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Southern District, Botswana: Authorized Game Seasons, Rules, Access Regulations, Penalties for Violations, Preparation Timeline, and Equipment Checklist
Southern District in Botswana is a sought-after destination for hunters eager to experience rich biodiversity in well-preserved natural habitats. A clear grasp of the hunting seasons, applicable rules, and wildlife behavior is vital for an ethical, legal, and fruitful hunt. This guide details the prescribed hunting periods, licensing process, key restrictions, penalties for infractions, and expert advice on preparation and tactics.
1. Hunting Seasons and Regional Regulations in Southern District
Hunting in Southern District adheres strictly to Botswana’s national wildlife management policies aimed at conservation and sustainability. The general hunting season spans from April through September, matching the dry season when animals concentrate around dwindling water points, facilitating easier tracking and responsible harvesting.
Key Hunting Periods:
April–September: Primary hunting season across the district, capitalizing on animal congregation and sparse vegetation.
May–September: Optimal for plains game species like kudu, impala, and wildebeest, taking advantage of peak movement at dawn and dusk.
June–August: Best time for big game such as lion, leopard, and buffalo when visibility improves due to cooler temperatures.
April–August: Bird hunting period, aligning with migratory species presence.
Influential Factors:
Botswana’s semi-arid climate and wildlife breeding cycles dictate strict open and closed seasons to sustain wildlife populations.
In comparison to neighboring South Africa, Botswana maintains stricter hunting quotas and generally shorter seasons to prevent overharvesting.
Conservation reforms, including a nationwide temporary hunting ban from 2014 to 2019, have led to tighter regulations and reduced quotas since reopening.
2. Seasonal Patterns and Game Activity
Wildlife activity patterns in Southern District fluctuate according to species and season. Big game animals such as lions, leopards, and buffalo are most accessible between June and August, when cooler weather enhances sightlines and the dry environment compels animals to frequent permanent waterholes more regularly. Plains game—including kudu, impala, and wildebeest—are actively moving and feeding from May through September, with early morning and late afternoon identified as prime periods when animals are most visible due to cooler ambient temperatures.
Bird species like guinea fowl and ducks are actively hunted from April to August, coinciding with migration cycles and suitable climatic conditions. These months provide ample opportunities for bird hunters seeking variety alongside traditional big and plains game.
The district hosts the annual Kalahari Hunting Expo every June, a prominent event that showcases local outfitters, conservation programs, and the latest hunting equipment, fostering a strong community of ethical hunting practitioners.
3. Restrictions and Protected Species in Southern District
Conservation laws in Southern District impose strict protections on endangered and vulnerable species. Hunting is expressly forbidden for rhinos, cheetahs, and wild dogs due to their precarious conservation status. Elephants and leopards are only available under highly regulated quotas and require special permits that limit hunting to specific individuals or numbers.
Additional restrictions protect breeding females and juveniles to ensure population viability. National parks and reserves, including the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, are strictly off-limits to hunting—providing vital refuges where wildlife can thrive without human pressure. Compliance with these restrictions is mandatory and enforced through regular monitoring and legal penalties.
4. Obtaining a Hunting License in the Region
To hunt legally in Southern District, applicants must obtain all required permits, including a valid passport, firearm permit if needed, and proof of hunting experience. Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) manages licensing, following quotas and regulations.
Hunters often collaborate with local associations and outfitters. The Botswana Wildlife Management Association (BWMA) oversees quotas and licensing, the Professional Hunters’ Association of Botswana (PHAB) provides accredited guides, and the Southern District Hunting Club organizes group hunts and promotes conservation.
5. Penalties for Violating Hunting Periods in Southern District
Penalties for non-compliance with hunting regulations in Southern District are severe to deter illegal activities and protect wildlife. Illegal hunting may result in fines exceeding $10,000, imprisonment, and confiscation of firearms and trophies. Hunting without appropriate licenses leads to immediate deportation and blacklisting from future hunting in Botswana.
Offenses involving protected species receive especially harsh punishment under national law. These stringent consequences highlight Botswana’s zero-tolerance approach toward poaching and unauthorized hunting, crucial for safeguarding its precious wildlife heritage.
6. Tips for Timing, Gear, and Hunting Strategies
For the best results hunting in Southern District, plan your day around animal activity—early mornings and late afternoons offer peak chances as animals avoid midday heat.
Essential gear includes lightweight camouflage for bushveld, a high-caliber rifle (.375 H&H minimum for big game), binoculars or spotting scopes, GPS, and a first-aid kit. Local guides improve tracking and ensure compliance with rules and landowner permissions. Hunters should combine still hunting in dense areas with spot-and-stalk in open savanna, adapting to terrain and game behavior.
Equipment checklist: hunting license and permits, .375 H&H rifle, first-aid kit, GPS and satellite phone, suitable camouflage, binoculars or spotting scopes.
Best Dog Breeds for Shed Hunters
A pro trainer weighs in on the traits you should look for in an antler-finding dog
At the beginning of every shed hunting season, I always imagine the treasure trove of deer antlers I will find. Then, reality sets in. I end up with a few good antlers, a bunch of dinks, and some weird stuff. This year, I found a ram’s horn. Last year, it was a toilet seat. At the end of it all, I always think about what a good year it would’ve been if I’d just gotten a dang antler dog.
That sparked a conversation with Dog Bone’s Jeremy Moore about the best dog breeds for shed hunters. “I don’t know if there is such a thing,” Moore says. “I think it depends completely on matching you with the right dog. It’s a stylistic and preference thing more than anything.”
So, if you were hoping for a definitive list of the top 10 shed hunting breeds, this isn’t it. The good news is, you have a real chance of getting the dog you already have – or the one you want – to start finding antlers. Here’s what to think about.
Nature vs. Nurture
All dogs have noses good enough to smell antlers. The number of olfactory receptors that a certain breed has isn’t as important as its other qualities – like retrieving. That’s not to say sniffing, pointing and flushing dogs can’t make good shed dogs, but the specific traits bred into them aren’t as necessary for this activity. Therefore, dogs that naturally retrieve have a considerable advantage.
“Natural retrieval is really desirable,” Moore says. “I’m a fan of minimizing what has to happen there. I hate having to train stuff into a dog that I shouldn’t have to. Any sporting dog has the tools to do it.”
If you end up with a dog breed that doesn’t naturally retrieve, Moore encourages using tennis balls to teach this discipline. He says he can get almost any dog to chase one. Just pour a little of Dog Bone’s Liquid Scent on it and get after it. Once they take to bringing back the ball, graduate to a soft (not hard) synthetic antler.
The Best Breeds
While we don’t have an official ranked list for you, Moore does have a list of his favorite breeds for the job. He says the best dogs aren’t trained to use their nose, or to retrieve. “We bring it out of them. It’s in them naturally,” Moore says. “We shape it to match what we want.”
If you don’t already have a dog and want a shed-specific pup, consider these breeds. Moore’s list includes Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds, Malinois (Belgium shepherds), English setters, beagles, German wirehaired pointers and bloodhounds. According to him, they exhibit the best natural traits, trainability, personality and intelligence.
Retrievers: Labrador retrievers are solid choices. “Labs are obviously the most common, but it’s because there are more of them,” Moore says. “They’re very versatile – perhaps the most of all.” Moore also likes golden retrievers and describes them as long-haired labs. They have great retrieving skills, good noses and awesome personalities.
Setters and Pointers: Commonly used as bird dogs, English setters and German wirehaired pointers both do well as antler dogs. Even if their pointing and flushing skills aren’t applicable, they have adequate noses and excel at retrieving.
Trailers: The last grouping of his favorite dogs are search animals with some of the best noses in the canine world. Beagles have 225 million olfactory receptors. German shepherds and Malinois (Belgium shepherds) have 250 million, and the bloodhound is the king sniffer with 300 million. (Compare that to a human’s paltry 5 million.) These dogs excel at finding sheds, but aren’t innate retrievers.
Other Breeds: American foxhounds, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, German shorthair pointers, Weimaraners and other breeds can make good antler dogs, and are commonly touted as such. But Moore doesn’t get as excited about those. He says Chesapeakes are more independent and harder to handle, and GSPs and Weimaraners don’t fit his own personality. Some other breeds – such as American foxhounds – he just doesn’t have experience with. While these breeds aren’t his favorites, Moore says they likely still have the tools to get the job done.
Any Dog Will Do
Breeds aside, Moore believes the best dog for shed hunting is probably the one you already have.
“I don’t think it makes sense to go get a new dog to do this,” he says. “If you have a hunting dog of any sort, and you’re thinking about shed hunting, one-hundred percent start with the dog you have. The question is how successful you are with it, and that comes back to the skillsets the dog already has.”
Don’t worry about ruining that prize-winning upland bird, waterfowl, rabbit or field-trial dog. Training them to shed hunt only creates more value, and it won’t detract from what they already do. It’s not the same as teaching a coon dog to run deer or a rabbit dog to tree a squirrel. If taught properly, your dog will learn to find white gold.
“I think it has to do with matching the right style of dog to the right style of training,” Moore says. For shed hunting, “retrieving and trainability are the most valuable traits in dogs. You want a dog with a willingness to please, and intelligence is more important than anything.”
While we aren’t going to cover how to train a dog in this article, you should make sure your dog has a good obedience foundation first.
“Regardless if it’s a puppy or older dog, just don’t go straight into shed training. You’ll fall flat on your face,” Moore says. “It takes a really solid foundation first, then shed training. I use the same method to teach the foundation, regardless of the breed. Then my shed hunting training programs vary based on breed.”
My Shed Dog Plans
Personally, I plan to purchase a shed hunting dog by the end of the year. My goal is to teach it to shed hunt and, in time, maybe even recover deer. Of course, I’ll have to educate myself before I can do either.
And I still haven’t decided on a breed. It will likely be a Lab, but I haven’t ruled out a golden retriever, German shepherd or bloodhound. I’m not an expert dog trainer, so the Lab and golden retriever’s innate retrieving skills are attractive to me. The noses of shepherds and bloodhounds are unmatched, however, and likely better at sniffing out both antlers and dead deer.
But as Moore says, even little dogs like Yorkies have a nose for sheds. So, while I’ll have to remove the hair bows and dog sweaters before we head afield, maybe there’s hope for my wife’s cat-sized Maltipoo after all. Her name? Buttercup.
