Taking Trophies...or only pictures?

[steve ahrenberg]

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?

 

[Ryan]

Do you consider a huge marlin, salmon, etc. Less worthy of respect and admiration than a kudu, springbok, etc.? I say this because fisherman do it all the time and we think that's fine. Fish taxidermy exists, but it's far less common than for mammals. Heck, the same is true of birds too. I'd say the fisherman (and bird hunters) considers their quarry just as worthy as a hunter with a mount made. Not just caught and released fish, caught and kept. I don't have a single fish mount, but I have a lot of pictures and a couple gyotaku prints of my big ones. So it all depends on the hunters beliefs.

 

[gillettehunter]

I have seen the pros and cons discussed some before. I have always done taxidermy. I leave in 3 weeks, but will do a lot less taxidermy. A couple may just be pics this trip. Simply put. I'm out of room..... I've also seen the argument that the $$ saved from not doing taxidermy can. Be used for trophy fees for more animals. T o each their own.
Bruce

 

[Shootist43]

Having a wall mount is not the culmination of a "Trophy" hunt. A photo can bring back memories of the excitement and friends just as well. A lot more folks have seen the 'Trophy" photos on my cell phone than seen the mounts on my wall.

 

[Nyati]

I am one of those who insist on bringing back the skull of every animal I hunt (I only do euro-mounts).

As I don´t have much space left, I have given away to friends several warthog tusks, a baboon, a jackal, (the smaller ones ).

And it will be that way for the future, if I am able to hunt a bigger trophy than I have, the smaller one finds a new home.

 

[IvW]

I prefer scull mounts myself...

 

[LivingTheDream]

I was told it was a non-exportable animal

On a sign note, it was very refreshing to hunt, enjoy the moment, and not have to worry about dip/pack, taxidermy, shipping and all of the other issues. I have brought stuff back and cherish the memories but it makes things so much simpler. I actually look back on that hunt and it is in the top 2 of hunts I have ever done. I think the pictures and happy villagers definitely respect the animals life and its sacrifice.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Not everyone has the space to hang a bunch of animals, especially the big ones. People that live in a small apartment or condo, retirees who have downsized their living quarters, would one preclude them from going on an African or other foreign hunt? I know professional people that don't need the attention a big trophy collection would bring. In these instances, photos may be the only option.

 

[cpr0312]

A few thoughts....

*People being out of room for taxidermy

*Wanting to put more money to other hunts , and just focus on the experience itself of the hunt/pursuit. For example two or three hunts for the price of one with taxidermy.

*Some people might not care at all about taxidermy/euro mounts, and just enjoy hunting and having pics around. (If I had that mindset I'd have a lot more money to play with today )

 

[Red Leg]

Unless we wish to give up our sport or have unlimited resources, we will run out of room eventually - Euro mounts or not. Well maybe not @steve ahrenberg You apparently do have room for a full body LDE! But for most of us, space is a finite resource.

I know several people who have hunted Africa, had a life changing experience, yet won’t go back because there is no room for more taxidermy. That is a definition of insanity to me - assuming one is a hunter rather than a collector. I assume for most of us a hunting trophy is the remembrance of a hunt. I fortunately discovered some years ago, one can accomplish that with photography just as easily as taxidermy. And if it is bragging rights that are important, then build a digital slide show and have it running when the lads are over. I have had the very good fortune to have hunted Africa several times and a host of other places in North/South America and Europe. I have a separate trophy room. I have exactly six shoulder or pedestal mounts, and perhaps thirty Euro mounts. But I have hundreds of photos, and I digitally build a scrap book following each new adventure. And when I move on, the scrap books might be something the kids actually appreciate. A bunch of stuffed dead things ..... probably not so much.

More importantly, my merely cherishing that memory is for more important than either megapixels or a bit of dried hide.

 

[huntinlabs]

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

One could argue there is no difference. Isnt getting it mounted reducing the value of the animals life to simply a dead piece of art on the wall?

 

[Rum Runner]

My upcoming trip, I'll do European mounts for most. However, the wife has reserved a place on the living room wall for a zebra rug! I'll do mounts, rugs, pictures, the works. Looking at the mounts makes it real again...and I have a story for every one.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My last trip in '18, I had no taxidermy. Did I have a great time? Absolutely. Going back in '20 for a cull hunt so unlikely anything is coming back from that hunt. I have room for one more unknown shoulder mount and I'm saving that for the Grand Finale.

 

[sierraone]

All of the animals I have taken in Africa have went to the butcher shop after initial skinning and quartering near the camp. The majority of the meat is sold to the public. A small amount is maintained for use in the camp. And I can assure you that I enjoy my hunts as much as someone who kills a trophy kudu. So far in my old life, I have never mounted any animal...(except a few quail one time!)

 

[steve ahrenberg]

One could argue there is no difference. Isnt getting it mounted reducing the value of the animals life to simply a dead piece of art on the wall?

I won't shoot an animal (overseas) that I don't "want forever." Frankly, I don't really see the point of killing something...anything just to take its picture. Why not just go stalk them up close, take their picture and let them walk? The only difference would be the kill.

We as a demographic are getting our assess handed to us right now. If the "organized anti's" ever get wind of this, we're even more screwed than we are now.

Not that bringing trophies home and getting them mounted makes them happy, but at least we can claim full use and responsibility of the entire process.

Its more of a philosophical discussion than anything else.

 

[IvW]

I won't shoot an animal (overseas) that I don't "want forever." Frankly, I don't really see the point of killing something...anything just to take its picture. Why not just go stalk them up close, take their picture and let them walk? The only difference would be the kill.

We as a demographic are getting our assess handed to us right now. If the "organized anti's" ever get wind of this, we're even more screwed than we are now.

Not that bringing trophies home and getting them mounted makes them happy, but at least we can claim full use and responsibility of the entire process.

Its more of a philosophical discussion than anything else.

Not quite, it is about the experience...nobody can take that away from you...stuffed trophy on the wall or not. I hunted many PAC animals never kept any part as a trophy, nobody can take that away from me and many of those are the clearest in my memory and stories to my children...

 

[steve ahrenberg]

Unless we wish to give up our sport or have unlimited resources, we will run out of room eventually - Euro mounts or not. Well maybe not @steve ahrenberg You apparently do have room for a full body LDE! But for most of us, space is a finite resource.

I know several people who have hunted Africa, had a life changing experience, yet won’t go back because there is no room for more taxidermy. That is a definition of insanity to me - assuming one is a hunter rather than a collector. I assume for most of us a hunting trophy is the remembrance of a hunt. I fortunately discovered some years ago, one can accomplish that with photography just as easily as taxidermy. And if it is bragging rights that are important, then build a digital slide show and have it running when the lads are over. I have had the very good fortune to have hunted Africa several times and a host of other places in North/South America and Europe. I have a separate trophy room. I have exactly six shoulder or pedestal mounts, and perhaps thirty Euro mounts. But I have hundreds of photos, and I digitally build a scrap book following each new adventure. And when I move on, the scrap books might be something the kids actually appreciate. A bunch of stuffed dead things ..... probably not so much.

More importantly, my merely cherishing that memory is for more important than either megapixels or a bit of dried hide.

As I continue to hunt internationally, I am more selective and tend to hunt for less animals per trip. My trophy room is nearly full and I wont over-crowd it. They begin to look like a warehouse at some point. My wife has impeccable decorating taste councils me on spacing and placement. I shot my 15th Buffalo in Tanzania last year. I will likely call it quits on them. My last was also my largest at 49".

However...I'm doing a late season Maasai species hunt next year and, well...

 

[steve ahrenberg]

Not quite, it is about the experience...nobody can take that away from you...stuffed trophy on the wall or not. I hunted many PAC animals never kept any part as a trophy, nobody can take that away from me and many of those are the clearest in my memory and stories to my children...

But wouldn't the experience be identical by stalking and taking a photo?

 

[IvW]

But wouldn't the experience be identical by stalking and taking a photo?

I guess that would be up to each individual to decide.

I have hunted all my life, for myself, professionally and doing PAC work. I have one shoulder mount(superb Mountain reed buck), many scull and horns mounted on wood and a massive zebra skin and a skin of an unborn zebra I inherited from my wife's grandmother.

You save a lot by not mounting however many hunt in order to mount, personal choice.

If I had to mount all the leopard, Lion, Hippo, elephant and croc I have shot I would be bankrupt....

 

[Hogpatrol]

But wouldn't the experience be identical by stalking and taking a photo?

No. You can't be charged by a screwed up photo. There are different reasons people hunt. You have yours and others have theirs. None are the "right" way to hunt.

Aside that, have you brought all those buffalo back? Personally, I can't wrap my head around shooting that many buffalo.