Well, when you've dealt with thousands of clients as I have you may have a different outlook.
Ken, I have dealt with plenty. Why would you assume otherwise? Do you know me? Have we ever met?
Here's some insight. For the last 27 years-through my numerous camps-I have been annually exposed to between 30 and 50 hunters . These national and international gentlemen were not clients since I am not for hire. They have been predominantly skilled, self reliant, self regulating, and extremely disciplined do-it-yourselfers. In the capacity of guide, host, pack mule, or friend, I have been there for the pure sake of the hunt, the laughter, and the challenge of "being wild." In addition, I normally assist 50 to 100 good folk every year with various hunts around the World (at no charge). With that said, I can honestly say I have never experienced the things you describe above. Perhaps you are catering to an insecure clientele who time and time again pay for pleasure. Could it be they lack what it takes to successfully hunt on their own? Thus, any sense of manhood is better than none. One can only surmise...
Many use record books to some how validate their manhood which is, IMO, ridiculous.
Many of us use the record books as a means to highlight and propagate wildlife which is, IMO not ridiculous. The simple fact that records continue to be broken is indicative of a system working-well! Is wildlife more worldly abundant? Yes! Is wildlife healthier? Yes! Are there more opportunities for hunters? YES! Can hunting as we know it endure? YES! Manhood indeed. I am thankful some incredibly good men had the fortitude to get us where we are!
You say, "Others quit hunting and simply begin collecting, needing this or that species to qualify for this or that level, slam, etc. etc." I have to ask, did they quit hunting, or did the quit hunting according to your ideology? If one saves, plans, and executes the pre-meditated demise of an animal he seeks, then he is not hunting? How absurd! Why he hunts is his own business! Unless, of course, you would care to define hunting for all of us.
I can only imagine how awesome it would be if Mr. Adams paid us a visit. He could reminisced about when he quit hunting and began collecting the animals for his Super Slam. He has 188 record book entries, by the way. The man is as pompous as they come, NOT!
Record books are money making businesses and nothing is truer than that at SCI. They derive much money from their record book which is why their standards for entry are so low.
Anti-hunting organizations are money making businesses. They derive their money from people who think all of us should secure our meat from the stores where animals aren't injured. Honestly Ken (you too Tom), we see one cockamamie suit after another being argued on a daily basis! That's why EVERY penny counts! You cannot be that oblivious! Again, one only needs to look towards Europe and the numerous legal battles being waged elsewhere around the world...Australia, New Zealand, the US, Norway, etc. etc.
SCI is a non-profit (a little different than a "business") which pours every resource back into protecting the hunting privileges we have and expanding others. It is agonizing to me that you cannot see this!
The more entries the more money.
YEP!
When you have to buy yourself into a record book what is the significance?
It signifies that you care enough to keep a great thing going! You pray your record is broken-hopefully by one of your children! Then by one of their children...so on and so forth.
To me animals are not trophies they are living, breathing creatures and to be given the privilege to hunt them is something we should all cherish.
They are not living breathing creatures if they are hanging on your wall, right? I'm curious then. Why do you have them hanging on your wall if they are not trophies? Isn't that a bit hypocritical, or is it a play on words? I do agree with the privilege being cherished part
Their lives should mean something more than the sum total of horn measurements.
I'm sure they do. Mine do anyway. Many do not have horns to measure. Does that make me less of an egotist?
I have many, many mounts in my home and they all represent for me a special memory of a good time afield not a ranking in some sort of book.
Ken, wouldn't you like future generations to experience those good times and special memories as well? You see it as some sort of ranking. I see it as a win-win for hunters...past, present, and future.
If record books were kept in the spirit of good fun and hunting comraderie then I would support them 100% but sadly, many do not view them as anything more than a self promotion tool which turn the quarry into nothing more than a mathmetical calculation.
BS...I have nearly sixty "photo" entries bought and paid for through SCI's record book. Not one has a "mathematical calculation" associated with it! Those entries represent $1200 of good fun and hunting camaraderie...milestones, journeys, and much much more!
When you see a "hunter" and guide work their butts off on a hunt and shoot a hard won animal and the first thing the client does is pull out a measuring tape then WTF were you hunting for in the first place.
Hmmm...Perhaps he wanted to assess the space requirement for his newly acquired special memory and good time afield. If I were there, I would have offered assistance by selecting a hammer and saw. I would have helped him construct. I definitely would not have expected him to conform to my guiding principles. Why? because he's not me.
I have literally had a client throw a child like fit in the salt shed when his kudu bull measured out at 49 4/8 instead of 50". This can be the type of so called hunter that record books and record keeping breed.
Maybe so, but this can also be merely the John who was promised of a pleasant and personable experience by a person of hire. Again, one can only surmise. I'd be careful painting all hunters the same color.
I've seen enough of them to make me ill.
And you're e still in the business? If I were getting sick at work, I would quit.
Nothing is stopping you or anyone else from simply contributing an extra $35 to SCI. I promise you they will take it. You don't have to participate in a record book to help conservation.
I agree wholeheartedly, but how many people actually contribute? How many would rather do nothing...while sucking and gnawing on the very teat which keeps them alive? Most don't and most do respectively! Most look down their long noses and chastise us "swellheaded bastards" for doing what we feel is right-not for ourselves-but for everyone and everything. Let me ask you Ken, who has to endure the most ignominy? Is it the person who wants everyone to know they could have "a potential world record" or the guy who has actually achieved the world record?
Finally, I thank you for helping me get beyond the, "I coulda, but" phase of my life.
and then move on
