income during short operating seasons.  They do not consider themselves to be “working overtime” and typically try to schedule as much work as possible, leaving themselves free to pursue other interests the rest of the year.  The DOL regulations will ruin this system, with many outfitters unable to meet the new overtime requirements for their employees and no longer willing to train potential guides.  

Worse, the DOL regulations reduce outdoor recreational opportunities for many Americans.  Few people have the experience or means to spend a week, on their own, whitewater rafting down the Arkansas River or hunting for big game in the Frank Church Wilderness.  Outfitters open the door to these experiences.  Given the difficulty of hunting without a guide in some remote locations, and laws in some States that require non-residents to use guides to hunt, implementation of Biden’s Executive Order would effectively shut down access to public lands for many people.  The DOL regulations will unnecessarily increase outfitters’ operating costs, which will shut them down or force them to raise prices.  Higher prices mean many Americans will not be able to afford these experiences—especially as families already grapple with the effects of inflation and higher living costs.

SCI’s brief is just one means by which SCI aims to solve this problem.  Earlier this year, SCI supported the Outdoor Recreational Outfitting and Guiding Act, H.R. 6128 and S. 2914, which follow the path set in President Trump’s Executive Order.  The Act would exempt employees engaged in seasonal outdoor recreational outfitting or guiding services on federal lands from minimum wage and overtime obligations.  Importantly, these employees are already typically compensated at or above minimum wage.  But their pay structures include compensation from daily rates, room and board, training, and tips.  The Act allows seasonal outfitting businesses to avoid unnecessary compliance costs and to keep their prices reasonable.  Guides will remain employed, and tens of thousands of Americans who wish to enjoy affordable outdoor experiences will maintain access to federal lands.

A forced minimum wage and overtime requirement make no sense for seasonal outdoor recreational businesses. 

SCI’s brief is available in the case Bradford v. U.S. Department of Labor, No. 24-232, in the United States Supreme Court.

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Washington, D.C. — Safari Club International (SCI) vehemently condemns the violent act of the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. We are relieved to hear that the President, who recently visited our office in Washington, D.C. to show support for hunters and anglers, is safe and unharmed. 

Violence has no place in our democratic process. It is through peaceful discourse and mutual respect that we can address the diverse issues facing our nation. Safari Club International stands firmly against any actions that threaten the safety and well-being of individuals, especially those who seek to serve our country. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the President, the Trump family, and the innocent supporters who were killed or wounded. 

Safari Club International remains committed to supporting leaders who uphold the values of conservation, hunting, and angling. We urge all Americans who oppose this kind hate to do the one thing that overcomes it – vote.

About Safari Club International

Safari Club International (SCI) is a worldwide organization dedicated to protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation. SCI has members in over 100 countries and is a leader in influencing legislation and policies that benefit wildlife, habitat, and hunters.

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From May 9 – May 11, SCI Board Members participated in a productive Lobby Day and attended the Board of Directors Reception at The Hunters’ Embassy on Capitol Hill, where they could thank their representatives for supporting hunting rights and brief them on hunting issues in their states. There was also a President’s Dinner on Friday night, which featured remarks by Chris LaCivita, senior advisor to President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, on the importance of this year’s election to SCI’s policy priorities.

As SCI enters its 53^rd year of being “FIRST FOR HUNTERS,” the organization continues to monitor and lobby on behalf of sportsmen worldwide at every level of government. This Lobby Day, more than 80 SCI Board Members met with 106 Congressional offices on Lobby Day. These meetings proved effective, once again, at educating lawmakers on the issues, and we are immensely grateful for their support.

“This year’s Board of Director’s Meeting was a reflection of the critical role SCI’s staff and membership play in moving the needle on pro-conservation and hunting policies,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “I want to thank all who were able to join us in our nation’s capital and our allies in Congress committed to protecting wildlife and hunters’ rights. We cannot win these battles without you, and for that, we are grateful.”

During SCI’s May Board Meeting, our leadership confirmed that the issues below are critical to protecting the freedom to hunt and continuing proven sustainable-use conservation policies here and around the world:

• Supporting a No-Net-Loss policy to maintain or increase hunting and fishing access nationwide, encompassing physical, economic, and informational access to foster responsible stewardship of natural resources.
• Reform of the Endangered Species Act to better incorporate the vital role of state wildlife management and conservation as well as to allow for better implementation and recognition of successful international conservation efforts.
• Sustainable conservation funding generated by proven strategies like the Pittman-Robertson model.

In addition, SCI Board Members lobbied in support of the following legislative priorities in the 118^th Congress:

• H.R. 7408: The America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, introduced by House Resources Chair and former SCI Federal Legislator of the Year Bruce Westerman, would modernize the Endangered Species Act to promote recovery of listed species and invest in state-led wildlife management, empowering states to control management policy for the wildlife within their borders.
• H.R. 764: The Trust the Science Act requires reissuance of regulations removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act, completing over 20 years of bipartisan efforts to delist recovery wolves. This bill has passed the House, and we encourage the Senate to take up and pass H.R. 764 as soon as possible.
• H.R. 615/S. 1185: The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act would prohibit the banning of lead ammunition on public lands without sufficient scientific justification. This bill protects hunter choice and recognizes the lack of scientific evidence to support a broad ban or phaseout of lead ammunition and tackle. This bill has passed the House, and we encourage the Senate to take up and pass S. 1185 as soon as possible.
• H.R. 6727/S. 618: The US Foundation for International Conservation Act would establish the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation, a public/private funded effort to drive $1 billion towards international conservation over the next five years. The funds are to be directed to nations who, among other stability requirements, direct the money towards improvement efforts such as sustainable use hunting conservation.
• H.R. 6492/S. 873: The bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act works to make it easier for disabled hunters to go afield, improve and build public shooting ranges, and reduce barriers for America’s hunters to access public land. This bill has passed the House, and we encourage the Senate to take up and pass its Senate companion, S.873, the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA).

Lastly, May’s Board Meeting solidified a 5 percent increase in the size of SCI’s chapter network this year. This was celebrated as the board voted to incorporate three brand new chapters:

1. The SCI Coastal Empire Chapter: A regional chapter in the Savannah, Georgia and Bluffton, South Carolina area with Mr. Tom Potere as the inaugural President.
2. The SCI Mid-South Chapter: A new chapter representing the Memphis, Tennessee area with Mr. Brent Marcum as the inaugural President.
3. The SCI Lubbock Sportsman’s Club: A chapter based out of Lubbock, Texas with Mr. Roger Key as the inaugural President.

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By Benjamin R. Hess

Originally published in the January/February issue of SAFARI Magazine. 

When my wife and I had the opportunity to go to South Africa for a 10-day hunt in the bush, I was beyond excited. We purchased the hunt with Diekie Muller Safaris during an auction at the 2023 SCI Convention in Nashville. 

I had never been to South Africa, and my wife, Kristin, had not been since she was a little girl with her father.

But we have a 6-year-old daughter. Was this trip something she could do? 

We had mixed feelings and some apprehension as we discussed and planned our trip. Could she manage the long flight? Would she or should she go out on the hunts? Would my wife or I have to stay back with her? What is a 6-year-old going to do at a hunt camp in the bush of South Africa for 10 days? 

We discussed our concerns with our hosts, Diekie and his son Dawie, at Diekie Muller Safaris, who reassured us that they had a plan. They let us know that they have hosted families with young children before. 

For the trophies on our hunt list, they felt we would not need the whole 10 days and recommended we split our trip into two parts: spend the first half hunt and the remaining days on a private guided tour through Kruger National Park. 

Additionally, on the drive from Johannesburg to camp, to give our little girl a little taste of Africa, we would make a stop along the way at an elephant sanctuary where we would have an opportunity to see and interact with several rescued elephants. We agreed it was a great plan.

Our first stop in South Africa was Adventures with Elephants near Bela-Bela. Rory Hensman and his family have rescued and rehabilitated countless orphaned and injured elephants since the late 1980s.

Today it educates, promotes conservation, and offers the chance to get up close and personal with the largest of all land-dwelling mammals. Our daughter loved it. She stood with, fed, loved on and learned so much about these magnificent animals. I could see her excitement about Africa growing.

We arrived at camp at Diekie Muller Safaris late in the morning and were welcomed by our hosts Diekie and his delightful wife, Hettie. You instantly felt as if you were back together with family and friends that you had not seen in way too long. 

Diekie, an accomplished hunter in his own right, is also a member of PHASA, the Professional Hunting Association of South Africa and currently serves on the executive committee. 

The property in the Limpopo Province was beautiful, remote, traditional and everything that I imagined it should be. Set upon the red African earth, the property came complete with baobab trees, palms, cacti, a mature orange orchard, garden and lodges ornamented with amazing trophy animals, each with its own exciting hunt story. 

There were four main buildings, all with thatched roofs: Diekie and Hettie’s home, a guest house, the house for the PHs and one where we’d have our family style home cooked meals. We enjoyed eland tenderloin, kudu stew, as well as the evening braais with a good brandy and Coke in hand. 

We were introduced to what my daughter would come to affectionately call the fox terrier nation. When not on the game trail, these dogs were sweet and playful, and our daughter fell instantly in love. 

Our hunts took place over 30,000 acres of sprawling bushveld, dense woods and open plains that teemed with wildlife. The property boasted 43 different species and included wildebeest (blue and royal), impala (common and black), ostrich, zebra, blesbok, giraffe, eland, kudu, Cape buffalo, sable and roan to name a few. Our quarry for the week was sable, roan, kudu and gemsbok.

It was amazing to be out with my girls. Seeing, feeling and experiencing this beautiful place, I could see Kristin’s soul smiling as we rode around in the open-air safari outfitted Toyota Hilux that served as our hunting vehicle. With her little binos affixed to her eyes, our daughter was happy as could be, scanning and calling out the animals she spotted.

We were successful in our hunts, harvesting a 54-inch kudu bull, a beautiful 28-inch roan and my wife’s monster sable with an SCI score of 106.5. 

The best hunt story of the week was, by far, my wife and the pursuit of her gemsbok. 

They had eluded her all week. They were skittish, tucked too deep in the bush, moved before a good shot could be taken or only coming out at dusk when visibility was poor. She had come to joke as the week went on and the encounters passed that “that wasn’t the right one anyway.”

As the week grew on and confidence and hope were beginning to wane, on our last day of hunting, the stars aligned. We had been moving most of the morning through the dense bushveld, seeing the occasional gemsbok horns through the thicket, but unable to get close enough or them be still enough for a shot. We decided then to move out of the dense bush. As we did, we found ourselves in a large open field and there they were. 

A grouping of 10-12 several hundred yards away were too far for a safe, confident shot. As we approached, the group moved from the open field and dove quickly back into the bush. My wife, Dawie and Jaco moved quietly on foot through the bush as my daughter and I stayed on the truck. 

Back and forth my wife and the gemsboks moved from open field to bush and back again. If they were not running across the open, they would be tucked into the thickest of the thorn trees not allowing you to get close. 

After what seemed like forever, the group settled down all together back in the open. Sun overhead scattered wispy clouds, a slight breeze over the shoulder from right to left and her moment came. 

Dawie was able to get eyes on the gemsbok she had been waiting for. They shuffled back and forth amongst each other like a shell game until finally there it stood, unobstructed, broadside facing left at 225 yards. 

As if taken from a pages of “The Perfect Shot,” she calmly put that .308 bullet right on the money. She was exhausted and elated. It measured at 39 and 38 inches with 7 ½-inch bases. 

It was the hunt that she will never forget. The struggles and challenges of the preceding days paired with a terrific shot, made for an epic experience. For my daughter to see her Mama do hard things, persist and be successful, makes the experience all the sweeter for all of us.

The next morning, we prepared for our trip to Kruger National Park. Ronnie Haywood, who owns African Adventures based out of Lephalale, picked us up. Upon first meeting Ronnie, you feel as if you are catching up with an old friend. He is tall, kind with a joyful smile, excited and professional. We would spend our remaining five days in South Africa with him. 

When my wife and I were planning our tour with Ronnie, we expressed how important it was for our daughter to see more than the beautiful parks and animals of Africa. 

We wanted to go to a school, a small local village, a medical clinic and interact with the people. My wife and I have done decades of medical mission trips all over the world. She grew up on medical mission fields internationally since she was 5. 

Interacting and playing with other children around the world make up some of her fondest memories. So, for us, it was paramount our daughter had a similar experience at an early age. 

For those of us fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to travel internationally and experience distinct cultures and ways of life, you cannot put a price on the way it enriches you.

In the days that followed, we traveled with Ronnie and Jaco and shared many experiences. We met a village healer and learned about her traditional methods for treating illnesses. 

We saw a mobile medical clinic, which was little more than a retrofitted minivan. We bought and delivered food from a local market to a school where we played and interacted with preschool children. 

It’s true that no matter where you are in the world, children are children and even when you don’t speak the language, kindness, smiles and fun stickers are a universal language. 

Our time in Kruger National Park was breathtaking. Our journey began at its western gate at Phalaborwa. It teemed with wildlife, rolling bushvelds, open plains, rivers and craggy rock formations. 

We marveled at herds of Cape buffalo, elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippo and even saw lions feeding on a fresh wildebeest kill. All the quintessential big African game animals were on display and countless species of birds. 

Our last evening, before exiting south out of the park at the Phabeni Gate and heading back to Joburg, we sat overlooking the Sable River in Skukuza as the African sun set. 

Savoring every remaining moment we had, that night we enjoyed a traditional Braai, cooked up impala sausages and relived our favorite moments of the past 10 days as the Southern Cross rose in the sky above us. 

It was a trip of a lifetime indeed, but not once in a lifetime. We will be back, that is for certain. The experiences I had with my wife and daughter are priceless. 

I will treasure countless memories, such as piggybacking my little girl through the bushveld as we tracked animals, or watching my wife’s heart swell and soul smile as she got lost gazing into the African sunset. 

The opportunity to hunt here is no doubt amazing, but Africa is not just a hunting destination. You do not have to be an avid hunter to go and enjoy it. There is so much more to experience. 

As R. Elliot once wrote, “If you only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa twice.”

Benjamin R. Hess, M.D., is an SCI member who lives in Griffin, Georgia.  

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