Trophy Hunting vs Meat/Subsistence Hunting

[bearkilr]

Then perhaps the definitions need to be altered, or a new category introduced.

To me, hockey and football are sports. Hunting purely for meat in the freezer is not in the category of "sport" in my opinion. The fact that I can afford to go to the store and buy meat is irrelevant.

Let's put it this way, if I don't have wild game, or I can't find a local farmer to buy grass-fed, hormone-free meat from, then I do not eat meat. My goal, which I hopefully will reach some day, will be to only eat meat that I have harvested myself. Period.

Will I die if I do not hunt? No, but perhaps I will be eating a lot of beans. I do not think this makes me a "sport hunter".

Maybe "1(B): Self-imposed Subsistence Hunting" is an appropriate sub-category?

Oh, and I do not assume that trophy hunters waste meat. It just seems that their primary concern is "the trophy" and the meat is an afterthought or secondary benefit (like "sport hunting"?). As long as the meat is consumed (if it is fit for consumption) then I have nothing to say about the matter, but I am just not in those categories.

Ok, one simple question:
If someone provided you with a steady supply of wild meat, would that satisfy your need? If yes, then I agree, you're not a sport hunter.
If however, you enjoy being outdoors and hunting while achieving your goal of obtaining meat, then you're a sport hunter. It's actually pretty simple IMO;
-necessity equals subsistence
-enjoyment with the added benefit of meat equals sport hunting

 

[track]

Fill ur boots bud, I just don't agree with those that kill just for the trophy on the wall if ya know what i mean. However, that's just my opinion and I'm not brgrudgeing anybody their choices.

I'm a trophy hunter but haven't hung any whitetails on the wall............ I only pile them up in a heap in my man cave. Is that acceptable to you? The OP asked a black and white question. Do you hunt for trophies or meat? You answered by stating that you hunt for meat and then condemned trophy hunting. It wasen't asked "do you condemn trophy or meat hunting". Threads always become derailed. Opinions are like arses, everyone has one.

 

[GunGuy34]

Ok, one simple question:
If someone provided you with a steady supply of wild meat, would that satisfy your need? If yes, then I agree, you're not a sport hunter.
If however, you enjoy being outdoors and hunting while achieving your goal of obtaining meat, then you're a sport hunter. It's actually pretty simple IMO;
-necessity equals subsistence
-enjoyment with the added benefit of meat equals sport hunting

I would love to be able to get wild meet at the gerocery store, I would never hunt otherwise. I can still go for a hike and enjoy nature without killing the wildlife I see.

 

[trapandhunt]

Love to eat wild game so hunt for food not trophies.

 

[kamlooky]

For those that know how to start a troll, errrrrrr poll, do one up and let's
see what becomes of it...........?

 

[ironsighter]

Ok, one simple question:
If someone provided you with a steady supply of wild meat, would that satisfy your need? If yes, then I agree, you're not a sport hunter.
If however, you enjoy being outdoors and hunting while achieving your goal of obtaining meat, then you're a sport hunter. It's actually pretty simple IMO;
-necessity equals subsistence
-enjoyment with the added benefit of meat equals sport hunting

It isn't this simple to me. It is more cerebral than this.

Basically, I want to take responsibility for the meat my family consumes. I want to be directly involved all parts of the process from selection of the animal, to the humane killing of the animal, to dressing, cutting, packing, and finally preparing it to be consumed.

To answer your question; Yes. However as long as I am able to do it myself, I will, due to the above. When I am too old and frail to do this, I will gladly accept a steady supply of wild meat from those who I have raised or known long enough that I know they share the same respect and appreciation for this natural source of food as I do.

I do enjoy hunting, if that is what you are asking. However I am damned sure that subsistence hunters all over the world, for ages, have also enjoyed it. The adrenaline, pride, and satisfaction is undeniable, but this is universal and does not put one into any of the defined categories because it applies to all of them. So I enjoy it thoroughly, but the image in my mind is sitting at the table with my family and enjoying a great, nutritious meal, not "getting the big buck".

 

[bearkilr]

For those that know how to start a troll, errrrrrr poll, do one up and let's
see what becomes of it...........?

I'm just trying to figure out why it's such a common trait for people to fail to admit why they enjoy hunting? It seems society has brainwashed some into thinking it's a bloodsport, so the only argument they can come up with for why they hunt is "for the meat" and "to feed my family", when in reality I think we all like being outdoors and truly enjoy the thrill of the chase.

Not trying to be a troll and the "subsistence hunting" should be left out of the topic.

 

[GunGuy34]

I'm a trophy hunter but haven't hung any whitetails on the wall............ I only pile them up in a heap in my man cave. Is that acceptable to you? The OP asked a black and white question. Do you hunt for trophies or meat? You answered by stating that you hunt for meat and then condemned trophy hunting. It wasen't asked "do you condemn trophy or meat hunting". Threads always become derailed. Opinions are like arses, everyone has one.

As I said fill your boots. The op asked for opinions if u don't like mine that's fine,ya don't have to take it personally.

 

[bearkilr]

I would love to be able to get wild meet at the gerocery store, I would never hunt otherwise. I can still go for a hike and enjoy nature without killing the wildlife I see.

OK, that's your prerogative. Then you're not a hunter, which is OK as well.

 

[GunGuy34]

I'm just trying to figure out why it's such a common trait for people to fail to admit why they enjoy hunting? It seems society has brainwashed some into thinking it's a bloodsport, so the only argument they can come up with for why they hunt is "for the meat" and "to feed my family", when in reality I think we all like being outdoors and truly enjoy the thrill of the chase.

Not trying to be a troll and the "subsistence hunting" should be left out of the topic.

Agreed, some people just have that primal need to kill.

 

[GunGuy34]

OK, that's your prerogative. Then you're not a hunter, which is OK as well.[/QUOTE

Nope wouldn't call myself a hardcore hunter but I can't get moose in the store so I hunt for it. I get what ur sayin, I can get fish in the store but its still more fun to catch ur own.

 

[kamlooky]

This whole post had me stop and think.....????
I go out to enjoy myself and take the few young ones out
that show an interest.
If there is a big buck there, I would let the less experienced go at it.
I follow up with a rifle ready to fire.
Would I shoot a bigger buck over the smaller one?
Good question.
If two bull moose were available and in season, I would at my age
take the lesser bull.
Better vittles. There is a decent bull on the wall and the meat was sure tuff
to eat. Meaning chew. Flavor was great.
If I was on the last legs of a hunt and a big bull was the only option and the
freezer was empty, no brainer.
To go out and shoot an animal just for the hide, no.

 

[GunGuy34]

This whole post had me stop and think.....????
I go out to enjoy myself and take the few young ones out
that show an interest.
If there is a big buck there, I would let the less experienced go at it.
I follow up with a rifle ready to fire.
Would I shoot a bigger buck over the smaller one?
Good question.
If two bull moose were available and in season, I would at my age
take the lesser bull.
Better vittles. There is a decent bull on the wall and the meat was sure tuff
to eat. Meaning chew. Flavor was great.
If I was on the last legs of a hunt and a big bull was the only option and the
freezer was empty, no brainer.
To go out and shoot an animal just for the hide, no.

Exactly, its the people that don't care about the meat and just go after the big racks or hides are the ones I disagree with.

 

[marlinspiker]

I hunt for the pleasure of the outdoors and the company I keep but as my Dad always said "you shoot it you eat it"
Everything I shoot I eat, if I don't want to eat it I don't shoot it.

Thats just the way I roll

 

[ironsighter]

I'm just trying to figure out why it's such a common trait for people to fail to admit why they enjoy hunting? It seems society has brainwashed some into thinking it's a bloodsport, so the only argument they can come up with for why they hunt is "for the meat" and "to feed my family", when in reality I think we all like being outdoors and truly enjoy the thrill of the chase.

Not trying to be a troll and the "subsistence hunting" should be left out of the topic.

I do not think people who say they hunt for food are making an excuse. I think they are genuinely hunting for food. There are far more convincing justifications for hunting. All you have to do is educate people on the industrial food chain and soon enough they are also pondering the source of their meat and questioning their reliance on mass-produced, hormone-soaked meat from ill-treated "domestic" animals. I think you will find that those who question the desire to hunt are very likely to fully understand it when put in this context.

It goes much further than this, of course. Our entire food chain is becoming more and more industrialized every day. This is a dangerous path, and those who realize it and start taking steps to reduce their reliance on this system are doing themselves and their families a service. Hunting is just one aspect of establishing some independence. There are many other aspects.

"Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people." Henry Kissinger—the front man for the Rockefeller dynasty...

For more on this, I recommend "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. Particularly the final chapter, which puts hunting in a context that even many Liberal, urban "foodies" will be able to come to terms with. Seriously. Why? Because it is put in the context of something that everyone can understand; it is juxtaposed against the alternative, which is not a very good one once fully understood.

 

[bearkilr]

I do not think people who say they hunt for food are making an excuse. I think they are genuinely hunting for food. There are far more convincing justifications for hunting. All you have to do is educate people on the industrial food chain and soon enough they are also pondering the source of their meat and questioning their reliance on mass-produced, hormone-soaked meat from ill-treated "domestic" animals. I think you will find that those who question the desire to hunt are very likely to fully understand it when put in this context.

It goes much further than this, of course. Our entire food chain is becoming more and more industrialized every day. This is a dangerous path, and those who realize it and start taking steps to reduce their reliance on this system are doing themselves and their families a service. Hunting is just one aspect of establishing some independence. There are many other aspects.

"Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people." Henry Kissinger—the front man for the Rockefeller dynasty...

For more on this, I recommend "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. Particularly the final chapter, which puts hunting in a context that even many Liberal, urban "foodies" will be able to come to terms with. Seriously. Why? Because it is put in the context of something that everyone can understand; it is juxtaposed against the alternative, which is not a very good one once fully understood.

I think you have to keep in mind that many supplement their diet with wild meat but most would starve if they had to rely on it for subsistence. Most don't have the availability and quantity.
I think I'd be correct in assuming that over 99% of us hunt for enjoyment.
Again I have to ask why it's so difficult for many to admit to the real reason.

 

[rral22]

I don't hunt in order to kill things; I kill in order to have hunted.

Not mine, of course, but I say it a lot.

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

As for my opinion and definition.

I am not a meat hunter or a sustenance hunter.

And YES I hunt to kill things, if I wanted to pet the animals I would go to the zoo, that is what hunting is.

I am hunting purely for the enjoyment of going out and watching, studying and hopefully harvesting an animal(large if possible), so sport and trophy would be my practices. If it was all about getting wild meat to eat I would simply cruise the highways and recover whatever game was road kill, this would be the cheapest.Next cheapest would be to go to a local farmer and buy bison for $1.50/lb , I do not do this either.

I also believe that most hunters are there for the trophy or sport side of it whether they admit it or not.The practicality of getting a dear with 80lbs of meat is hardly economically feasible when you consider the costs of your time ,fuel, clothing,processing , etc compared to just buying meat.

Now, for what happens when I get an animal? Sausage , steaks, and jerky.I have not and will not ever waste game meat.

Here is a spin on it, if these so called sustenance hunters that are only out for the meat and purely for nutrition why do you take pictures of your harvest? Have to take a picture of your Safeway boneless chicken breasts too in order to not be a hypocrite.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

I love every part of hunting, from killing, to scouting and cleaning. I have never killed a "trophy" animal but that doesn't mean I wouldn't. I've been obsessed with antlers since I was a small child and collected them compusively. I'd kill a big deer if I saw it, If I was able I'd kill a doe or female as well but not instead.

I eat piles of animals, mostly birds and roadkill every year I like wild meat.

I hold on to a few feathers or whatever from animals that were special. I keep them to remember the hunt and how much fun I had bringing that particular animal to bag.

I am just a hunter, not a trophy hunter or a subsistance hunter.

Just a hunter.

 

[bearkilr]

Next cheapest would be to go to a local farmer and buy bison for $1.50/lb , I do not do this either.
.

Been a while since you bought bison meat? Figure on paying around $9/lb for burger at today's prices.