Is Trophy Hunting cruel?

[Backlighting]

Killing animals for food, thinning out populations or protection from attack makes sense to me.
But killing an animal so you can mount its head on a wall or stuff its carcass for display seems very cruel.
What say you?

 

[Bill_inBouse]

I'm not a trophy hunter and don't begrudge those that are, provided the meat is not wasted. You kill it, you mount it, you EAT it.
I may seem weird but I also thank the animal for being there for me to eat..before I start skinning it out.

 

[loeman]

I'm not a fan of trophy hunting either. I have nothing against hunting, as I grew up eating rabbits and squirrels that my Dad supplemented our diet with. And I do my fair share of stocked rainbow trout catching and eating. But killing animals to decorate a wall is not my cup of tea.

 

[Donn]

Quit hunting after I got out. The prospect of humping a rifle thru the bush just didn't appeal to me any more. Nothing against it, a good skill to know. Trophy hunting? Come on. Want to win a trophy? Win 1st place in the local bowling or golf league. Animals are having a tough enough time these days what with clear cutting their habitat and poachers. MHO? Make it even. Hunt something that hunts you back. The Army or Marine Corps can fill that gap.

 

[Gamecock]

That magnificent 10 point deer is going to be dead in a year whether I shoot it or not.

 

[Big Cholla]

I haven't hunted for either meat or trophy for several years now. I have no problem with hunting of any sort considering we humans have taken the place of the predators that had the job of thinning the herd, removing the infirmed and otherwise 'improving the breed' of the prey species. Since we have nearly killed off the predators, we need to take responsibility for doing their job by some method. Hunting is one of the better ways. If a trophy head is taken, there are plenty of younger males standing around at the edge of the herd to take its place.

I've been told and have read that there are more Deer alive in the USA right now than ever before because of the lessening pressure from predators and hunting. Many over populated herds of hoofed animals are suffering because of this from the resulting less food available, disease and in-breeding.

 

[Alpo]

Dead is dead.

What does it matter WHY you killed it?

 

[sigp220.45]

Doesn't bother me a bit. As long as the hunt is legal and the hunter does everything possible to ensure a quick death its all the same.

 

[chaparrito]

I don't think it's "cruel", assuming the hunter is skilled. I don't really get dead animals hanging on the wall. A beautifully mounted elk rack is one thing; sculptural in its form but a bug eyed plastic-mouthed head is just bizarre. I have heard trophy hunters say it "honors" the animal. Seriously? Parodies the animal maybe, but honors is a real stretch.

I do consider trapping all too often cruel but that's a different conversation.

 

[Ματθιας]

Is it the same a sport fishing?

 

[Comrad]

Deer are the new overgrown rats and the highways in NJ are littered with dead deer and the more shot the less run over in the road and in many cases seriously injuring or killing the occupants of the cars that the run into. The herds are out of control here.

 

[USAF385]

I don't hunt.

If you want to hunt for sport AND food, that's fine. You shoot it, you eat it.

For sport alone.... to kill just to kill.... nah I'm not for that.

Now if you want to hunt a grizzly with a spear for sport, THAT would be real sport.

 

[DeathGrip]

Is it the same a sport fishing?

Most mounts are fiberglass from a mold these days. Just take a picture and measure it and they probably have a mold in stock.

My friend worked at Grey Taxidermy in Ft. Lauderdale and they would make a new mold if they didn't have one in stock. Usually they had what you needed. I think if you got something they didn't have in stock and they wanted a mold you got your mount for free. Don't hold me to that though.

I have a Snook and a Hammerhead from Grey. Both gifts.

Fish Art. funny thing I just though of, I bought a Snook shirt a couple of weeks ago and a Hammerhead shirt a couple of days ago.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I hunt because I always want to see if I can out smart a WT deer.
There harder to hunt and harvest then most critters.
If I get one with many points, well all the better.
But you can't eat the antlers .....

 

[keith44spl]

Is Trophy Hunting cruel?

In a Word..... NO


.

 

[CajunBass]

Dead is dead.

What does it matter WHY you killed it?

My opinion exactly. What difference does it make if I kill a deer, drag it out, skin it, butcher it, mount the head and throw what's left over out with the trash, or if I kill a deer, drag it out, skin it, butcher it, and toss the head and whatever else is left over out with the trash?

 

[Absalom]

"Cruel" is not an applicable word here; it could only be used to describe the way you kill an animal, like with a slow-working poison, but not the reason why.

There is nothing wrong with hunting a trophy if you use the trophy's meat just like you would any other legal specimen's. Trophy hunting can become a problem when the quest for a super trophy at all costs supersedes good hunting ethics.

There are places where, for a few ten thousand dollars, you can kill a super B&C trophy elk inside a fence; for every few points, the rate goes up a few thousand. This is hotly debated on some hunting sites, but for me there's nothing there to debate: That's not ethical hunting, that's an execution (unless you're a disabled veteran in a wheelchair or have some other really good excuse).

 

[UncleEd]

It's stupid.

 

[Backlighting]

I just can't see ending the life of any animal that poses no threat to you, your family or your property.

 

[Gamecock]

I just can't see ending the life of any animal that poses no threat to you, your family or your property.

I sprayed some ants today. They prolly weren't a threat.

 

[manyguns]

I hunt & have had the good fortune to bag several "trophy" type animals over the years. The "trophy" aspect comes from having been able to overcome the defenses of a large mature male of the species on public land during my weekend hunts. I don't purchase special high cost "private land" tags. The mounted mule deer head gives me many pleasant memories of that hunt as well as many other hunts that I "lost" the game with the animals defenses, or when decided to take a lesser animal that year and the situation was challenging.
My "trophies" are not the amazing monsters you see in shows. Good animals for what is available where I hunt? Sure. But it is still the difficulty involved in collecting one that makes the great memory.

 

[Goldstar225]

I just can't see ending the life of any animal that poses no threat to you, your family or your property.

Then I suppose that you do not look at the bugs who died on the front of your car just so you can ride to your destination rather than walking? Or for you does life only matter for some creatures?

I ask only because of the basic hypocrisy I see in the anti-hunting crowd who decry hunting when the animal will be used for food. Yet these same people see no wrong on their part in purchasing their meat at a market or ending thousands of "lives" annually as they travel in air conditioned comfort.

 

[Old TexMex]

Is it the same a sport fishing?

We pretty much quit killing thousand pound black marlin on the Barrier Reef around '85, the tag and release method is uniform throughout the sport fishing world for decades.
Money tournamaents, like Bisbees Black & Blue usually produces 4 to 6 marlin over 300lb. (anything under that weight does not qualify and the angler is penalized, repeat offenders disqualified for life). That's around 200 boat/teams fishing three days. Cruel? Only to the guy picking up the tab.

We learn to judge them pretty darn close, in the water.
The entry fees are high, the purse is in the millions of dollars.

World record fishing is a kill and measure system, but when an angler goes record fishing, there's no point in killing one (or even pitching a bait to it) if it's not eyeballed to be near record size.
Mounted fish are plastic models almost totally now, based on measurement of liftable fish, estimates on the big ones pre-release.

 

[Goldstar225]

I am not a trophy hunter but I have no problem with those who are provided that it is a free range, ethical hunt, and the eatable portions are consumed.

The trophy hunter is one who will let multiple animals pass unscathed rather than shooting just any animal. They may well end the season without a shot fired.

Me? I'm a predator and am not ashamed of it. I enjoy the taste of venison. Now I don't just shoot any animal that passes my way. I'm a meat hunter. I tend to select one that is well fed, fat and not to old. But in all honesty if a B&C buck crosses my path, I'll plan on making a meal of him too.

 

[old bear]

I got no use for killing for the sake of killing, and to me that is just what trophy hunting is.

As one poster suggested ya want to trophy hunt a grizzly bear or some other dangerous game, be a sport do it with a spear, or hand axe.

 

[Arik]

I think trophy hunters should earn that kill. I'd you wanna kill it for bragging rights there better be something to brag about. Sweating while waiting to shoot something isn't an accomplishment. Go head to head, use a knife. Then I'll be impressed and consider it a well deserved victory. Until then you're just shooting unaware animals.

Since were on the topic. My other problems is the term "population control". It's funny cause if anything we are the ones that have tone that down a bit.

 

[DR505]

Lots of judgmental folks on this thread. If a hunter is following the laws for fair chase hunting, what difference does it make if the animal is a cow elk, or a giant 6x6 bull? If they have an either-sex tag, and don't leave meat in the field, they are complying with game laws. If they wish to pass up the cow and shoot the bull...why do you care and who made you a judge?

The whole argument that the only "fair" way to hunt is by using a spoon to kill a grizzly is just sophistry. Any legal means to take game is alright with me.

And for those of you who shoot prairie dogs...do you eat them? Or are you just helping out the rancher and helping stop yersinia pestis from spreading as a benefit?

 

[Arik]

Yes there are legal way to kill. Still not hunting, especially when it's for sport.

And I'm not judging. It's my opinion.

 

[DR505]

Yes there are legal way to kill. Still not hunting, especially when it's for sport.

And I'm not judging. It's my opinion.

So in your opinion, what constitutes hunting?

 

[Arik]

So in your opinion, what constitutes hunting?

I think trophy hunters should earn that kill. I'd you wanna kill it for bragging rights there better be something to brag about. Sweating while waiting to shoot something isn't an accomplishment. Go head to head, use a knife. Then I'll be impressed and consider it a well deserved victory. Until then you're just shooting unaware animals.

Since were on the topic. My other problems is the term "population control". It's funny cause if anything we are the ones that have tone that down a bit.

^^^^^^^^^^