Let's Talk Trophy Hunting.

[Northern Shooter]

What do you think about Trophy Hunting? Have you ever done it? Would you consider doing so?

This conservation came up with a handful of the older guys I hunt with the other day and their answers had me taken aback.

All but one were adamant that they would never trophy hunt, that trophy hunting was unethical, that trophy hunting was not hunting etc.

I was bringing up the hunting African Game as an example where the use of trophy hunting is used in conservation efforts. Every single one of them believed that trophy hunting was not meat hunting and that all meat was wasted once the animal was harvested.

A couple of them were against the idea of "scoring" trophies altogether even though these guys have hunted for "12 point bucks" and "Boone & Crockett" moose/bear etc. This distinction was lost on them.

Which camp do you belong to?

 

[elKrusto]

I guess someone would have to define the meaning of trophy hunting.
Every year, whether it is bear, cougar or deer, I turn down several opportunities on smaller animals, and hold out for the biggest one I can find. More often than not, I go without shooting anything for the season.
When I do shoot something, I take out all the meat and eat it. If that is trophy hunting, then yes, I am a trophy hunter. What is wrong with that?

 

[leonard_e]

From what I gather those boys have trophy hunting confused with poaching. Why is it such a common trend for people to associate “trophy hunting” with poaching? Can you not eat a “trophy” elk? African hunting is not “trophy hunting”. It is hunting. If they are wasting edible meat then damn them, but from what I understand this is not usually the case.

Strange how folks who call themselves hunters would so readily adopt the leftist/radical environmentalist definition of the phrase “trophy hunting”.

 

[Ribstaylor]

I know many people who set their land up to essentially grow large bucks. They track them for years, even naming them, collecting their sheds and only when they are at a size and age they find worthy of shooting do they get shot. This is technically trophy hunting, and no meat is wasted. Personally I think if you have the land this is the way to do it. I view it as proper game management as do many people in Africa. There is nothing wrong with it, and anyone claiming the meat goes to waste is ignorant of the processes involved.

 

[Northern Shooter]

From what I gather those boys have trophy hunting confused with poaching. Why is it such a common trend for people to associate “trophy hunting” with poaching? Can you not eat a “trophy” elk? African hunting is not “trophy hunting”. It is hunting. If they are wasting edible meat then damn them, but from what I understand this is not usually the case.

Strange how folks who call themselves hunters would so readily adopt the leftist/radical environmentalist definition of the phrase “trophy hunting”.

They are definitely misconstruing poaching with hunting. I know a few people who think African hunting involves shooting a game animal, cutting off the tusk/boss/head etc and leaving the carcass to rot where it lay.

I think it comes down to certain species having desirable "trophy" features that rubs people the wrong way, there is the assumption that the game is not harvested for the meat.

 

[track]

I'm a trophy hunter. If you read my signature line, I probably saved many lives of animals. I haven't shot a whitetail buck in the past 5 hunting seasons. Every year I pass-up 40 to 50 bucks while hunting. Antelope, mule deer and whitetail are the only trophies I persue. Meat never goes to waste and it's consumed by myself, family members and neighbours. To be honest, I hunt to hunt. I love being in the wilderness searching for Mr. Big, and if I don't find him, I'll try the following year, that simple.

 

[jlovie]

If the meat gets eaten by someone, I'm not concerned what other folks do with a head and cape. In my area, we have larger bucks but nothing I would call a trophy for most and I'm fine with that. If I see a buck or a doe, in decent size, I shoot it and we all eat it. If you are in an area that you can afford to pass up shots, that's great! You payed for your tag, the same as me, use it in the way you see fit.

 

[4fifty8]

Nice to have these sure add to my decor & keeps fresh the memories of great hunts. https://i.imgur.com/pgX7KDg.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/5SnY9yk.jpg

And I make a pretty mean pot of venison chili. https://i.imgur.com/hJkTA6Q.jpg

 

[conor_90]

I hunt for meat and enjoy cooking and processing as much as hunting.

I have thought of going on international hunts but the idea of not getting to keep my meat really irks me.

I am a weirdo though, I don't generally take pictures. I used to nail "trophies" to my exes dad's shed when he was alive, but that was because he liked them.

The only trophies I have are a couple of whitetail antlers I have sitting in a wooden bowl a couple feet from me as I sit on my couch having the flu. I had a bear skull but I gave it to a friend for his grade 8 class.

I don't begrudge anyone who feels differently. Though I will never understand dumping a bears body in the woods and taking the hide, or shooting an elk and giving the meat away and buying chicken breasts at costco

 

[Butcherbill]

The whole animal is the trophy as far as I see it, the skull/antlers, meat, the experience of that particular hunt and moment.

It’s all hunting, use as much of the animal as possible and have respect for it and I have no issues what you call it.

 

[BlackRam]

I am a meat hunter first...primary goal is to put meat on the table for family and friends who share out tables.

Trophies, are what you make of them. Whether it be a horn or antler set aside or proudly displayed or worked into some craft.
I have mounts and skins...but I do it to honour and preserve the animal, share with others, and remind me of the experience and time spent afield with family and friends!

If the animal is killed for just the skin or antler, and the rest wasted, then that is a shame and should not be condoned in any manner. Have witnessed this myself first hand...

If the meat cannot be taken home by the hunter, and regulations may prevent that, but if the meat is going to good use somewhere, by those who need it, then I am fine with that, and I do not have any issue there. At least it is valued and shared.
This is the case in most guided hunting scenarios around the world. Much of the meat is donated to local families and needy. Even here in Canada, most Salvation Army locations will take donated wild game for distribution to those in need.

I was not aware that bringing the meat home from New Zealand amy be an option until after our trip...but we enjoyed the meat of the red stag and fallow buck while there, and the remainder of the meat was utilized. If/when I manage to go again, I will be better versed on trying to bring some of the meat home (within the allowable limits as imposed by regulation of up to 100 lbs???). For our trip to Africa next year, we know we aren't/can't bringing the meat home, but will get to eat some while there, with the remainder going to local families and schools.

 

[BigRobb]

Was brought up being taught that if you shoot it, you eat it. Not taste it or donate it. Eat it. To each their own though…

 

[Longwalker]

I must be the worst of the worst then. I've been on several hunts in Germany, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe when I hunted animals for neither personal consumption or trophies, but just for the wonderful experience. All meat was handled properly and fed someone else, and some of the "trophy" bits like horns and hides were retained by others or simply discarded. I enjoyed those hunts, everything was legal, the hunting contributed to the conservation and management of the game animals and the ecosystem, and I provided local employment and foreign currency to those economies. It's a big world out there. And so many are very poorly informed what really goes on in it. If Canadian hunters are so misinformed and erroneous in their opinions as the bunch mentioned in the first post, we're doomed.

 

[Longwalker]

This is how "trophy hunt" meat gets used in some of the international destinations I've hunted... Processing and distributing Elephant and Wildebeest meat in Zimbabwe, Gemsbok and Cape Buffalo in Namibia, Wild Boar in Germany. All would be called "trophy" hunts by most people. No trophies were retained by me, not that it matters. I did have some wonderful meals in camp and tried at least some of each animal hunted. Those ladies squatting around a pile of zebra guts are happily cleaning them for sausage casings. The local people in African countries are very grateful to receive game meat, and in Germany all game is property of the landowner and is typically sold to support forest management. A German hunter can buy the game he shot from the landowner if he wants.

 

[medvedqc]

I must be the worst of the worst then. I've been on several hunts in Germany, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe when I hunted animals for neither personal consumption or trophies, but just for the wonderful experience. All meat was handled properly and fed someone else, and some of the "trophy" bits like horns and hides were retained by others or simply discarded. I enjoyed those hunts, everything was legal, the hunting contributed to the conservation and management of the game animals and the ecosystem, and I provided local employment and foreign currency to those economies. It's a big world out there. And so many are very poorly informed what really goes on in it. If Canadian hunters are so misinformed and erroneous in their opinions as the bunch mentioned in the first post, we're doomed.

This is how "trophy hunt" meat gets used in some of the international destinations I've hunted... Processing and distributing Elephant and Wildebeest meat in Zimbabwe, Gemsbok in Namibia, wild boar in Germany. All would be called "trophy" hunts by most people. No trophies were retained by me, not that it matters. I did have some wonderful meals in camp and tried at least some of each animal hunted. The local people in African countries are very happy to receive game meat, and in Germany all game is property of the landowner and is typically sold to support forest management. A German hunter can buy the game he shot from the landowner if he wants.

it is very hard to understand when you have not been there.

just in CAR our hunts benefitted to 6 to 8 villages in the middle of nowhere regarding to jobs and meat, avoiding poaching and those jobs were helping as well schools and dispensaries.

in certain countries in europe hunters can purchase the meat otherwise it is sold on the market and generating money. in my hunting club we were sharing the meat but we had to do a lot of work to prevent damages from game otherwise fines were huge. we had to shoot wildboars at night and that sometimes not pleasant to look for them ... so hunting trophy or not is very different regarding of the country the tradition or the laws.

i will not talk about hunting method that are forbidden in canada and used mainly will it be in europe or africa.

thank you longwalker to bring a very good point of view.

 

[DGY]

I only hunted in Canada, and I only hunt to put meat in the freezer, never passed on a moose because his antlers were too small, if it happens that the antlers are of a good size I keep them, but more often than not I don’t!

 

[Hunter7]

It annoys the crap out of me when the tree huggers refer to most hunters as “trophy hunters”. Hunting is hunting, if a person likes to hold out for the big buck, moose, bear etc. that’s their prerogative. As long as the animal is taken legally and the meat utilized what is the difference. I always ask them if it would make them feel better if I shot Bambi instead of his Grandad. When it comes to African hunting they always seem to confuse legal hunting with poaching. They seem to think that legal hunters just aimlessly wander around in Africa shooting everything that moves just to collect “trophy” horns. In Africa you have to hunt with a PH and pay trophy fees for every animal you wish to take, if you draw blood but don’t recover the animal you still pay the fee. You can’t bring meat back BUT the meat is not wasted and every bit of the animal is used by the local communities.

 

[Mr.Rigpig]

Nothing better than good deer sausage, a moose roast, or some elk steaks.... How could someone not utilize that? Big antlers are just a bonus, but don't taste as good.

 

[jbmauser]

Depends on what I'm hunting for but generally I hold out for a mature buck when it comes to deer. I find the challenge of it makes the hunt far more special. I also have a lot of mounts and euro mounts to display all the mature animals I've take over the years. Of course the meat is super important regardless of whether it's a big buck or a calf elk. None if it gets wasted, great care is taken to make sure its cares for properly.

The idea that trophy hunting is bad or that the meat is wasted is years of propaganda by the media and anti hunting groups. People need to do some research.

 

[jbmauser]

I should add that I personally find it wasteful to shoot a beautiful buck or whatever and then just throw the antlers out. I don't know, I like keeping and displaying them to honor the animal as well as to remember the hunt and time spent with family or whatever. I like to save and utilize as much of the animal as possible. To each their own tho. Just my personal feelings.

I just wish people would do some research instead of attacking "trophy hunting " with false claims of wasting meat etc.