Post by cambygsp on Oct 23, 2005 4:58:51 GMT -5
www.buckmasters.com/buckmasters_links/features/051018My.html
My Thoughts About Trophy Hunting
By John M. Moschella
There's a common misperception that trophy hunting is something relatively new. With the growing popularity of Quality Deer Management and guided hunts, the quest for that special whitetail -- one that carries superior antlers and has been subjected to careful measurement -- has become the subject of much discussion.
Trophy hunting has been around as long as man has hunted game. However, legendary hunters like Ernest Hemingway and President Theodore Roosevelt, to mention just two, were harvesting trophy animals generations ago. Organizations such as Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, and Safari Club International have been keeping records for as long as the sport itself. While thoughts on trophies have changed over the years -- as evidenced by the Buckmasters Trophy Records scoring system -- there's little doubt that hunters have always valued trophies.
Nevertheless, it has been only lately that the practice of holding out for a trophy has come under a sort of review. Sadly, it's yet another issue that pits hunters against hunters, and I believe the criticism is unfounded, unfair, and bad for the sport.
In this article, I will examine trophy hunting from several perspectives. First, we'll look at the evolution of a deer hunter. Next we'll investigate the role magazines and television programs play on this topic. After that, we'll look at the various types of hunts available to sportsmen. Last, and perhaps most important, we'll attempt to determine how average hunters feel about trophy hunters and hunts.
Once upon a time, someone wrote that most hunters go through four phases in their lifetime. Although I cannot identify the author, I can attest to its veracity.
Phase One is the beginning of the learning curve in the young hunter's life. Think of your first hunting trip -- your first time in the woods. For most of us that means the first unfilled tag. When you hunt during those early years, any deer will do, and when a whitetail does fall -- any whitetail -- it's a dream come true.
The Second Phase usually comes after one has filled a few tags for several years. The hunter now possesses enough experience to expect to harvest a deer each season in the woods. The focus is now on filling tags. Antlers, rack scores, and even sex of the deer doesn't matter -- it's all about the numbers.
Phase Three, or what is termed the "trophy phase", is when the hunter begins to seek greater challenge. This is the time in a sportsman's life when he decides to hold out for something special. A filled tag is not always part of the equation. This is a difficult phase in several ways. First it can result in that "embarrassing" [sic] position of having an unfilled tag. The trophy hunter also has to deal with the "what ifs" of a deer-less season -- second-guessing every decision and possibly facing a freezer void of venison. For those who do reach this level of hunting, the hours can be long and the results sparse, but when fulfilled, the satisfaction is immense.
The final phase of a hunter's life occurs when time plays its inevitable game on the body and mind. Filling one's tag is secondary to just being there, in the woods, with friends, breathing the fresh air. This could be considered the most enjoyable part of a hunter's career, as he is unfettered by the pressure to shoot the biggest buck in camp -- or even fill a tag, for that matter.
It is the transition from the second to the third phase which is the point of this discussion. This is the time in a hunter's life when he must make the conscious decision to become a trophy hunter. Mind you that not all hunters go through this metamorphosis, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with avoiding this chapter. Any hunter who never aspires to become a trophy hunter loses no respect or acclaim by me. It is simply a different -- not greater -- aspect of hunting. For those who do move to the trophy phase, however, the hunt takes on an entirely different perspective.
Hunting and its practitioners have many faces. This possibly is best exemplified in the pages of hunting magazines and television shows. Everyone has an opinion, but we're all influenced by what we read and what we see on TV. Unfortunately, from my perspective, many in the outdoors media do not realize how much influence their shows have.
Think for a moment the last hunting program you watched. The hunter scouted his or her spot, maybe set up a treestand and waited it out. In most cases, that trophy whitetail, which had been seen earlier, never presented itself for a shot. Now it is the last day; time and film are running out. So what ensues? The TV personality harvests a deer of lesser size and quality. Was it a successful hunt? Yes. Was it exciting TV? Sure. But a trophy hunt? I don't think so. Granted, the videographer got what he needed for the show, but the message about taking a true trophy has become skewed.
The point is that the conscious decision not to shoot a deer which lacks the size to be considered a trophy is the determining criteria in the mind of a trophy hunter. It separates true trophy hunters from those who claim to be trophy hunters, but feel compelled to shoot that underage buck rather than the better-eating doe. These are the people who claim to be trophy hunters but always have to fill their tags with a buck, regardless of antler size. Such is the price of braggadocio.
This leads us to the central question: What is a trophy? I do not wish to make this a philosophical discourse or raise a question of semantics, but any argument about trophy hunting cannot escape an attempt to resolve this issue.
The simple answer is that a trophy is anything the hunter wants it to be. The follow-up, then, is what about scoring systems practiced by B&C, P&Y and Buckmasters? To further complicate this issue, should a trophy be determined by location where it was harvested?
There are the hunts where trophies are within enclosures where they cannot escape. These "hunts" are enjoyable and usually result in a harvest, but the scoring organizations justifiably separate these animals from free-roaming whitetails.
Another aspect of trophy hunting is the guided hunt, where outfitters scout out locations and charge a fee for the opportunity to hunt that area for a trophy -- whitetail -- one that can be scored for the books.
Unfortunately, some traditionalists question these types of hunt, despite that some of the strictest examples of trophy hunting are found under these conditions. Consider the scenario: pay several thousand dollars, hunt a location (often enduring harsh weather conditions), and fight the temptation to take anything less than what you imagined when you first booked the hunt. Other than paying for the opportunity to hunt, the determination to hold out for a specific type of animal is the exact definition of a trophy hunter.
Finally, there are those who regularly harvest trophy deer on public lands, hunting without paying exorbitant fees and/or having the advantage of a guide service. These are the hunters who command the greatest respect, especially when they tag trophies that make the book. This could be considered trophy hunting at its most pure.
Well, there might be a middle ground, so to speak, where one can claim to be a trophy hunter and remain in good graces with those who scorn the practice. Consider these options:
* Trophy hunt, and if not successful, hunt antlerless deer
* Fill your doe tag first then hunt trophy bucks later
* Limit the hunting season to only one buck
* Trophy hunt where appropriate, otherwise practice QDM
Note that the above suggestions subscribe to quality deer hunting principles.
Let's face it; there are as many options as there are opinions about trophy hunting. Each option has its benefits and shortcomings. There is no clear answer.
One final point that can be made here is that one should not be the subject of undue criticism or scorn if one proclaims to be a trophy hunter and follows a practice whereby only book animals are hunted, or in other words: it is my hunt and I'll shoot or not shoot what I want.
A friend of mine, Buckmasters Online Editor Ken Piper, maybe sums it up best. He says that trophy hunting is fun and challenging, but hunters must also be responsible game managers thereby doing their part to harvest does, which helps states to meet management goals. He continues that a trophy hunter can receive much more satisfaction from taking a trophy animal when he can also say that he did his part and spent just as much effort filling an antlerless tag. The bottom line, Piper continues, is twofold. First hunters should not judge hunters who choose to take whatever animal presents itself, and second that a trophy hunter must not lose his or her respect for the game being hunted. In other words, a deer is worth more than its antlers.
I would add one more point to Ken's suggestion. As much as hunters should not judge other hunters who choose to take whatever animal presents itself, the opposite should be considered. Hunters should not judge other hunters who choose not to harvest an animal because the deer fails to meet "trophy" standards. What goes around also comes around. Have some consideration for trophy, albeit peculiar, hunters, and don't scoff at them. At least you know that their racks won't end up outside on the garage wall!
My Thoughts About Trophy Hunting
By John M. Moschella
There's a common misperception that trophy hunting is something relatively new. With the growing popularity of Quality Deer Management and guided hunts, the quest for that special whitetail -- one that carries superior antlers and has been subjected to careful measurement -- has become the subject of much discussion.
Trophy hunting has been around as long as man has hunted game. However, legendary hunters like Ernest Hemingway and President Theodore Roosevelt, to mention just two, were harvesting trophy animals generations ago. Organizations such as Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, and Safari Club International have been keeping records for as long as the sport itself. While thoughts on trophies have changed over the years -- as evidenced by the Buckmasters Trophy Records scoring system -- there's little doubt that hunters have always valued trophies.
Nevertheless, it has been only lately that the practice of holding out for a trophy has come under a sort of review. Sadly, it's yet another issue that pits hunters against hunters, and I believe the criticism is unfounded, unfair, and bad for the sport.
In this article, I will examine trophy hunting from several perspectives. First, we'll look at the evolution of a deer hunter. Next we'll investigate the role magazines and television programs play on this topic. After that, we'll look at the various types of hunts available to sportsmen. Last, and perhaps most important, we'll attempt to determine how average hunters feel about trophy hunters and hunts.
Once upon a time, someone wrote that most hunters go through four phases in their lifetime. Although I cannot identify the author, I can attest to its veracity.
Phase One is the beginning of the learning curve in the young hunter's life. Think of your first hunting trip -- your first time in the woods. For most of us that means the first unfilled tag. When you hunt during those early years, any deer will do, and when a whitetail does fall -- any whitetail -- it's a dream come true.
The Second Phase usually comes after one has filled a few tags for several years. The hunter now possesses enough experience to expect to harvest a deer each season in the woods. The focus is now on filling tags. Antlers, rack scores, and even sex of the deer doesn't matter -- it's all about the numbers.
Phase Three, or what is termed the "trophy phase", is when the hunter begins to seek greater challenge. This is the time in a sportsman's life when he decides to hold out for something special. A filled tag is not always part of the equation. This is a difficult phase in several ways. First it can result in that "embarrassing" [sic] position of having an unfilled tag. The trophy hunter also has to deal with the "what ifs" of a deer-less season -- second-guessing every decision and possibly facing a freezer void of venison. For those who do reach this level of hunting, the hours can be long and the results sparse, but when fulfilled, the satisfaction is immense.
The final phase of a hunter's life occurs when time plays its inevitable game on the body and mind. Filling one's tag is secondary to just being there, in the woods, with friends, breathing the fresh air. This could be considered the most enjoyable part of a hunter's career, as he is unfettered by the pressure to shoot the biggest buck in camp -- or even fill a tag, for that matter.
It is the transition from the second to the third phase which is the point of this discussion. This is the time in a hunter's life when he must make the conscious decision to become a trophy hunter. Mind you that not all hunters go through this metamorphosis, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with avoiding this chapter. Any hunter who never aspires to become a trophy hunter loses no respect or acclaim by me. It is simply a different -- not greater -- aspect of hunting. For those who do move to the trophy phase, however, the hunt takes on an entirely different perspective.
Hunting and its practitioners have many faces. This possibly is best exemplified in the pages of hunting magazines and television shows. Everyone has an opinion, but we're all influenced by what we read and what we see on TV. Unfortunately, from my perspective, many in the outdoors media do not realize how much influence their shows have.
Think for a moment the last hunting program you watched. The hunter scouted his or her spot, maybe set up a treestand and waited it out. In most cases, that trophy whitetail, which had been seen earlier, never presented itself for a shot. Now it is the last day; time and film are running out. So what ensues? The TV personality harvests a deer of lesser size and quality. Was it a successful hunt? Yes. Was it exciting TV? Sure. But a trophy hunt? I don't think so. Granted, the videographer got what he needed for the show, but the message about taking a true trophy has become skewed.
The point is that the conscious decision not to shoot a deer which lacks the size to be considered a trophy is the determining criteria in the mind of a trophy hunter. It separates true trophy hunters from those who claim to be trophy hunters, but feel compelled to shoot that underage buck rather than the better-eating doe. These are the people who claim to be trophy hunters but always have to fill their tags with a buck, regardless of antler size. Such is the price of braggadocio.
This leads us to the central question: What is a trophy? I do not wish to make this a philosophical discourse or raise a question of semantics, but any argument about trophy hunting cannot escape an attempt to resolve this issue.
The simple answer is that a trophy is anything the hunter wants it to be. The follow-up, then, is what about scoring systems practiced by B&C, P&Y and Buckmasters? To further complicate this issue, should a trophy be determined by location where it was harvested?
There are the hunts where trophies are within enclosures where they cannot escape. These "hunts" are enjoyable and usually result in a harvest, but the scoring organizations justifiably separate these animals from free-roaming whitetails.
Another aspect of trophy hunting is the guided hunt, where outfitters scout out locations and charge a fee for the opportunity to hunt that area for a trophy -- whitetail -- one that can be scored for the books.
Unfortunately, some traditionalists question these types of hunt, despite that some of the strictest examples of trophy hunting are found under these conditions. Consider the scenario: pay several thousand dollars, hunt a location (often enduring harsh weather conditions), and fight the temptation to take anything less than what you imagined when you first booked the hunt. Other than paying for the opportunity to hunt, the determination to hold out for a specific type of animal is the exact definition of a trophy hunter.
Finally, there are those who regularly harvest trophy deer on public lands, hunting without paying exorbitant fees and/or having the advantage of a guide service. These are the hunters who command the greatest respect, especially when they tag trophies that make the book. This could be considered trophy hunting at its most pure.
Well, there might be a middle ground, so to speak, where one can claim to be a trophy hunter and remain in good graces with those who scorn the practice. Consider these options:
* Trophy hunt, and if not successful, hunt antlerless deer
* Fill your doe tag first then hunt trophy bucks later
* Limit the hunting season to only one buck
* Trophy hunt where appropriate, otherwise practice QDM
Note that the above suggestions subscribe to quality deer hunting principles.
Let's face it; there are as many options as there are opinions about trophy hunting. Each option has its benefits and shortcomings. There is no clear answer.
One final point that can be made here is that one should not be the subject of undue criticism or scorn if one proclaims to be a trophy hunter and follows a practice whereby only book animals are hunted, or in other words: it is my hunt and I'll shoot or not shoot what I want.
A friend of mine, Buckmasters Online Editor Ken Piper, maybe sums it up best. He says that trophy hunting is fun and challenging, but hunters must also be responsible game managers thereby doing their part to harvest does, which helps states to meet management goals. He continues that a trophy hunter can receive much more satisfaction from taking a trophy animal when he can also say that he did his part and spent just as much effort filling an antlerless tag. The bottom line, Piper continues, is twofold. First hunters should not judge hunters who choose to take whatever animal presents itself, and second that a trophy hunter must not lose his or her respect for the game being hunted. In other words, a deer is worth more than its antlers.
I would add one more point to Ken's suggestion. As much as hunters should not judge other hunters who choose to take whatever animal presents itself, the opposite should be considered. Hunters should not judge other hunters who choose not to harvest an animal because the deer fails to meet "trophy" standards. What goes around also comes around. Have some consideration for trophy, albeit peculiar, hunters, and don't scoff at them. At least you know that their racks won't end up outside on the garage wall!