PH Journals Podcast

South Africa's conservation model is under the spotlight. But are we asking the right questions? In this episode of PH Journals, I unpack a recent Daily Maverick article about Cape Town's proposed baboon sanctuary and use it as a starting point for a much bigger conversation about wildlife management, hunting and the future of conservation in South Africa. As a professional hunter, I've spent years working with wildlife and seeing firsthand what it takes to manage land, protect animals and sustain a conservation economy. I believe hunting has played an important role in creating economic incentives for landowners to protect wildlife and maintain natural habitat. So why are we sometimes so quick to question hunting's contribution to conservation, while other management approaches receive less scrutiny? In this episode, I share my personal perspective on: The proposed relocation of approximately 60 baboons into a sanctuary near Cape Town. The public funding commitments behind baboon management and the importance of financial transparency. Whether we are solving human-wildlife conflict or simply managing its consequences. My observations of baboon conflict in rural areas and why targeted management deserves consideration. The role of hunting in South Africa's conservation economy. The influence of animal-protection organisations in wildlife-management decisions. Why every conservation model should be judged on evidence, accountability, cost and long-term results. This isn't an argument that hunting is perfect or that every alternative is wrong. It's about asking whether we're giving every available management tool a fair and honest evaluation. Conservation should be about more than good intentions. It should be about measurable outcomes, sustainable funding and ensuring wildlife has a future. This is my personal opinion as a professional hunter, and I'm interested in hearing yours. Do you believe hunting should have a greater role in wildlife-management decisions? And how should we measure whether conservation funding is actually making a difference? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Disagreement is welcome — let's have an informed conversation. Subscribe to PH Journals for more conversations about hunting, conservation, wildlife and the realities of life in the field.

South Africa's conservation model is under the spotlight. But are we asking the right questions? In this episode of PH Journals, I unpack a recent Daily Maverick article about Cape Town's proposed baboon sanctuary and use it as a starting point for a much bigger conversation about wildlife management, hunting and the future of conservation in South Africa. As a professional hunter, I've spent years working with wildlife and seeing firsthand what it takes to manage land, protect animals and sustain a conservation economy. I believe hunting has played an important role in creating economic incentives for landowners to protect wildlife and maintain natural habitat. So why are we sometimes so quick to question hunting's contribution to conservation, while other management approaches receive less scrutiny? In this episode, I share my personal perspective on: The proposed relocation of approximately 60 baboons into a sanctuary near Cape Town. The public funding commitments behind baboon management and the importance of financial transparency. Whether we are solving human-wildlife conflict or simply managing its consequences. My observations of baboon conflict in rural areas and why targeted management deserves consideration. The role of hunting in South Africa's conservation economy. The influence of animal-protection organisations in wildlife-management decisions. Why every conservation model should be judged on evidence, accountability, cost and long-term results. This isn't an argument that hunting is perfect or that every alternative is wrong. It's about asking whether we're giving every available management tool a fair and honest evaluation. Conservation should be about more than good intentions. It should be about measurable outcomes, sustainable funding and ensuring wildlife has a future. This is my personal opinion as a professional hunter, and I'm interested in hearing yours. Do you believe hunting should have a greater role in wildlife-management decisions? And how should we measure whether conservation funding is actually making a difference? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Disagreement is welcome — let's have an informed conversation. Subscribe to PH Journals for more conversations about hunting, conservation, wildlife and the realities of life in the field.

Do you feel like you're behind in life? Like everyone around you is succeeding, moving forward and figuring things out while you're still trying to find your way? In this episode of Beyond the Camo, Dylan Love talks about feeling behind in life, comparing yourself to others, failure, success, starting over and the pressure we put on ourselves to have everything figured out. Social media makes it incredibly easy to compare your life to someone else's highlight reel. We see the successful businesses, the houses, the relationships, the travel and the achievements — but we rarely see the struggles, failures and uncertainty behind them. The truth is, life isn't a race. You don't have to be where someone else is. You don't have to have everything figured out. And starting again doesn't mean you've failed. Sometimes the biggest setbacks in life become the moments that change your direction completely. In this conversation, we talk about: • Feeling behind in life • Comparing yourself to other people • Social media and unrealistic expectations • Failure and starting again • Redefining success • The pressure men put on themselves • Finding purpose and direction • Learning to appreciate the chapter you're currently in • Why your timeline doesn't have to look like everyone else's You're not behind. You're on your own journey. This is Beyond the Camo — a PH Journals series about the person underneath the hunter, businessman, father and everything else we become. If this conversation means something to you, send it to someone who might need to hear it. 🎙️ PH Journals 🎥 Beyond the Camo 🇿🇦 South Africa

Do you feel like you're behind in life? Like everyone around you is succeeding, moving forward and figuring things out while you're still trying to find your way? In this episode of Beyond the Camo, Dylan Love talks about feeling behind in life, comparing yourself to others, failure, success, starting over and the pressure we put on ourselves to have everything figured out. Social media makes it incredibly easy to compare your life to someone else's highlight reel. We see the successful businesses, the houses, the relationships, the travel and the achievements — but we rarely see the struggles, failures and uncertainty behind them. The truth is, life isn't a race. You don't have to be where someone else is. You don't have to have everything figured out. And starting again doesn't mean you've failed. Sometimes the biggest setbacks in life become the moments that change your direction completely. In this conversation, we talk about: • Feeling behind in life • Comparing yourself to other people • Social media and unrealistic expectations • Failure and starting again • Redefining success • The pressure men put on themselves • Finding purpose and direction • Learning to appreciate the chapter you're currently in • Why your timeline doesn't have to look like everyone else's You're not behind. You're on your own journey. This is Beyond the Camo — a PH Journals series about the person underneath the hunter, businessman, father and everything else we become. If this conversation means something to you, send it to someone who might need to hear it. 🎙️ PH Journals 🎥 Beyond the Camo 🇿🇦 South Africa  

The last client has left, the rifle gets put away and the hunting season finally comes to an end… or does it? In this solo episode of PH Journals, I break down what closing the hunting season actually looks like from both sides of the safari — the client and the Professional Hunter. From a client's perspective, there’s still plenty to take care of after leaving Africa: staying in contact with your PH, following up on trophies, dealing with taxidermy, paperwork and making sure everything from your safari is properly wrapped up. But for the PH, the work continues. It's time to reconnect with clients, check in on their experiences, follow up with taxidermists, work through paperwork, make sure your PH registration is valid, service and maintain the hunting vehicle, check equipment and start preparing and marketing for the next season. And then there's the part that is arguably the most important — knowing when to put the work down and spend quality time with your family. The season might be over, but the relationships, memories and preparation for the next one are only just beginning. Welcome to another PH Playbook.