How to be polite, but honest, about trophy quality?

[Paul K]

One man's trophy is one man's trophy.
I finished the grand slam on North American sheep. The Dall Sheep was a 30"x34" slightly mishapen ram. Some see it and say, "well that is a nice one", when I know they are somewhat unimpressed.

What they do not know is that on a 10 day hunt, we were rained/fogged inside our tents for 8 days. I spotted this ram on that last hunting day and with about 5 hours of visibility. Made a beast of a climb, made a good shot, got off the mountain and out of the mountains with minutes to spare. My hunting buddy and I were in a 2 man pup tent for 8 days solid in really bad weather.
So, whenever the topic of sheep hunting comes up, this story takes the cake.
It is my finest and smallest sheep.

So, give grace when viewing another man's trophies.

Same goes for his wife or kids or dog.

Exactly. I don't hunt with a tape measure. To me it's all about the hunt and the stalk and the memories of each and what it took to make the hunt successful or not. Some easy, some hard and a couple were brutal. My wife and I have have been to Africa 3 times and unfortunately, never to return. My Waterbuck and Eland made the SCI record book, silver and bronze respectively. My taxidermist, took it upon himself to send the measurements in. I said thanks ,but it didn't matter to me, they were both a heck of a stalk. All my memories , from my first Rabbit to my Cape Buffalo I will take to my grave. And I feel blessed to have been able to do it and proud of everone of them.

Paul

 

[MHYOUNG 375]

Guys,

Yeah! Bursting one's bubble is never a good idea. Let them figure it out.

I do think it might be wise for the first timer to try and be familiar with the size of animals they will hunt and to discuss with the PH your expectations and just let him have his head from that point onward in the safari.

Mark

 

[sgt_zim]

There is one other thing to consider. Apart from people on this forum, I don't know a soul who could distinguish a "good representative of the species" vs a trophy.

Hell, there isn't a friend who's seen my cape buffalo mount who doesn't think it's a water buffalo. None would know a kudu from a wildebeest or a gemsbok.

 

[JPbowhunter]

There is one other thing to consider. Apart from people on this forum, I don't know a soul who could distinguish a "good representative of the species" vs a trophy.

Hell, there isn't a friend who's seen my cape buffalo mount who doesn't think it's a water buffalo. None would know a kudu from a wildebeest or a gemsbok.

Haha good point. All my farmers know I’m a hunter and tell me when they see a stag out and about. Every one has “antlers 3ft long and at least 16 points”. Lots end up being 20” 8 pt’s!