Melorani was Stewart s parents' ranch, and in 1986 Stewart converted from cattle to wild game, stocking only animals native to the area. Now all of his animals are wild and self-sustaining, and he s reestablishing other native species. He has a small herd of Cape buffalo, and he released white rhinos onto his property while we were there. Antihunters refuse to admit that hunting is responsible for the health and welfare of wild game in South Africa, Stewart said. If hunting had not given wild game economic value, the animals would simply be exterminated.
Native peoples see no value in wild game, only cattle.
Stewart has about 20 permanent blinds on his property pits, treestands, ground blinds, elevated boxes. Most are on water, but some overlook mineral licks and travel corridors. You can still-hunt and stalk, but when conditions are right meaning dry blinds are most productive. After our tour that first morning, Larry and I climbed into treestands about 3 p.m. To shoot video, we had two stands adjacent to each other so Larry could shoot his camera over my shoulder.