quote:

Originally posted by drongo:

quote:

Originally posted by nhoro:
There are many reasons to target certain age, sex or "quality" animals - including population control and eliminating inferior genes. Until an age component gets factored into "trophy" consideration, however, width, mass, length and weight will prevail - which can be detrimental to overall population genetics if age is not considered.

As much as I hate to admit it, many European hunting areas are probably more advanced on this stance and have focused more on the age component of trophy quality - taking an "old" specimen likely beyond prime breeding age and likely wise in terms of avoiding predators.

Maybe someday we'll have an award for the best overall trophy which somehow factors in the experience, age, dimensions of the animal, and effort. Then again, perhaps this is too subjective and controversial.

There are no easy answers, but an age component is definitely lacking.

Taking old, past breeding age animals or animals with inferior genes and leaving the big boys to breed, if possible, as is done in managed herds in Europe, would seem to me to help. CMS and Sports Afield both have "oldest and ugliest" contests. Maybe a better idea than shooting for the record book?!

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

No I don't believe in such a Utopia - but I don't think the war against each other should be actively encouraged, like it is on AR.

Beyond being respectful, particularly when it comes to hunt reports, I think the notion that hunters ought to avoid discussing and arguing about hunting issues because the anti-hunting groups will use that information against them is absurd to be frank. Whether it is how we address the many failings of SCI, the pernicious impact records and awards can have on the image of the sport, the taking of immature animals, how some television shows are a poor representation of the sport, etc., if we do not talk about and debate those issues among ourselves how we can ever address the underlying problems facing the sport? Besides the anti-hunting groups seem to be doing a dang good job of kicking our butts already, some back and forth on an internet blog is not going to make or break their efforts. To me, a frank discussion of the issues undermining our sporting heritage is a far better use of computer bytes in terms of the future of the sport than discussing the best socks to wear on safari, what gum to chew while tracking and some of the other things that end up being discussed.