James hays
AH member
Does size really matter? Now guys, I’m only talking about hunting trophies. If you like to brag and who doesn’t, getting a trophy in the record books is a great thing. But is it the only thing that matters? For some it does and that’s ok, nothing wrong with that. Should hunting success be measured in inches or the size of the smile on ones face? Many times we hear about the term character when describing an an animal. You can’t measure character, but that’s ok too. I’ve only hunted two times in Africa and wouldn’t know how to judge a trophy on the hoof to save my soul. I leave that job up to the PH. Never, never guide the guide!
SCI, Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett and many more all have record books and different methods of scoring. They are great tools for measuring success. When picking an outfitter, the way their clients trophies score is one of many ways in which to make a decision. Bronze medal, silver medal, gold medal; all terms to measure size of a trophy. When different prices are put on them usually means high fence. Nothing wrong with that either. Business is business. I certainly wouldn’t put up with a guide on open public land that said that one is bronze medal and cost $1,500 and that one is a gold medal and cost $5,000.
So what really matters? I can only speak for myself. My train of thought is, if you think it will look good on your wall, shoot it. My favorite trophy is not the 10 inch warthog I shot in Africa, but the little 4 point buck which was my son’s first deer taken many years ago.
Is your favorite trophy in the record books or is it the smile on an 8 year old?
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