Hunting for meat vs trophy

[iamthenick]

I hunt nw florida, not really any trophy bucks here, but I do "trophy hunt" more than meat hunt.
We are allowed 5 deer a year and I could have tagged out the in November and we are allowed to hunt through February.

I enjoy hunting more than I do killing and I usually kill 2 a year but I pass up on a handful of legal smaller bucks. I would imagine most people who go after the older bucks do the same.

 

[Tuf343]

Real talk from a guy who’s trophy hunted a bit and eaten everything


Most trophy hunters aren’t just killing for a wall decoration. They’re usually targeting older, mature animals big racks, past prime breeding that are already on the way out. Taking that animal

Opens resources for younger, healthier ones
Funds massive conservation tags, licenses, outfitters pay millions into habitat wildlife programs
Provides tons of meat most guys I know eat it all or donate

The sport part is the challenge fair chase, long hikes, reading sign, one clean shot. Modern gear levels the field, but the animal still has every advantage in its home turf most hunts end with tag soup.


It’s not taking a life for the sake of it it’s selective harvest with purpose. The mount is just a reminder of the experience, respect, and story, like photos from a trip.

If it still feels off to you, totally fair hunting’s personal. But for most trophy guys, it’s conservation challenge meat, not ego.

 

[Jethro]

I don’t use the term trophy hunting. IMO there is no such thing. It’s all just hunting. What historically was used as a slur from antis is now used by hunters to describe other hunters that choose to be selective in what they kill. Just the other day the trophy word was used to describe having an e/s tag and passing on cows to shoot a bull. I don’t buy it.

Possessing a tag earns you the right to decide how to legally fill it. If I have a tag, I get to decide what to shoot. If you have a tag, you get to decide.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Short answer is that as hunters get more and more experienced they want to experience more and more exciting things.

You see it in every hobby or sport. As you get used to whatever you’re doing you want to up the ante over and over.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

My trophy days are well behind me, now it's just for the meat, so I only hunt cows anymore.

 

[Kauaihunter]

All I care about is getting out there and enjoying myself for as long as I can. Sharing the experiences with hunting buddies is the best part. Bagging some meat is a welcomed bonus. Seeing a young hunter you’ve mentored have success and the ear to ear grin is awesome.

 

[Gobihawk]

I had a triple bypass a couple of years ago. Doctors tell me I should eat beef once a week but I can eat venison every day of the week. Better quality of meat. Better quality of life. In the woods at first light and watch the outdoors come to life is priceless.

 

[ColPenguin]

You framed the whole premise as a false dichotomy that people either hunt for meat, or trophies, exclusively.

 

[butcherboy]

I’m a meat hunter. I become a trophy hunter if a trophy animal just happens to be available for a shot. I don’t target bigger animals or give them ridiculous names. I’m lucky to draw an elk tag every 4-5 years so I’m not picky. Haven’t killed a deer since 2000 because I can’t draw a tag. My goal is always meat first and trophy second.

 

[jyen]

I have eaten a few big bulls that were great and one that was bad, but the worst elk I’ve ever eaten was a spike shot in 15 degree weather, dropped immediately and gutted and skinned within 45 minutes. The other bull that was with it was a spike also and my uncle said it tased great..

 

[jolemons]

Trophy hunter here, but my family also relies on game meat. If I don't find a trophy that I want to use a tag on during the season, I'll take a cow for meat. I've hunted and guided enough that I'm pretty particular about what I will kill as a trophy.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

 

[Slickhill]

I don’t have any issue shooting does or cows for the freezer. I shoot raghorn bulls too because they’re what’s available most of the time in one place I hunt.

But when it comes to bucks if I’m hunting with a rifle I ain’t shooting any dinks. A: my season would be over in minutes B: I see no reason to smoke a forkie when I can shoot 4 does. When I occasionally draw a mule deer buck tag I have no reason to shoot a little buck as I have some good ones on the wall and I can shoot plenty of generally better eating whitetail does and cow elk back home.

During archery season my standards are lower. I hunt with single string bows off the ground. My personal effective range of 20 yards and in makes it much more challenging.

 

[Dmoua]

I just hunt. When an opportunity presents itself, I’ll decide in the moment if I want to kill it or continue hunting. I leave very little behind to waste when I do kill an animal.

Most hunters want to shoot big animals but that just doesn’t happen all the time.