African Outfitter is an independent international bimonthly publication promoting
fair hunting and ethical business practices within the hunting industry.
From a hunting perspective, the preservation of biodiversity on the
African continent is the first and foremost priority. The emphasis
is however also on the sustainable utilisation of wildlife.

Herman Jonker

Sexing chickens and serving buck - Herman Jonker

I once met a man who, when I asked him what he did, replied, "I'm a chicken sexer".

"Well, uh, I actually meant what you do for a living - your job?" I corrected the poor, deviant soul.
"I'm a chicken sexer," he assured me.

Turned out he was an expert at determining the sex of day-old chicks, an important task since the little cockerels and hens have to be raised on separate diets in order for them to become either good table fare or productive layers of eggs.

I have sympathy with that man, since I too cringe when people ask me what I do and I have to answer that I'm a PH.
"A pee-aitch?? What's that?"
"Professional hunter."

Then there it goes again - the raised eyebrows: "Shame on you – is there anything whatsoever left to shoot out there?". No problem. You know you're talking to someone who goes through life with his head buried in the sand and who doesn't have the faintest idea of what's happening beyond the city limits. So you ignore him and rather start picking your nose. It's more productive than trying to bring such a person round to the 21st century.

But not everybody is that backward in their grasp of reality. Another standard response is:
"Oh, so you go around shooting things and get paid for it?"
"No, that's someone who culls", you reply.
"But you shoot a lot of animals?"
"No, actually if I do my job correctly, I don't shoot at all."
"Oh," (surprised) "so why do you call yourself a hunter if you don't do any shooting?"
"Well, uh, actually a PH does hunt. He has to find the right animal and guide a hunting client to it and manage the whole affair."
"Oh." (Even more surprised) "So the guy who shoots is not a hunter?"
"Yes, he is. Or rather; he's supposed to be, but often he doesn't have the knowledge or experience of local conditions, so the PH has to see to it that he gets his buck and that all is safe and kosher."
"But surely that would make you a guide – why don't you just call yourself a hunting guide then?"
"Because that's something else again. A guide does the same thing but not for paying clients from overseas. He's not a professional."
"Does he do it for free then, as a hobby?"
"Ehhh . . . no."
"Oh." (Totally puzzled.) "Exactly what is a PH then?"

Someone who hunts animals is a hunter. And a hunter usually shoots animals. Yet in South Africa someone whose profession is to shoot animals full time – even though there is a difference between culling and hunting – is not a professional hunter. Someone who guides local hunters on hunts, even when it is his full-time profession, is also not a professional hunter. Neither is someone whose sole occupation is to hunt and exterminate problem animals. He may be a hunting professional, but he is not a professional hunter.

The taxman may consider anyone who derives an income from hunting as a professional hunter, yet these people are not allowed to call themselves professional hunters. They are also not eligible for insurance, representation or other benefits that may be available to professional hunters.

A professional hunter, according to the book, is a person who guides paying hunters who are not normally resident in South Africa, and who is qualified and licensed to do so.

A professional hunter, as viewed by starry-eyed adolescents dreaming of a job that promises adventure but not effort, is someone who tears up the wilderness in a green Jeep, shoots lions at his leisure and hangs around the beer fridge in safari camps in a macho khaki outfit.

But what – in reality – does a PH do?

Often, despite the expenses of qualifying, registering and even offering to work for free in order to maintain his license, he may be unemployed since there are far fewer jobs going than candidates coming on stream. So the "professional" hunter may have a profession, but not necessarily a job.

Should he find a job, chances are he may be forced to spend most of his working time fixing game fences, chauffeuring clients, doing general farm work and a lot of the dirty work. So the professional "hunter" does not necessarily do much hunting, unless he's made it to the fore in the business.

And if he is successful? If he is indeed the true, brawny PH who carries a double rifle, who drinks single malts with VIP clients and pursues rare beasts regularly?

Well, then he does what a PH does. He's a waiter who serves specific animals to discerning hunters, a butler who tends to clients' needs, a councillor who talks them through trauma, a handyman who fixes things when they break, a crew foreman, a strategist, a PR man, a shopping advisor, a gunsmith, a tutor, a bodyguard and not least; a curator of egos.

Even being a chicken sexer is much simpler I imagine, and a less confusing job description. That's why, when asked what I do, I prefer to reply – quite truthfully – that I do odd jobs around hunting camps. I find it much easier than trying to explain what a professional hunter is.

And then I just hope I won't be asked that other difficult question:
"Who do you work for?"
"An outfitter."
"You're in the hunting business but you work for a clothing store?!"