Trophy Hunting Question

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30-30remchester

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Since the thread on the dentist and the lion has popped up there has been a lot of trophy hunter bashing. That got me to wondering what the membership defines as trophy hunting. Many have stated that they hunt but would never trophy hunt. I guess I am a trophy hunter as I shoot the bigger of the 2 animals I am hunting. What is your definition of trophy hunting.
 
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My last serious bow hunt was for a nice 4 point muley in a canyon about 30 minutes from home.Spent weeks trying to put the sneak on him and never got a shot [emoji1]
 
Like Hillbilly77, I was a meat hunter. I enjoyed the hunt, the sport, but also the dinners. Other than eliminating pests for farmers I didn't hunt anything I wouldn't eat.

I never could afford guided hunts anyway, or a lot of time off for scouting.

The closest I come to trophy hunting is trying to catch big fish, and I normally release them so I can try to catch them again. :)
 
I give everything, the whole deer, to a local food bank. So I try to get something every year, and don't care if it's either sex.
 
It's really different the way each hunter reckons a "trophy." I have killed so many whitetailed deer I lost count. Some were very nice. A few years ago there was this big fat doe that would sneak in behind my stand and bust me every time the big buck was walking down the trail my way...then she got to where it was almost like a game to this ol' gal. I decided I had best deal with her before she completely runs the big buck right on off the farm. It took me a month to slip an arrow between her ribs and I regarded her as quite a trophy.
This year I built a custom Remington 760 in 260 rem. caliber. I always liked the lines of that rifle and that caliber, of which this model was never made. My next trophy will be the deer or black bear I kill with it.
Bottom line, different things make our quarry a "trophy" but in most cases it's personal reasons.
 
My definition is killing something for the sake of killing. For bragging rights. I think trophy hunting should be legal any time and any where as long the hunter is one on one with the animal. If you want to brag have something worth bragging about
 
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I think trophy hunting is when the hunter's primary motivation is to shoot a good example -- usually meaning big and shapely -- and display the stuffed beast, or its head and/or horns/antlers, as a trophy, a physical remembrance and proof of the success of the hunt.

(Never heard of a trophy squirrel or ground hog hunter, which is why I went with "big.")
 
Finding the oldest, largest,mature animal a lot of times it means coming home empty handed I have made more than one African trip when I did not pull the trigger. Not empty handed because I didn't find the animal but because it was not up to my standard. I did 8 lion hunts before pulling the trigger and I could have shot a cat each time at no extra cost than the shipping and mounting.

Make no mistake these animals are consumed!
 
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To me trophy hunting is hunting just for the trophy. Not wanting the meat, etc. Just wanting the head on the wall.
 
My first buck was a 5 point whitetail and it was a trophy because I hunted for 25 years before I killed one. I recently was invited on a hunt in Africa. I took an Impala, a Blesbuck, and a Zebra. All trophies to me, but not one will make the record books. Trophy hunters are part of our fraternity. "If we don't hang together, we will certainly all hang separately."
 
My opinion is if it's for the sport, it's trophy hunting. If it's for the meat, then just hunting. I don't think there's a problem with trophy hunting for the most part, but I wouldn't want to pay for all that. And of course I guess the two can go hand and hand or maybe you just so happen to be hunting and catch what you might define as a trophy. Just my opinion, and I hope nobody takes offense to it.
 
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I have read what others have posted about trophy hunting and I agree with those who feel the trophy is in the eyes of the beholder. I don't believe anyone should waste the bounty of the hunt. Hunting to me is much,much more than shooting,kiling,or eating. It is the entire experience start to finish and is a very personal thing that touches you in ways that are hard to explain to those who have never experienced hunting.
 
My personal trophy hunting is in the quality of the chase. Therefore a spike and a raghorn bull elk are my greatest trophies because of the miles I tracked them in the snow before a shot was possible.
Other peoples definition of trophy hunting is their business and they don't need my opinion to make them right.
 
keith44spl said:
I've killed big game, I've guided hunters to kill big game....

The trophy, is in the hunt and fair chase. The wilderness experience
for the most part, is the most exciting aspect of the adventure, not the kill.

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Click to expand...

I agree, although I've taken countless deer and elk, my most memorable hunts had nothing to do with taking game, it was the time spent around the campfire with good friends, many who aren't with us today. The memories.
 
I guess I might be called a trophy hunter at times. I've shot a lot of deer for the meat when my freezer was low. Other times when I had it filled up pretty well I'd only target big bucks and let the others go. Actually it's a good way to learn deer habits when you don't shoot them but observe them instead. Anymore I enjoy that more than shooting them.

But to answer OP question I would call a trophy hunter one that had no interest in the meat and wanted only the mount. Hopefully they always have a plan to give away the meat or donate it to charity.
 
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