Hijacked by anti-hunters, the term ‘trophy hunting’ has taken on a negative connotation in society – it’s time to take it back. Here’s a start to reframing the trophy-hunting discussion with non-hunters.

Defining a Trophy

When news anchors and the general public throw the term ‘trophy hunting’ around, they’re usually speaking in a very broad sense that assaults their emotions and is an affront to almost everything that modern, regulated hunters and hunting represents. The term is a misnomer, but they don’t even realize it.

A trophy is a very personal thing. For some just killing an animal to eat is reward enough. For others, a mature animal that is more wary is the goal. Still, for others, a very specific animal, or at least one meeting very high standards, is the ultimate goal.

This is all dependent upon the person, their skill level and experience in hunting (see infographic: “Evolution of a Hunter”), as well as understanding of the species they’re targeting.

A trophy is a crowning achievement for an individual. Period.

What it’s not

The popular myth of trophy hunting is that it’s simply hubristic killing by hunters for display upon a wall – which is only done for a head, hide or horns. The underlying belief is that the rest of the animal is left where it died and goes to waste.

This is the perception anti-hunters have created, and which they are framing hunters every chance they get. From “Cecil” the lion in Zimbabwe, Africa, to the proposed black-bear hunt under protest in Florida, anti-hunting activists and organizations cry ‘trophy hunt’ to convey what they believe is the senseless killing of animals – without regard to the associated science, management and ecosystem-wide benefits.

It’s an effective tactic that resonates with the public quickly. Those two words immediately generate an affront to the public’s sensibilities, and creates another hurdle we have to overcome to maintain scientific, and not emotional, management of our flora and fauna.

What it is

The fact is, what animal-rights’ activists portray is not just an affront to the public’s sensibilities, the waste of an animal is a disgrace to the sensibilities of a hunter as well. When it comes to a ‘trophy hunt,’ two points often overlooked by outraged activists, the media and the public include:

A hunting season is not state-sanctioned slaughter. Every state has wanton waste laws that mandate the harvest and use of meat, hides or other body parts to ensure that the animal is not just wasted, and that the number of individuals taken is in accord with the supporting habitat and predator-prey balance of the area.

A ‘trophy’ animal and its use as table fare are not mutually exclusive. An animal can be a specimen worthy of both taxidermy and the table.

A trophy hunter is simply someone who has placed self-imposed restrictions upon themselves that go above and beyond what’s dictated by the state. They are more selective, and will pass on younger animals, often those barely reaching the minimum standard, in a deeply personal pursuit to further challenge their skills and learn as much as possible about the prey they pursue.

The irony of animal-rights activists crying ‘trophy hunt’ is that the true definition of a trophy hunter wholly undermines their most egregious complaints about hunting. The self-imposed standards of a trophy hunter often result in the hunter not killing an animal at all, and when one is killed, it is not an ‘unsuspecting’ animal – it is an animal that knows how to survive and that danger lurks at every turn.

What it doesn’t do

Contrary to animal-rights’ claims, the killing of a trophy animal doesn’t damage the overall population of species by removing important genes from the genetic pool or by throwing the remaining animals into a state of societal chaos.

A trophy animal is usually a very mature animal. That’s what makes it so difficult to kill, and what usually results in more impressive antlers or horns, spurs and beards, or other defining trophy qualities. As such, it has reproduced many times over, likely with many different mates, for several seasons, ensuring genetic diversity throughout the population and passing along the quality genes that enhanced its chances of survival and reproduction. Additionally, the loss of a mature animal is expected in nature, and it is quickly replaced within the immediate, as well as overarching, societal hierarchy.

Trophy hunting does not damage the overall health of the population. Period.

What it does

Trophy hunting is the most restrictive, demanding type of hunting. As such, it not only doesn’t harm the overall population, it is wholly within the parameters of a scientifically managed hunt.

A trophy hunter will remove a mature animal from the population. That population has been surveyed, and scientifically determined to be able to withstand the loss of a certain percentage of both male and female animals that will result in no net harm to the overall health of the population. Additionally, the removal of the animal opens habitat and resources, such as food and cover, to others within the population.

Bottom line

At the end of the day, a trophy hunt is a deeply personal endeavor that is in accordance with the individual hunter’s goals, skill and experience level, and knowledge of the animal, its habitat and behavior.

It is not a quest simply for a head or horns, but is a severely restrictive, scientifically managed hunt for a mature animal that has served its biological purpose, and one that uses the meat, hide and other attributes of the animal to the fullest, and which supports the ecological health of the overall population into the future.

This is the message we must pass to the general, non-hunting public, regardless of whether it’s an old, well-known lion killed in Africa or a record-book whitetail buck in the states.

This story first appeared in the October 2015 issue of Sportsmen’s Monthly. To receive your own print or digital copy of Sportsmen’s Monthly, please consider joining Sportsmen’s Alliance today.