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So, I'm interested in you alls opinion concerning trophy hunting.
Personally, I am not interested in trophy hunting (i.e. going for the large rack of antlers, big horn sheep horns, full body mounts, etc). I like to eat what I shoot and will take a cow elk over a bull any day.
That said, I've heard a good answer to trophy hunting: If you take out the large bull, it allows the younger bulls, which are arguably more fertile to get to the females to increase the herd size more quickly.
What's your take on it?
Hunt and kill anything you are planning to EAT! If you are only collecting heads/wall mounts then stay home.
Hunt and kill anything you are planning to EAT! If you are only collecting heads/wall mounts then stay home.
Again this is a misconception among people who don't hunt or at least are not familiar with how "trophy" hunting actually works. The meat is always used and discarding it is a crime in most states.
A trophy hunter is trying to get an exceptional specimen as opposed to shooting the first deer or whatever found.
As noted for an African hunt bringing any meat back to the States is just about impossible, so it is donated locally. Some hunters do ask for at least a sample be cooked in camp so they can say that they have tried Zebra or whatever.
We haven't got anything against trophy hunting, but we don't do it. We don't hunt at all, however, we do go to a gun/rifle range for target shooting. My 74 year old wife is a mighty good shot with her Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun.
We love going to a big sporting goods store, like Sportsmans Warehouse or Bass Pro and seeing all of the mounts. We've also gone to a rather large Outdoor Sporting Events Show at a Convention Center. Absolutely loved it!
What difference does it make? Seriously. I shoot a deer and 99% of the time I discard the hide. I mean, I could put it to use, tan it, etc, but its a lot of extra work, time, expense, and space.
I'd venture to say that most bear hunters do it as a one time thing, unless they're houndsmen. They shoot the bear, they mount the head/hide, make sausage out of the meat, and are unlikely to kill another one any time soon.
Houndsmen might take one every year but they're more into it for the dogs themselves. They'll "catch" a bunch of bears every year, but might shoot one. For them the hunt is done when the animal is treed.
Read post #17.
That seems bizarre to go out and harass bears with dogs. What's the reason behind that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
Again this is a misconception among people who don't hunt or at least are not familiar with how "trophy" hunting actually works. The meat is always used and discarding it is a crime in most states.
A trophy hunter is trying to get an exceptional specimen as opposed to shooting the first deer or whatever found.
As noted for an African hunt bringing any meat back to the States is just about impossible, so it is donated locally. Some hunters do ask for at least a sample be cooked in camp so they can say that they have tried Zebra or whatever.
Are people usually eating meat from predators though? Is this very common? Are there laws requiring the meat of predators to be kept?
That seems bizarre to go out and harass bears with dogs. What's the reason behind that?
Are people usually eating meat from predators though? Is this very common? Are there laws requiring the meat of predators to be kept?
Waste of Game (MCA 87-6-205)
• Hunters, or persons in possession of a game animal or game animal
parts, are prohibited from wasting or rendering unfit for human
consumption any part of a game animal that is defined as “suitable
for food.â€
• For game animals (excluding mountain lions), all of the four quarters
above the hock, including loin and backstrap are considered suitable
for food
This includes bear meat. And note, Mountain Lion is the only excepted game animal named in this statute.
That seems bizarre to go out and harass bears with dogs. What's the reason behind that?
Are people usually eating meat from predators though? Is this very common? Are there laws requiring the meat of predators to be kept?
Well hunting bears and racoons with hounds is a specific sport, you would almost have to go on a hunt like this to make sense of it.
As to predators, with the exception of Cougars or Mountain Lions, most are not considered edible. Coyotes for example.
I guess I would just advise anyone considering a hunt for species not generally accepted as "game" to take a look at the rules & regulations booklet put out by the gams & fish departments of most all states, which are generally available in any sort of sporting goods store or department.
Well hunting bears and racoons with hounds is a specific sport, you would almost have to go on a hunt like this to make sense of it.
As to predators, with the exception of Cougars or Mountain Lions, most are not considered edible. Coyotes for example.
I guess I would just advise anyone considering a hunt for species not generally accepted as "game" to take a look at the rules & regulations booklet put out by the gams & fish departments of most all states, which are generally available in any sort of sporting goods store or department.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,937 posts, read 36,951,955 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NDak15
I know some people do eat bear and mountain lion meat but it seems people usually don't hunt those for their meat but just the hides.
Black bear are primarily hunted for their meat in New England. Most people don't keep the hides. Too much work to tan, and sending it out is expensive with mixed results.
Trophy hunting, just so a person can hang an animal's head on their wall then brag about "bagging the big one"? Absolutely not. Those type people should be put on a preserve and let others shoot at them. I'm not an "animal activist" as such, but they deserve to be left alone, other than as a food supply.
Trophy hunting doesn't bother me and I am happy for the guys who share photos of their trophy animal. The hunters and fishermen are the ones who do the most for conservation. They are paying their way to Mother Nature, supporting wildlife, and helping to keep the different species in balance..
In my family, hunting and fishing are mostly to enjoy the outdoors and to get a bit of meat for the freezer. I'd rather have a young tender spike than a gamy hormone soaked 9 year old bull. Most fishing is catch and release, except for a few extra nice fish that are brought home for dinner.
If the hunters don't hunt and remove the appropriate number of animals, the population gets too large and animals starve to death over the winter. Or population gets too crowed and disease takes over and infests the herd. Wildlife is carefully managed. The number of animals removed from the population is controlled.
Trophy hunting in Africa? Its managing herd size and providing income for the local human population. I've no problem with it.
Bears and cougars? The population needs to be controlled plus it is beneficial to the bears and cougars if they are taught some fear and respect for humans so they stay out of the cities and away from the big cattle ranches. Bear meat is eaten. Bobcat meat is eaten. I don't know about cougar meat, but it is probably eaten.
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