Trophy Hunting vs Meat/Subsistence Hunting

[H4831]

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.

You and I are in tune, singing from the same hymn book.
I too, can't imagine why so many won't admit they hunt for pleasure.
It used to be called pleasure hunting, or recreation hunting. Not any more.
It was the anti hunting and save the animals groups that was the cause of this meat hunting bit.
The antis trashed hunting, except maybe a bit of a give in to those who hunted for meat. Presto. Meat hunters came out of the woodwork and no longer would they say they hunted for pleasure.

 

[Superbrad]

Yes... Bison is way up... As is domesticated elk and fallow deer... Ironic that its the anti gun hippie yuppie health crowd driving up the prices while hunters are getting the same meat with some work and enjoyment for pennies on the dollar...

 

[crazy_davey]

You and I are in tune, singing from the same hymn book.
I too, can't imagine why so many won't admit they hunt for pleasure.
It used to be called pleasure hunting, or recreation hunting. Not any more.
It was the anti hunting and save the animals groups that was the cause of this meat hunting bit.
The antis trashed hunting, except maybe a bit of a give in to those who hunted for meat. Presto. Meat hunters came out of the woodwork and no longer would they say they hunted for pleasure.

You most certainly hit the nail on the head there Bruce... Pretty sure we have quite a few members here in the hunting forum that are on the verge of being "anti hunting".

 

[speedy mcjesus]

I love to hunt, I spend lots of money, travel and it can take up a lot of my time. I would love to say it is all about the meat, but it isn't. For me it is more about the sport, the time spent with family, and enjoying the outdoors.

 

[snowshoe]

I hunt for the meat, but also the hunt. I will pass up many animals early in the season because I just don't want it to be over yet. But when the time come I take a good sized animal and it dosen't matter what it has on it's head.

 

[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.

You stand correct that wild game is healthier than domestic game, and you stand correct that hunting is a sport, a form of recreation. You wouldn't hunt if wild game could be purchased at the grocery store, therefore would not persue to kill wild game for food and only view them during nature walks. I'm trying to understand your cognitive thinking on this subject. My question is, "would you condemn hunting for others if wild game could also be purchased at the grocery store?" There is one of a few reasons why wild game is not sold commerically, and that it would not encourage poaching, and if was legal to purchase commercial game then it would come from penned animals which in turn will have steroids in their system.
You also appear to contradict yourself by stating that your not begrudgeing anyone for their choices, however; you condemn trophy hunting. I don't know what to conclude, except that you speak the words of a non or anti hunters but you kill for meat. You seem to be sitting on the fence however leaning towards non hunting, if possible.

 

[Big Game]

I have trophies to remind me of the hunt, not to impress, so I would tend to disagree a bit with that definition. Meat isn't in my freezer long enough for lasting memories.

Good answer!

 

[bearkilr]

I would love to say it is all about the meat, but it isn't.

That right there is what I'm referring to. What's wrong with admitting the true reason? Why do you feel compelled to say it's about the meat?

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

Too many bison farms around here, sry, you are right I was off, the local paper has farm Bison @ $2.50lb and beef @ $2.55lb, cut and wrapped.

I'll sell to ya at let's say, $4.50lb??

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

 

[GunGuy34]

You stand correct that wild game is healthier than domestic game, and you stand correct that hunting is a sport, a form of recreation. You wouldn't hunt if wild game could be purchased at the grocery store, therefore would not persue to kill wild game for food and only view them during nature walks. I'm trying to understand your cognitive thinking on this subject. My question is, "would you condemn hunting for others if wild game could also be purchased at the grocery store?" There is one of a few reasons why wild game is not sold commerically, and that it would not encourage poaching, and if was legal to purchase commercial game then it would come from penned animals which in turn will have steroids in their system.
You also appear to contradict yourself by stating that your not begrudgeing anyone for their choices, however; you condemn trophy hunting. I don't know what to conclude, except that you speak the words of a non or anti hunters but you kill for meat. You seem to be sitting on the fence however leaning towards non hunting, if possible.

Allow me to be clear in what im trying to say.

To me trophy hunting is someone that just hunts for the trophy, the meat is harvested only cause they have too, all they really want is the rack or hyde. I dont agree with that type of hunting but i dont condemme those that do. Some will pay big bucks to go to Africa just to see an elephant go down, thats not my cup of tea. I dont agree with it, but im not a member of PETA or anything out protesting it, and if you were a Trophy hunter id still buy you a beer.


Then there are those that love hunting, love being outdoors, but they are mainly there for the meat as its not available anywhere else. Nothing wrong with enjoying hunting, i enjoy hunting every year. And to be honest if wild meat were available in the store i would not begrudge anybody who still wanted to hunt. Hunting is fun.

As I said in a previous post, i love fish too, you can get fish in the store but its much more fun to catch fresh fish yourself.

I am not ANTI-HUNTING lol, im anti Trophy hunting. Take a big bull moose that has a record number of points, Id rather see that old fella live then hang on somebodys wall, same as a record brown bear, let the old fella live his life out. Now if its the end of the season and there were no other options then mr big bull is comming home to the freezer. I just dont agree with people that go out and seek this relics of the forest, just so they can have their head on a wall. Its not my cup of tea at all, but as i said id still buy ya a beer after the hunt.

 

[sksavenger]

If you're going to correct someone's "grammer", at least spell that word correctly. It's grammar.

Priceless

 

[bearkilr]

Too many bison farms around here, sry, you are right I was off, the local paper has farm Bison @ $2.50lb and beef @ $2.55lb, cut and wrapped.

I'll sell to ya at let's say, $4.50lb??

Someone needs to tell your local bison farmers about current prices. If you can buy it for that, I'd be running over there right now. Last auction in North Battleford had prices of about $2-$3/lb. live weight, depending on age/size of animal. Carcass weight is usually about 50% of live weight, with meat being about 35% of live weight.

 

[hakx]

I hunt to fill a tag and freezer. If it has antlers - bonus, but they tend to jam up the grinder.

 

[Big Game]

I love to hunt, and I hunt for different reasons. When I'm hunting moose I'm looking for a young bull to put some tasty meat in the freezer. Waterfowling is about watching the sunrise over a marsh or field and if you're lucky enough watching a dog make some incredible retrieves. I'm fortunate that I have a family that lovers to spend time together in the deer woods. I'll be selective and look for a big buck because we don't need to fill the twelve tags that we can legally buy. If it comes down to a point where we don't have venison I'll pull the trigger on a dry doe or spiker. What it boils down to is that I just plain like to hunt and be in the woods in the fall. Big horns are a bonus and so is the meat. I have never had a bad hunt even though I have often come home "skunked". As the saying goes " Hunting isn't a matter of life and death to me......it's more important than that"!!!

 

[sksavenger]

I'm a trophy hunter, but i love wild meat and thats mainly what I eat. I just like to see the head on the wall as i'm eating it. But if it ever came down to it I would shoot a doe at the end of season just for the meat. But trophy deer aren't a real tough challenge and if prepared right they are still tasty.

 

[Dench]

I like the hunt,kill,antlers and meat. hmmm.

 

[Superbrad]

Seriously great thread here... Everyone live and let live for the most part...

My motto has always been "don't pass up on day 1 what you would love to shoot on day 14".. I put one meat deer in the freezer each year then I chase my "white whale"

 

[track]

Allow me to be clear in what im trying to say.

To me trophy hunting is someone that just hunts for the trophy, the meat is harvested only cause they have too, all they really want is the rack or hyde. I dont agree with that type of hunting but i dont condemme those that do. Some will pay big bucks to go to Africa just to see an elephant go down, thats not my cup of tea. I dont agree with it, but im not a member of PETA or anything out protesting it, and if you were a Trophy hunter id still buy you a beer.


Then there are those that love hunting, love being outdoors, but they are mainly there for the meat as its not available anywhere else. Nothing wrong with enjoying hunting, i enjoy hunting every year. And to be honest if wild meat were available in the store i would not begrudge anybody who still wanted to hunt. Hunting is fun.

As I said in a previous post, i love fish too, you can get fish in the store but its much more fun to catch fresh fish yourself.

I am not ANTI-HUNTING lol, im anti Trophy hunting. Take a big bull moose that has a record number of points, Id rather see that old fella live then hang on somebodys wall, same as a record brown bear, let the old fella live his life out. Now if its the end of the season and there were no other options then mr big bull is comming home to the freezer. I just dont agree with people that go out and seek this relics of the forest, just so they can have their head on a wall. Its not my cup of tea at all, but as i said id still buy ya a beer after the hunt.

OK gunguy34,
I have a better understanding of your thoughts and makes a bit more sense now that you explained it more throughly. I cannot speak of other people who hunt for trophies, however for myself I love the actual hunt itself more than anything. (ie: walking, looking for sign, fresh air, beautiful scenery, jumping deer, tracking, stalking, sneeking). I "never" want my hunt to end quickly because I love to hunt the entire three weeks. If I don't find my trophy then I have an extra tree ornament for Christmas.
Not many but some trophy hunters will not shoot anything at all if their prey does not meet the minimal requirements, and I don't settle for a doe or a sub standard buck just to fill my tag
Thought that I would give you some insight on one trophy hunter. Maybe this might give you a little understanding from one kind of hunter to another.

 

[Superbrad]

OK gunguy34,
I have a better understanding of your thoughts and makes a bit more sense now that you explained it more throughly. I cannot speak of other people who hunt for trophies, however for myself I love the actual hunt itself more than anything. (ie: walking, looking for sign, fresh air, beautiful scenery, jumping deer, tracking, stalking, sneeking). I "never" want my hunt to end quickly because I love to hunt the entire three weeks. If I don't find my trophy then I have an extra tree ornament for Christmas.
Not many but some trophy hunters will not shoot anything at all if their prey does not meet the minimal requirements, and I don't settle for a doe or a sub standard buck just to fill my tag
Thought that I would give you some insight on one trophy hunter. Maybe this might give you a little understanding from one kind of hunter to another.

Great post here for sure...

 

[fiddler]

I shoot two whitetail doe antlerless tags for fun and meat, I shoot big bucks during serious hunting late in the year during rut. Best of both worlds, eat well, look at trophy s on the wall.