Taking Trophies...or only pictures?

[woods1126]

I've hunted in South Africa 5 times over the last 6 years. Lord willing I'll be back next year. My first hunt is on the wall. All others are in picture books and journals. I sleep well knowing not an ounce of protein is wasted. Either consumed or sold by the outfitter, or purchased by me personally, and given to my trackers family and others I see fit. Foremost, what gives me most pleasure, is the knowledge that the money saved by not mounting and shipping my critters, I have almost financed my next trip there. Kevin

 

[EPIC SAFARIS]

I don't know how I stumbled on this old thread but I got to reading it and thought this topic of what one should or shouldn't do with their trophies was very thought provoking. Frankly I have no strong opinion on what someone should or shouldn't do with their trophies by the way but it got me pondering myself why I have such a passion for Africa in particular. To me, it's all about the experience of being in Africa- the sounds (especially at night), the varying colors and shapes of wildlife, the landscapes, the sunsets, interactions with the local people, the adrenaline rushes, firepit sessions, and on and on. It's the only place on the planet where I get off the vehicle and know there are things out there (other than people) that can kill me in a matter of seconds or minutes if I am not careful and aware of my surroundings. And that gets one feeling so much more alive than anywhere else or anything else that I have experienced in my travels. Yes, I have some mounts in my home or other properties (not as many as I want but more than my wife wants!) that help me remember specific hunts that I cherished. But, after self-reflection, it's really the experiences in uniquely awesome environments and being in that moment with a team of people focused on one objective where the team is relying on one of its member to execute a perfect shot at the exact right time it presents itself that means the most to me in the end.

 

[Hank2211]

I don't know how I stumbled on this old thread but I got to reading it and thought this topic of what one should or shouldn't do with their trophies was very thought provoking. Frankly I have no strong opinion on what someone should or shouldn't do with their trophies by the way but it got me pondering myself why I have such a passion for Africa in particular. To me, it's all about the experience of being in Africa- the sounds (especially at night), the varying colors and shapes of wildlife, the landscapes, the sunsets, interactions with the local people, the adrenaline rushes, firepit sessions, and on and on. It's the only place on the planet where I get off the vehicle and know there are things out there (other than people) that can kill me in a matter of seconds or minutes if I am not careful and aware of my surroundings. And that gets one feeling so much more alive than anywhere else or anything else that I have experienced in my travels. Yes, I have some mounts in my home or other properties (not as many as I want but more than my wife wants!) that help me remember specific hunts that I cherished. But, after self-reflection, it's really the experiences in uniquely awesome environments and being in that moment with a team of people focused on one objective where the team is relying on one of its member to execute a perfect shot at the exact right time it presents itself that means the most to me in the end.

Very, very well put.

But . . . I’m one of the ones who has stopped bringing back trophies (mostly at the command of SWMBO) . . . So I didn’t bring back my LDE trophy, and now I find I have all of the spiral horns on the wall except one . . . Stupidity of me, or . . . I might just have to go back to Cameroon and do it again!

 

[Gemsbok45]

Hey CJ,
Good luck on your endeavor!! I loved living in Africa.I’m really looking forward to hunting Sable and Roan as well as Lechwe. Everyone of them is going on the wall. Can you imagine a euro on a Sable.I have taken ten Buffalos mounted the first one but if I killed a 49 inches he goes on the wall. I’m looking at a Dall sheep mount now. Backpack trip in the Brooks range. Can’t remember when I dug out my pictures. Really good taxidermy is inspiring. You want pictures have at it.

 

[Gemsbok45]

Hank2211,
Your living a great life if you left a Lord Derby Eland behind!!!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

I don't know how I stumbled on this old thread but I got to reading it and thought this topic of what one should or shouldn't do with their trophies was very thought provoking. Frankly I have no strong opinion on what someone should or shouldn't do with their trophies by the way but it got me pondering myself why I have such a passion for Africa in particular. To me, it's all about the experience of being in Africa- the sounds (especially at night), the varying colors and shapes of wildlife, the landscapes, the sunsets, interactions with the local people, the adrenaline rushes, firepit sessions, and on and on. It's the only place on the planet where I get off the vehicle and know there are things out there (other than people) that can kill me in a matter of seconds or minutes if I am not careful and aware of my surroundings. And that gets one feeling so much more alive than anywhere else or anything else that I have experienced in my travels. Yes, I have some mounts in my home or other properties (not as many as I want but more than my wife wants!) that help me remember specific hunts that I cherished. But, after self-reflection, it's really the experiences in uniquely awesome environments and being in that moment with a team of people focused on one objective where the team is relying on one of its member to execute a perfect shot at the exact right time it presents itself that means the most to me in the end.

Having just completed my new trophy room with pictures to AH members I have one place for my hopefully this year leopard oil painting that will match in size my elephant and rhino pictures. Waiting for my painted elephant ear, leg bone carving and tusks by my desk. This gives me my vision of the big 5. After this all taxi and pictures for hanging done…no more. All my remaining hunts will be captured in small picture albums on my coffee table

 

[hoytcanon]

It is none of anyone's business how someone chooses to remember their hunt... Full mounts, shoulder mounts, Euro mounts, photographs, or simply the memory between their ears... none of these are more respectful or disrespectful to the animals than the others. Hunt how you want, remember how you want. Ignore judgmental fools.

 

[mark-hunter]

Rather than hijack someone else's thread, I figured I'd ask in a new thread. Why would you (anyone) go to all the trouble to go to Africa, shoot a bunch of stuff, take its picture and simply leave the stuff there?

Isn't that by definition, reducing the value of an animals life to simply a few megapixels on a camera card?

How would you justify shooting an elephant with the trophy exportable or not?
You will stay in Africa, till you eat him entirely, 7 ton elephant?

The trophy is material memory. Same as photography or painting, or diary, or souvenirs, etc. And safari is experience.
So how would you prefer to make material memory of safari experience is up to you. Trophy on the wall, photo album, diary, or none at all subject to memory loss with old age.

2nd considerations:
- various trophy import bans
- lack of space at home
- heirs not overly delighted to get collection of dead animals from grandfather. For example my uncle had no desire to keep my grandfather trophies, he put them (better word: he dumped them on the ground) in humid basement, and all was destroyed within couple of years.

And final reality check:
I love oryx steaks. I would love to go to Africa, shoot oryx, and send the meat home.
But legally this is impossible. I cannot import meat. Neither can you.

 

[Rare Breed]

I know you are making a point my friend but your point on Oryx steaks made me think I could eat Eland every day if I could. This past year I shot one having eaten it before and asked them to make me steaks four times during my week hunt with them in SA before I went to Zim the next week

 

[Pasme]

I want it all, photos, meat and trophies.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I also have stopped bringing trophies back. It has gotten to expensive and I have all the important ones it wanted. Now it is the hunt and adventure. I only have one more I will bring back and that will be Leopard, whenever I get one.

 

[Red Leg]

I said this somewhere else, but the physical trophies (Euro or mounts) are representative of my passion for hunting - not its sum total.

I'll simply note again, that unless you have unlimited resources and can create unlimited space, you eventually will find an alternative to physical trophies or you will quit hunting big game. For me, the latter is not an option, and hence the detailed photo journals which not only memorialize those adventures in photography, but also in narrative form.

 

[skydiver386]

In my mind, as long as the animal is used to the fullest extent possible, every moral obligation has been fulfilled.

Even if someone else is able to use the meat, skin, etc., then this moral obligation, and thus part of every hunters code of ethics, then I have no problem with it.

 

[hoytcanon]

In my mind, as long as the animal is used to the fullest extent possible, every moral obligation has been fulfilled.

Even if someone else is able to use the meat, skin, etc., then this moral obligation, and thus part of every hunters code of ethics, then I have no problem with it.

Do you believe in predator control?
How do you like coyotes and jackals... on the BBQ with a little.salt or in a stew with potatoes and carrots?

Oh, so your morality has an astrix....

 

[mdwest]

Im in a different position than most.. my wife is who actually really values trophies/taxidermy.. Ive thought we should move to really nice photos only for the last several years.. we've simply run out of practical space.. and yet, we continue to bring stuff "home"... with 30+ pieces already in the house, Im still pending 1 shoulder mount from Ireland, 6x mounts from our last South Africa trip, and now 2x mounts from New Zealand.. I sincerely have no clue where this stuff is going.. especially the larger scale shoulder mounts like the elk, and red stag, and a pair of black wildebeest..

I'd much prefer at this point to dedicate a wall to 8x10 and 11x14 high quality photos and start building more coffee table books containing pics from our travels and hunts..

but the wife.. she wants to keep cramming stuff on the walls... so.. I guess that's what we'll do lol..