Lessons From A Deceitful Anti-Hunting Interview

by Michael G. Sabbeth, Esq.

Late last year I followed a link on a Dallas Safari Club (DSC) Facebook page to an audio file of an interview conducted by Emma Barnett, BBC’s Emma Barnett Show, June 17, 2019, of Danene van der Westhuyzen. Danene and her husband, Gyspert, own Aru Safaris, one of the most prestigious outfitters in Namibia. (link to interview: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=403191380289594) I was compelled to listen to the recording because Danene is a friend. Full disclosure: Danene hosted me when I gave two presentations in November 2016 at the Namibia Professional Hunters Association (NAPHA) annual conference in Windhoek.

Listening many times to the interview, I knew that instructive lessons for our hunting community could be distilled. Emma Barnett’s (Barnett) interview was deceitful, dishonest and condescending. Based on my analysis of Barnett’s tactics, I crafted a presentation which Danene and I gave at the 2020 DSC Convention.

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Saving Private Hunting

The Big Picture Can Enhance the 3 Rs

by Michael Sabbeth

I begin with an anecdote. On the first day of class for most of the twenty years or so I taught my ethics program to young children, I handed out a questionnaire. The first question was: “Who are your heroes?” The second question was: “Why are those persons your heroes?” I summarize the answers. To question 1, almost all children named their parents. For question 2, the youngsters described the traits that created their heroes: they made the child stronger; they made the child a better person; they taught the child right from wrong. The children’s heroes inspired them to reach beyond themselves.

I see an analogy to ensuring hunting’s future. Demography is destiny. Hunting’s demographic future is troublesome. We all know hunters are decreasing as are Pittman-Robertson hunting dollars. If it is accurate that hunting is approaching a metaphoric iceberg, and I think it is, then it must rapidly change course and develop agile and effective strategies as the best hope to avoid disaster.

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Why Is “Fun” Fun?

Four Fun Tips To Insure Hunting’s Future

Last hunting season I cooked some pheasant following a classic French recipe for chicken. The key component was the sauce. With lots of ingredients, the preparation time took hours and then three hours more in the oven. The sauce was fantastic!

I have been thinking about that sauce as I write and lecture about 3R and youth hunting programs.  I’ve asked dozens of young hunters why they like to hunt. Without exception, the most frequently stated reason for their attraction is that hunting is fun. Fun—a simple word but a complex concept. When people use words, I want to know precisely what they mean. I’ve gently asked young hunters, “Why is ‘fun’ fun?

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