Do you feel trophy hunting is justified?

Question

Yes, I realize that hunting keeps the game populations under control...according to our state governments. However, do you feel that killing an animal for a prize is morally acceptable? Isn't this just a waste of life if it wasn't killed in order to sustain another life?

Answer 1

Just because the hunt is for the purpose of mounting it, and it wasn't killed for the purpose of using the meat doesn't mean that the meat isn't eaten. I have one friend who has never eaten anything he has taken, but many homeless have eaten the meat from his deer and elk over the years.  I don't know any hunters, even those out for trophies, who waste the meat.  

Answer 2

Sure. Whether the meat is used depends on the animal. Some just aren't good eating. That detracts in no way from the good of the managed harvest. Keep in mind that many animal "societies" are such that the dominant male guards his "harem" jealously, so in addition to the general thinning of the herd, trophy hunting tends to add to genetic diversity. It's always a good idea to look behind the obvious before you jump to conclusions about things.

You may have to rely on your state's game department for such information, but some of us have been around long enough, and had the fortunate circumstances, to see these things work. I don't know anybody that wastes good meat, though. There are just too many poor people who are glad to have it even if the hunter doesn't.

Answer 3

Which is worse: Dying of starvation or a quick-shot?

Answer 4

No. Now keeping the meat is okay, but if your just doing it for the antlers, etc. its completely wrong. Either way, I think we should stick to hunting the weaker, stupider animals, that way the populations grow stronger, when you take out the biggest, strongest, most majestic animal then you cripple the chances of having more like that in the future. Basically, just cause you have the scope and round to be able to shoot an animal from a mile away doesn't mean you should.

Answer 5

Head hunters have their place too

A certain number of animals are slotted for extermination each year to keep the population healthy and the gene pool from getting too shallow

This number is reached by factoring many different conditions and variables

The people who do this figuring have many any years of experience and a few letters behind their names

And contrary to what {ETA has taught you just because an animal is stiffed and mounted does not mean any of the meat has gone to waste

What you see is the skin stretched over a polyurethane form

The skin and antlers that would have been thrown away if not used for decoration because you can't eat them

Thirdly

Just because a hunter hunts only for the thrill of the kill and a nice set of antlers does not meant that the animal is left to rot

That would be "willful and wanton waste of wildlife" (might be wrong on the wording" which is a crime in every hunting state I have ever heard of

The meat will be used by someone

Bottom line hunting is legal, get over it

Answer 6

To be honest, i would much rather shoot a 12 pointer than a 6 pointer.  

Answer 7

Only a tiny percentage of hunters are what you'd consider trophy hunters. Most US states have laws requiring you to keep and consume the meat of any animal killed, excepting scavengers killed to control their populations for health reasons.

Just because you mount the head of a deer you kill does not make you a trophy hunter. All those mounted deer heads represent a deer that fed a family. It's countenance has been preserved out of an ancient, DNA level desire to use every part of the animal even if it is as a decorative memory of the hunt.  

Answer 8

i personally do not agree with trophy hunting unless u also eat the meat of the trophy. But hunting just for the purpose of killing something to put on the wall... i just dont agree with that

Answer 9

Sure it is. You understand that it keeps game populations under control? Then what is the problem? I can keep the game population under control and have a cool looking pet that I never have to take out or feed. I would rather that; than have to peel it out of my hood or windshield or both.

Just like when you fish if you catch a really big one you get it stuffed. What is the big deal? Animals of rareity wether protected or not should not be taken as "trophies". But if we are talking about an animal that can practically clone itself times twelve in a two year period than I say shoot stuff and mount.  

Answer 10

It all depends on what you do with the rest of the animal. I don't hunt for trophies, and I eat what I shoot, but if I ever shot a deer that was of trophy size, I would probably get it mounted. But the bulk of the meat would still end up in the freezer.

I read articles about hunters and fisherman who only go after "the big ones", and I don't have a real problem with that, as long as they either eat the meat, or give it to someone else.

Answer 11

Hunting is legal, no justification needed.......

Answer 12

i say as long as you eat the rest of it and actually use the meat its justified. but if you just hunt for the head and antlers is just wrong. i would never put a deer head up on my wall unless i was told by a ranger that it is the biggest he saw. but no i dont think trophies are right. so what you killed a animal from 600m. i want to see you do it from at least 100m at max. that takes skill to get that close. and even more to kill one with a .22 or knife. cmon bring some real sport into it. that is just my input on it.

Answer 13

It's illegal to waste usable meat in of most game animals in North America.  Anyone that does is a poacher.  As long as people are not cutting off the head and throwing the body down a ravine who cares why they originally went out to the woods.    

Answer 14

I love hunting and I feel hunting big game is for eating. I have no problem with folks that kill an animal and keep a trophy.  I do not like people that kill only for trophy and leave the meat.  However this changes in African hunts.  In African hunts. We are not allowed to bring the meat back to America.  What happens is that the hunter gets the trophy, and the meat is delivered to the locals. That is good.  I think as long is the meat is not wasted the trophy is justified.  

Answer 15

I'm a meat hunter, I don't care about impressive antlers.

If you only harvest the most impressive animals only the weaker and average deer are left to breed and over many generations you have a weaker smaller herd. And gone are the good genes that produce the impressive antlers...

Answer 16

You can't make soup out of the antlers now can you? I have seen people pass up lots of shots and animals year after year because they want the big rack. Personally I take the first legal thing that walks by. All I want is meat in the freezer, not a stupid head on the wall.