Why do you hunt for trophies?

[Elite Hunting Outfitters]

This was asked of me today and I thought it would make for an interesting discussion. The question is simple, the answer may not be. Folks understand hunting for food, but perhaps not trophies. So, a very simple question, why do you hunt for trophies?

Good evening,

Why do we hunt for trophies?

It’s a question that sparks discussion, debate, and even controversy: Why do you hunt for trophies? Many people understand hunting for food, but the idea of trophy hunting can be harder to grasp. The answer, however, is not simple and can vary per person.

For me, and for many ethical hunters, trophy hunting is not just about the animal—it’s about the memories. A mounted trophy is more than just a decoration; it’s a story, a moment frozen in time that represents the adventure, the challenge, and the people who shared in the experience

Every trophy on the wall holds a deeper meaning. It reminds us of the early mornings spent in the bush, the careful tracking of an animal, the patience and skill required to make an ethical shot, and the camaraderie of friends, guides, and fellow hunters. When I see a mount, I don’t just see an animal—I see the entire journey that led to that moment.

Ethical trophy hunting also plays a significant role in conservation. Responsible hunters contribute to wildlife management, habitat preservation, and local economies. In places like South Africa, well-regulated hunting supports anti-poaching efforts and provides funding for conservation initiatives that protect both game and non-game species.

At its core, hunting is deeply personal. Some hunt for sustenance, some for the thrill of the challenge, and others for the memories that last a lifetime. Trophy hunting, when done ethically and responsibly, is about honoring the experience, the animal, and the tradition of the hunt itself.

So, why do I hunt for trophies? Because each one tells a story—a story of adventure, respect, and the moments that make life truly unforgettable.

 

[bakerb]

I hunt simply because I must. I have an innate desire to pursue animals. It started at a young age. Even though nobody in my family hunted, I stalked song birds. If it snowed, I went out to find a track and trail it as far as I could. I did that alone at 7 and 8 years old. My parents gave me a lot of freedom to roam the woods where I grew up.

I hunt for trophies out of a desire to make an animal mine. To possess it. And therefore the memory of it and the hunt and the adventure. And all the hunts where I was cold or tired or hot, and I was unsuccessful (which is most hunts).

For instance, in 2023 I shot a great old elk. I should get him back soon and he will hang over my fireplace until I die. And when I look at that bull, and marvel at it, and feel the joy of possessing it, I will remember the hunt for that bull. And I’ll also remember the 15 years before of elk hunting without taking such a great animal, I’ll remember all those hunts. I’ll remember the “lesser” elk I took in that time. I’ll remember taking 8 hours to butcher and pack it out solo. I’ll remember the miles I walked and times I felt so tired I didn’t know if I could go on. I’ll think of 15 years of hunts. And I’m sure the hunts after too.

And that bull is mine. I own it. I worked for it.

Collecting and possessing may not be palatable to some. But I too am tired of the old “I hunt for meat” excuse. I love the meat. But that’s not why I hunt.

If someone asks me in a combative manner, I just tell them I was born this way. Usually shuts them up

 

[franzfmdavis]

Good evening,

Why do we hunt for trophies?

It’s a question that sparks discussion, debate, and even controversy: Why do you hunt for trophies? Many people understand hunting for food, but the idea of trophy hunting can be harder to grasp. The answer, however, is not simple and can vary per person.

For me, and for many ethical hunters, trophy hunting is not just about the animal—it’s about the memories. A mounted trophy is more than just a decoration; it’s a story, a moment frozen in time that represents the adventure, the challenge, and the people who shared in the experience

Every trophy on the wall holds a deeper meaning. It reminds us of the early mornings spent in the bush, the careful tracking of an animal, the patience and skill required to make an ethical shot, and the camaraderie of friends, guides, and fellow hunters. When I see a mount, I don’t just see an animal—I see the entire journey that led to that moment.

Ethical trophy hunting also plays a significant role in conservation. Responsible hunters contribute to wildlife management, habitat preservation, and local economies. In places like South Africa, well-regulated hunting supports anti-poaching efforts and provides funding for conservation initiatives that protect both game and non-game species.

At its core, hunting is deeply personal. Some hunt for sustenance, some for the thrill of the challenge, and others for the memories that last a lifetime. Trophy hunting, when done ethically and responsibly, is about honoring the experience, the animal, and the tradition of the hunt itself.

So, why do I hunt for trophies? Because each one tells a story—a story of adventure, respect, and the moments that make life truly unforgettable.

Well said!

There is a spiritual aspect to hunting, even trophies.

The poet, Khalil Gibran, wrote:

“But since you must kill to eat, and rob the newly born of its mother’s milk to quench your thirst, let it then be an act of worship.

And let your board stand an altar on which the pure and the innocent of forest and plain are sacrificed for that which is purer and still more innocent in man.

When you kill a beast say to him in your heart,

“By the same power that slays you, I too am slain; and I too shall be consumed.

For the law that delivered you into my hand shall deliver me into a mightier hand.

Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the tree of heaven.”

I first wrote that on the inside lid of my fishing tackle box when I was 15-16 and have thought about it ever since every time I hunt or fish.