What Do You Consider Disrespectful Trophy Pictures?

[Frontier3006]

For me, the issue isn’t about protecting the feelings of non-hunters. It’s about the responsibility we have as hunters. I do not approach it by measuring how anti-hunters or non-hunters are going to perceive it.

When we take an animal’s life. whether it’s a trophy animal, a deer for the freezer, or even livestock, we should recognize that a life was taken. That’s part of conservation and part of respecting the natural world. The animal isn’t just a prop for a photograph; it was a living creature that played a role in the ecosystem. It's loss has value. While, we can take life, we can’t as human beings restore it.

I also think about young hunters. One of the hardest conversations with a child is helping them understand the difference between the family pet they love and the wild animal we hunt and consume. Respectful photographs help reinforce lessons about gratitude, stewardship, and ethical hunting. Bloody, sensationalized images don’t.
Personally, when watching hintong videos, I don’t even like seeing celebrations while an animal is still thrashing or in its final moments.

I think we owe that animal a few moments of silence and dignity. The photographs we choose to share should reflect the respect we have for the life that was taken, not because others demand it, but because our own values as hunters demand it.

 

[Muntjacer23]

For me, the issue isn’t about protecting the feelings of non-hunters. It’s about the responsibility we have as hunters. I do not approach it by measuring how anti-hunters or non-hunters are going to perceive it.

When we take an animal’s life. whether it’s a trophy animal, a deer for the freezer, or even livestock, we should recognize that a life was taken. That’s part of conservation and part of respecting the natural world. The animal isn’t just a prop for a photograph; it was a living creature that played a role in the ecosystem. It's loss has value. While, we can take life, we can’t as human beings restore it.

I also think about young hunters. One of the hardest conversations with a child is helping them understand the difference between the family pet they love and the wild animal we hunt and consume. Respectful photographs help reinforce lessons about gratitude, stewardship, and ethical hunting. Bloody, sensationalized images don’t.
Personally, when watching hintong videos, I don’t even like seeing celebrations while an animal is still thrashing or in its final moments.

I think we owe that animal a few moments of silence and dignity. The photographs we choose to share should reflect the respect we have for the life that was taken, not because others demand it, but because our own values as hunters demand it.

Very well said!

 

[LeftySixgun]

I find tongues hanging out of the animal disrespectful. Along with extreme gore, like head shots pictured or guts hanging out. We have all had a bad shot from time to time. But try not to picture it.

 

[Certus]

This seems to be a current topic that can be raised again.............

Has something happened?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Has something happened?

Just a recent cultural discussion in an offer thread that is better suited to be had here.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Here's a question for the group. What are your thoughts on having your implement of choice in the photo? I.e., rifle, bow, etc... I've seen some photos at one end of the spectrum that are very "sanitized" and only show the animal and the hunter. No opinion on this myself, at least at the moment.

I like a firearm in my hunting photos. It connects that firearm to that hunt/animal.

When my kids inherit my guns they can look back and know what I used them on.

A way to think of it might be adding context to the photo. A place, a time, an event, the tools used in it, the people involved. And while we may be able to look at a photo and remember the details out descendants might appreciate the greater context. This is something I’ve been running into with old family photos lately. Photos were taken to look good but now that the people in them are gone, I may have a hell of a time figuring out what’s going on beyond the basics.

 

[Sabre]

Here's a question for the group. What are your thoughts on having your implement of choice in the photo? I.e., rifle, bow, etc... I've seen some photos at one end of the spectrum that are very "sanitized" and only show the animal and the hunter. No opinion on this myself, at least at the moment.

This is just my personal opinion, I don't claim it to be the only one or correct for everyone.

I don't care whether the weapon is in the photo or not. If anything, in my own photos, I prefer when it is slung on my shoulder, not in it, or sometimes when kneeling I have it in my hand so it doesn't fall off my shoulder depending on terrain or whatever else is going on. So I prefer a more natural, whatever is going on in the moment photo.

I find it weird when people I'm hunting with find it odd that I don't care about it in the photo, or they want it really prominently displayed. I do have a few photos of animals like that and the weapon prominently displayed is my least favorite part of the photo. I have used about every method I know of except spear, and it doesn't factor for me as the important thing in the hunt.

Some of this perspective may be because the method (weapon) of take when hunting isn't important to me. I love to hunt. I bow hunt, muzzleloader hunt, and crossbow hunt not because I have an extreme love for those weapons, but because I have a love for hunting. I use those because it opens up other seasons that extend my hunting seasons. Nowadays I will always choose whichever method is legal and quickest most ethical weapon for taking the animal. So, I imagine that is why it is unimportant to me. The focus for me is the animal.

 

[PARA45]

For myself I always pose the animal in a good position meaning he just looks like he is asleep. I also make sure I gather dirt to soak up any blood completely. Last I make sure the mouth is closed with no tongue showing…in summary the animal is just sleeping with no blood showing. Just me

This! Plus, today, most PHs take amazing pictures, and pose the animal in a way, that it's not gory or bloody. I've seen trackers clean the wound with water and dirt and tuck the tongue to ensure the tongue is not hanging out or any blood showing from the wound.

My parents and siblings are non-hunters, and they love the pictures and mounts. My daughter said to me that the animals looked like they were sleeping. My sister asked me if she could post the pictures in FB, and she did without any negative feedback. I also don't care if someone who visits my house doesn't like my pictures or mounts. They will not be invited again. Simple remedy.

 

[Hififile324]

For me, a disrespectful safari picture would be a Lion carrying me away in it's mouth!

 

[BryceM]

Every day I wake up in the morning, I care less and less about what other people think. I want to protect the right of my grandkids to enjoy this way of life, so I don’t go around deliberately trying to fuel the anti hunters. That said, I’m a little pessimistic about what another 50 or 100 years of humanity does to available habitat. In my mind, that’s a greater end-game threat than anything the antis can do. Drawing a big game tag once in a lifetime or paying a year’s salary to hunt one animal isn’t going to sustain anything.

As far as photos go, I’ve taken plenty that I don’t post on the Internet. Probably many of us have. I have my own sense of ethics, and to me that’s sacrosanct. I really, really try to cause as little suffering as possible in this pursuit. Still, I’m quite certain bullets and shot cause enormous physical and emotional pain to our quarry, even if they expire relatively quickly. If we’re being completely honest, often they don’t, especially if you include bird hunting. Perhaps some of us choose to bury this thought deep down where it can’t ruin our experience. It’s actually easier (and maybe better) if you square with exactly what it is we’re doing.

The whole thing about showing respect to the animal is a bit odd to me. Shooting it with the intent to kill it already seems to be the ultimate level of disrespect…… even if scientifically, biologically, and legally sound. Its life has been completely destroyed, deliberately, by our actions. How is chopping it into little bits to eat it any better than posing its dead remains a certain way for a photo? A bit of blood on the sand or a tongue hanging out is nothing compared to what’s about to happen in the skinning shed or the processing floor. Maybe a few decades of being a surgeon has dulled that particular sensibility a bit.

 

[LivingTheDream]

For me, a disrespectful safari picture would be a Lion carrying me away in it's mouth!

If you took a selfie while that was happening, I would give you a lot of credit.

 

[LimbNoMo]

Here's a question for the group. What are your thoughts on having your implement of choice in the photo? I.e., rifle, bow, etc... I've seen some photos at one end of the spectrum that are very "sanitized" and only show the animal and the hunter. No opinion on this myself, at least at the moment.

I wasn't into pictures, but the PH insisted. They did their best to clean both the animal and ground. I was as proud of the rifle as the animal and glad that it was included in some of the photos.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I consider as-they-lay photos to be the most respectful. Gun laid with it tells enough story for me.

The lodge likes the animal artificially propped up with smiling client posing for their Facebook page. The wife co-owner once asked me why I'm never smiling in the photos.

One of God/Nature's beautiful creatures just met it's demise. Hard to be elated about that in good conscience. It was a worthy contest (I don't hunt over bait) and I won. He lost his life. Glad to have succeeded but I don't see any point in spiking the ball in the end zone and doing a silly dance. Get the dead animal dressed, in the salt, and on to the next challenge.

I have to say, I don't care for typical field photos of hippo or crocodile posed with mouth propped open with a stick. Just doesn't look respectful to me. Also no fan of the usual image of client holding up leopard in a bear hug. Very rarely do I run onto an as-it-lays photo of leopard. Don't know why. They are a stunningly beautiful animal just laying on the ground. Why booger up the photo with me holding it in some grossly unnatural pose?

 

[Arty0802]

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I wasn't into pictures, but the PH insisted. They did their best to clean both the animal and ground. I was as proud of the rifle as the animal and glad that it was included in some of the photos.

Did they clean the horns, too? I can almost see my reflection! haha
Gorgeous gemsbok!

 

[LimbNoMo]

@Arty0802 Thank you for your kind words. They weren’t cleaned to my knowledge.

 

[Charlie64]

.

Four things I am a stickler on ,,,,

1) if there is a rifle in the picture then the bolt is always open or the gun broken open

2) no sticks propping up the head

3) not sitting yards behind the animal in an attempt to make it look bigger

4) clear ground between the camera & the animal ie no grass or brush in between

Otherwise all good to go !

.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

.

Four things I am a stickler on ,,,,

1) if there is a rifle in the picture then the bolt is always open or the gun broken open

2) no sticks propping up the head

3) not sitting yards behind the animal in an attempt to make it look bigger

4) clear ground between the camera & the animal ie no grass or brush in between

Otherwise all good to go !

.

In curious about your first one. Nothing wrong with it but I just wondered why have the bolt open over simply clearing it?

 

[fourfive8]

Most people can tell the difference. A few antis or nons never will no matter the composition. But some in our own camp apparently remain absolutely “tone deaf” and live in their own arrogant, artificial bubble. Legality has nothing to do with it but I hear that argument often. Recent, famous example below of a certain ex Idaho game commissioner who should have known better.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

.

Four things I am a stickler on ,,,,

1) if there is a rifle in the picture then the bolt is always open or the gun broken open

2) no sticks propping up the head

3) not sitting yards behind the animal in an attempt to make it look bigger

4) clear ground between the camera & the animal ie no grass or brush in between

Otherwise all good to go !

.

Personally I don't see any point in a photo op with an open chamber. I don't carry it that way even without a round in the chamber. I also don't store my rifle with the chamber open. Bolt closed and striker released. Africa can be a dusty environment and I prefer to minimize risk of debris inside my rifle.

Edit: Looking at my photos above I note that striker is cocked and safety is disengaged. However, most who are looking at the images would not know the safety is disengaged because it's on left side of bolt shroud and almost hidden from view. My guns are always unloaded once the animal is down (unless in grizzly country) and I know the chambers were empty in those photos, even the buffalo ... and we were still being harassed by the herd lingering in the background when the picture was taken. Difference being two other stopper guns were still loaded and ready, whereas elk hunting I was always solo. Still, for the sake of appearances the safety should have been engaged or, even better, striker released with bolt closed on empty chamber before photos taken. I will remember that for future.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Most people can tell the difference. A few antis or nons never will no matter the composition. But some in our own camp apparently remain absolutely “tone deaf” and live in their own arrogant, artificial bubble. Legality has nothing to do with it but I hear that argument often. Recent, famous example below of a certain ex Idaho game commissioner who should have known better.

View attachment 771074

Yeah, that was totally tasteless. I know the farmers want to be rid of them and I may shoot baboons if directed, even young ones, but I won't be smiling about it in front of a camera.