Reframing Trophy Hunting

[tughillmcd]

http://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/reframing-trophy-hunting/

Reframing Trophy Hunting

Posted on February 15, 2016

Hijacked by anti-hunters, the term ‘trophy hunting’ has taken on a negative connotation in society – it’s time to take it back. Here’s a start to reframing the trophy-hunting discussion with non-hunters.

 

Defining a Trophy

 

When news anchors and the general public throw the term ‘trophy hunting’ around, they’re usually speaking in a very broad sense that assaults their emotions and is an affront to almost everything that modern, regulated hunters and hunting represents. The term is a misnomer, but they don’t even realize it.

 

A trophy is a very personal thing. For some just killing an animal to eat is reward enough. For others, a mature animal that is more wary is the goal. Still, for others, a very specific animal, or at least one meeting very high standards, is the ultimate goal.

 

This is all dependent upon the person, their skill level and experience in hunting (see infographic: “Evolution of a Hunter”), as well as understanding of the species they’re targeting.

A trophy is a crowning achievement for an individual. Period.

 

What it’s not

 

The popular myth of trophy hunting is that it’s simply hubristic killing by hunters for display upon a wall – which is only done for a head, hide or horns. The underlying belief is that the rest of the animal is left where it died and goes to waste.

 

This is the perception anti-hunters have created, and which they are framing hunters every chance they get. From “Cecil” the lion in Zimbabwe, Africa, to the proposed black-bear hunt under protest in Florida, anti-hunting activists and organizations cry ‘trophy hunt’ to convey what they believe is the senseless killing of animals – without regard to the associated science, management and ecosystem-wide benefits.

 

It’s an effective tactic that resonates with the public quickly. Those two words immediately generate an affront to the public’s sensibilities, and creates another hurdle we have to overcome to maintain scientific, and not emotional, management of our flora and fauna.

 

What it is

 

The fact is, what animal-rights’ activists portray is not just an affront to the public’s sensibilities, the waste of an animal is a disgrace to the sensibilities of a hunter as well. When it comes to a ‘trophy hunt,’ two points often overlooked by outraged activists, the media and the public include:

A hunting season is not state-sanctioned slaughter. Every state has wanton waste laws that mandate the harvest and use of meat, hides or other body parts to ensure that the animal is not just wasted, and that the number of individuals taken is in accord with the supporting habitat and predator-prey balance of the area.

 

 

A ‘trophy’ animal and its use as table fare are not mutually exclusive. An animal can be a specimen worthy of both taxidermy and the table.

 

A trophy hunter is simply someone who has placed self-imposed restrictions upon themselves that go above and beyond what’s dictated by the state. They are more selective, and will pass on younger animals, often those barely reaching the minimum standard, in a deeply personal pursuit to further challenge their skills and learn as much as possible about the prey they pursue.

 

The irony of animal-rights activists crying ‘trophy hunt’ is that the true definition of a trophy hunter wholly undermines their most egregious complaints about hunting. The self-imposed standards of a trophy hunter often result in the hunter not killing an animal at all, and when one is killed, it is not an ‘unsuspecting’ animal – it is an animal that knows how to survive and that danger lurks at every turn.

 

What it doesn’t do

 

Contrary to animal-rights’ claims, the killing of a trophy animal doesn’t damage the overall population of species by removing important genes from the genetic pool or by throwing the remaining animals into a state of societal chaos.

 

A trophy animal is usually a very mature animal. That’s what makes it so difficult to kill, and what usually results in more impressive antlers or horns, spurs and beards, or other defining trophy qualities. As such, it has reproduced many times over, likely with many different mates, for several seasons, ensuring genetic diversity throughout the population and passing along the quality genes that enhanced its chances of survival and reproduction. Additionally, the loss of a mature animal is expected in nature, and it is quickly replaced within the immediate, as well as overarching, societal hierarchy.

 

Trophy hunting does not damage the overall health of the population. Period.

 

What it does

 

Trophy hunting is the most restrictive, demanding type of hunting. As such, it not only doesn’t harm the overall population, it is wholly within the parameters of a scientifically managed hunt.

 

A trophy hunter will remove a mature animal from the population. That population has been surveyed, and scientifically determined to be able to withstand the loss of a certain percentage of both male and female animals that will result in no net harm to the overall health of the population. Additionally, the removal of the animal opens habitat and resources, such as food and cover, to others within the population.

 

Bottom line

 

At the end of the day, a trophy hunt is a deeply personal endeavor that is in accordance with the individual hunter’s goals, skill and experience level, and knowledge of the animal, its habitat and behavior.

 

It is not a quest simply for a head or horns, but is a severely restrictive, scientifically managed hunt for a mature animal that has served its biological purpose, and one that uses the meat, hide and other attributes of the animal to the fullest, and which supports the ecological health of the overall population into the future.

 

This is the message we must pass to the general, non-hunting public, regardless of whether it’s an old, well-known lion killed in Africa or a record-book whitetail buck in the states.

 

This story first appeared in the October 2015 issue of Sportsmen’s Monthly. To receive your own print or digital copy of Sportsmen’s Monthly, please consider joining Sportsmen’s Alliance today.

 

[Five Seasons]

Good read. Thanks for sharing.

[maytom]

Ditto.....good read!!!

[DirtTime]

Great read and that's exactly what it should be. But, no one can deny the fact that there are people out there who are just hunting for the mount, and those people make it hard on the rest of us.

 

 

[Doc]

We do tend to demand an awful large say in what the goals, attitudes, and motives of other hunters are, don't we? We want to tell others why they should be hunting, what kind of animals they should be taking, how big, how old, what gender... We also want to tell them what they must feel about the animals that they take, what ones should go on the wall, or even if any should be displayed at all. So, we have assigned names to the different styles and attitudes of hunters. There are those who despise the "trophy hunters" who tend to be a bit arrogant and judgmental. And we have assigned the term "meat hunters" to those who forsake antlers and are simply out there like going to the grocery store to bring home some meat. They too have been accused of arrogance and judgementalism. Each camp seems to view the other as some kind of inferior. It's funny how it all works. There doesn't seem to be a lot of room left for the rest of us who appreciate a good rack, but will cash in on opportunities for a bit of meat gathering as well without a whole lot of strings attached.

[Rattler]

Hunters, being a small minority of the general population, have a very hard time controlling the debate regarding public opinion.  The trophy hunter moniker is being forced on us by the opposition.  The best way to fight the assault is to join pro hunting organizations that do a very good job of challenging the propaganda from the opposition and are able to get the truth out into the public domain as much as possible.

 

Let's face it, we need organized opposition to combat the anti-hunting opposition which is highly organized.

[Doc]

Joining advocacy organizations is always a good idea if your the type that does not demand 100% agreement with every policy position that they take. If that is what you insist on, save your money and sit on the sidelines, because they do not make an organization that is all things to all people.

[Rattler]

Sitting on the sidelines is a mistake, as much as being a soldier that refuses to fight.  Many soldiers don't agree with the position the military takes either, but if you're not in the fight, what good are you?

 

[tughillmcd]

Joining advocacy organizations is always a good idea if your the type that does not demand 100% agreement with every policy position that they take. If that is what you insist on, save your money and sit on the sidelines, because they do not make an organization that is all things to all people.

 

Sportsmen sitting on the sidelines is the very reason that we have lost the right to use public land for hunting, trapping and fishing and why our gun rights are constantly under attack.

Why most of the Adirondack Park land acquired by the state has been classified Wilderness and all access roads are closed, preventing the majority of people from utilizing the land.

Why we have to pay a snowmobile trail fee to use a snowmobile to ice fish, when we are not even accessing any trail system.

Why trapping is banned in some municipalities

Why a dog trial that had been run for almost 100 years in a state forest was shut down because the people riding horses that started using the land in the past couple decades say the guns scare the horses and they don't want to give up one weekend of hunting to let the dog trial happen.

 

There are hundreds of examples why sportsmen sitting on the sidelines has put our backs against the wall. If sportsmen don't put down their differences, and work together where there is common ground, we will get picked off one by one, and with 2 or 3 generations, hunting, trapping and fishing will be a thing of the past.

[G-Man]

This article is exactly why antler restrictions, on buck only, are all just adjenda by those that want a "trophy" I give credit to dec for not expanding restrictions and catering to the "trophy " mentality. ..

[Tughill Tamer]

A Trophy means different things to different people almost like beauty a Trophy is in the eyes of the the beholder

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

[dbHunterNY]

I think it's good that DEC promotes letting yearling bucks go now. Some areas really need it. Definitely think the term trophy has been skewed in a bad way.

[NFA-ADK]

Great explanation of trophy hunting.  I always try to explain to the laymen/woman that trophy hunters kill the least amount of game and usually care about deer population, habitat and food which in turn benefits many animals when they manage the land.  Great article.

[Doc]

Sportsmen sitting on the sidelines is the very reason that we have lost the right to use public land for hunting, trapping and fishing and why our gun rights are constantly under attack.

Why most of the Adirondack Park land acquired by the state has been classified Wilderness and all access roads are closed, preventing the majority of people from utilizing the land.

Why we have to pay a snowmobile trail fee to use a snowmobile to ice fish, when we are not even accessing any trail system.

Why trapping is banned in some municipalities

Why a dog trial that had been run for almost 100 years in a state forest was shut down because the people riding horses that started using the land in the past couple decades say the guns scare the horses and they don't want to give up one weekend of hunting to let the dog trial happen.

 

There are hundreds of examples why sportsmen sitting on the sidelines has put our backs against the wall. If sportsmen don't put down their differences, and work together where there is common ground, we will get picked off one by one, and with 2 or 3 generations, hunting, trapping and fishing will be a thing of the past.

And yet, we have advocacy groups that work for the rights of activities that we all claim to be passionately involved in but refuse to join because of nit-picking of certain policies or positions. Rather than joining and working to change those policies, most simply sit on the sidelines and actually lend assistance to our enemies simply because of these petty disagreements and our choice to turn our backs on organizations that have chosen an issue or two that we don't agree with. The only ones who really benefit from those kinds of attitudes are those that would eliminate the activities that we claim to be involved with. No, I am not talking about just a few people here and there, but the vast majority of outdoor enthusiasts. The fact is that only a tiny few actually put their money and effort into joining advocacy organizations that have shown historically to be of benefit to the rights and opportunities of whatever activity they are advocating for. The rest do indeed find excuses not to join and simply sit along the sidelines throwing stones at those people who do care enough to organize.

Edited May 5, 2016 by Doc

[Curmudgeon]

While the article was well written and thought out, to me it seems to preach to the choir. There is the argument that a trophy deer, elk, whatever, is still eaten. Saving that smaller buck for next season is a moot point. Most anti-hunters would not consider that decision to be trophy hunting.

 

Sportsmen sitting on the sidelines is the very reason that we have lost the right to use public land for hunting, trapping and fishing and why our gun rights are constantly under attack.

Why most of the Adirondack Park land acquired by the state has been classified Wilderness and all access roads are closed, preventing the majority of people from utilizing the land.

Why we have to pay a snowmobile trail fee to use a snowmobile to ice fish, when we are not even accessing any trail system.

Why trapping is banned in some municipalities

Why a dog trial that had been run for almost 100 years in a state forest was shut down because the people riding horses that started using the land in the past couple decades say the guns scare the horses and they don't want to give up one weekend of hunting to let the dog trial happen.

 

There are hundreds of examples why sportsmen sitting on the sidelines has put our backs against the wall. If sportsmen don't put down their differences, and work together where there is common ground, we will get picked off one by one, and with 2 or 3 generations, hunting, trapping and fishing will be a thing of the past.

 

You want to "work together" where there is "common ground". Arguing against wilderness areas - which I hunted avidly when I was able - and pushing for motorized access, undermines that desire. I can no longer hunt those big woods but I will continue to advocate for wilderness. I have personal limits but would fight the State compromising wild areas by allowing motorized access, even if it got me deeper into the woods. There are plenty of "Wild Forests". Many "Wilderness" areas are lacking in game anyway.

 

You may not find many who agree with me on this forum but they are out there. I hunt with them. This tends to be a self selecting group. Maybe sportsmen aren't joining your organizations because there are too many differences, too many compromises. I will join the NRA when they stop lying about the impact of lead ammo on scavenging raptors.

 

Why would trapping be banned in some municipalities? I assume this is for pet safety. I am sure I am not the only person who knows someone whose pet was caught or killed by a trap in a suburban or semi-rural area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2016 by Curmudgeon

[G-Man]

Trophys are in the eye of the beholder ..period.

Then why do we push for antler restrictions?

Why push to let younger buck pass?

Why pick on some one who shoots a yearling doe or button buck.?

Why pick on someone for shooting a bearded hen or a jake?

WAKE UP!! IT'S NOT THE ANTI HUNTERS LABELING US IT'S OUR FELLOW SPORTSMAN!!!!

Why not someone else hunt our land when we aren't there?

Why not let that kid get 1st crack at the game?

WHY????

IT'S the peer pressure we feel, it's the well I pay the taxes, it's well they might shoot my deer selfishness .. in the end it's human nature......

Unless an individual consciencely make a decision to allow it. Nothing can be done on a larger scale..

[tughillmcd]

You want to "work together" where there is "common ground". Arguing against wilderness areas - which I hunted avidly when I was able - and pushing for motorized access, undermines that desire. I can no longer hunt those big woods but I will continue to advocate for wilderness. I have personal limits but would fight the State compromising wild areas by allowing motorized access, even if it got me deeper into the woods. There are plenty of "Wild Forests". Many "Wilderness" areas are lacking in game anyway.

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I am not wanting to change the Wilderness Areas that exist today, But recently there have been additional large tracts of land that were private holdings that allowed some access, and those areas were acquired by the state and shut down to people using them other than on foot. I too used to go deep into the woods, we carried canoes up to 10 miles into the wilderness areas to fish lakes. The Essex Chain Lakes had float plane access to sportsmen for decades as did Lows Lake, and that access has been or is being taken away. There is an old float plane dock in Whitney lake within the West Canada Lakes Wilderness area. That was taken over by the state back in the mid 1980's, and shut down. I am not looking for anything more than having people stand up and say, hunters and fishermen are the countries largest contributors to conservation, and we need to make sure we have a seat at the table and that sportsmen rights and concerns need to be addressed too.

As there is plenty of Wild Forests available today, there is plenty of wilderness areas too. All newly acquired parcels should not automatically become wilderness areas, some need to remain open for everyone, not just the young and strong. There needs to be balance.

The reason that wilderness areas have little game is the habitat for game in old growth is poor. That is why the Indians used to burn forests and girdle trees. To make habitat for the game to ensure their own food source.

French Louie wrote of wintering areas around West Canada Lakes having hundreds of deer in them during the timber cutting hay days of the mid 1800's to the end of that century.  This point is not to promote reverting back to clear cutting the entire forest, but to highlight that the Adirondacks are capable of having abundant game and how habitat plays an important role in the availability of that game.

I agree, some areas do need to be set aside as wilderness, but some need to be managed for the timber resource as well as habitat for animals. Its' these areas that should have better access for all. Sportsmen will continue to get the short end of the stick until we unite and voice our common concerns. Again, the need for balance.

[Doc]

 

Maybe sportsmen aren't joining your organizations because there are too many differences, too many compromises. I will join the NRA when they stop lying about the impact of lead ammo on scavenging raptors.

See, there is specifically the point I was making. The NRA is (and has been for years) the primary reason that we still have gun rights today that are more liberal than some of the European and even Canadian versions of gun control. No other organization has worked so tirelessly and so effectively for gun owner's rights. But because we can nit-pick and pull out one issue or another that we don't agree with we are in a hurry to throw out the baby with the bathwater. We know from this forum that sportsmen and women find very little that they can universally agree on. And there are no advocacy groups that can exist that do not have to occasionally take some controversial positions. That kind of comes along with the territory of being an outspoken, effective organization. But what really irritates me is when people will seize one or two items and use them as a reason for not supporting good organizations that work for our rights and keep the antis from over-running our rights. The old saying of "cutting off your nose to spite your face" comes to mind. Unfortunately sportsmen seem to always be looking for reasons or excuses not to join. And yes, if you take any organization and demand that they align exactly in lockstep with all of your views, you will have all the excuses you need to never join or to ignore and even to badmouth them and do the anti's work for them. It never seems to occur to people to try to change policies from within an organization. How much easier it is to stand outside and take potshots. The antis love it!

Edited May 5, 2016 by Doc

[Dinsdale]

I'm the worst of all....

 

An evil trophy hunter who likes to travel internationally.

 

Our numbers are minuscule compared to the overall hunting population and issues that concern me are of little to zero interest to most.

 

NJ just passed some damn scary legislation that would have several of my mounts requiring registration!  That a$$wipe Christie only did a partial veto and the legislature there is expected to pass a lightly modified version of the law.

 

Why does that matter to me in NY?

 

Because we are linked by the Port Authority and importing regulations and some of the language will be taken up by the NY legislature to get both sides on the same page.

 

 

 

 

Act as a unified force?

 

Hunters are so stupid we can't agree on the simple topics....

 

We're screwed.

[Rattler]

You beat me to it Doc.  You are so right.  Not joining the NRA because of a single issue, that is a lot more complicated than a purist is willing to admit, is helping the antis take away ALL gun rights.

 

Because of one issue, some people are willing to jeopardize the entire program.  I don't support a lot of what the American government does either, but I still pay my taxes.

 

[Rattler]

"You may not find many who agree with me on this forum but they are out there. I hunt with them. This tends to be a self selecting group."

 

I can't help but interpret this statement as pompous, arrogant and elitist.  Truly in the same vein as Holier Than Thou and snobbish.  I guess it's OK to be like this after high school in some folk's minds. 

[nyantler]

I don't have a problem with trophy hunting. I don't like the "deer farming" we try to pass of as deer management. Where we manipulate habitat for the sole purpose of developing and holding big rack bucks... then film their every move until we know their travel patterns... then set up an ambush based on what the cameras tell us. I know its legal.. just not my idea of hunting big bucks.

[The_Real_TCIII]

I don't have a problem with trophy hunting. I don't like the "deer farming" we try to pass of as deer management. Where we manipulate habitat for the sole purpose of developing and holding big rack bucks... then film their every move until we know their travel patterns... then set up an ambush based on what the cameras tell us. I know its legal.. just not my idea of hunting big bucks.

100% agree and that's what all the shows have become and why I stopped watching them

[DirtTime]

You also have to look at this site. Post a pic of a nice buck and some members start with the "What did it score?".

[wooly]

"You may not find many who agree with me on this forum but they are out there. I hunt with them. This tends to be a self selecting group."

 

I can't help but interpret this statement as pompous, arrogant and elitist.  Truly in the same vein as Holier Than Thou and snobbish.  I guess it's OK to be like this after high school in some folk's minds. 

 

You're joking right?

That "pompous arrogant elitist" has probably done more for conservation and education than you could ever dream of.

The "holier than thou" attitude is backed by years of knowledge and research.

You shouldn't be offended by his sounding "snobbish" as you call it, if you don't open your mind to the real life ideas and experiences he lays out there for you.

 

It's never too late to learn, even when you think you've got it all figured out on your own.

That's not arrogance, that's simply one member trying to help another see things in a different light through his own personal experiences.

If that's not for you, then you may have stopped at the wrong place my friend, because there seems to be a lot of that going on around here with guys sharing what they know first hand..