Trophy Hunting?

The term “Trophy Hunting” is being used in the media a lot at the moment, but what does it really mean. As many of you know I hunt, and if I am honest, and I am sure if you asked any other hunter what their prime reason for hunting is, the answer would be because we enjoy the experience of hunting. Having said that every deer I shoot is eaten, every part of it prepared and either goes in the freezer for us and the bits we don’t eat fed to the dogs. However, if the deer is a fine specimen or is slightly odd I will prepare and keep a “Trophy” although the word trophy is a misnomer as it is not a prize or a reward, it is simply a permanent reminder of an excellent stalk and a tribute to the animal that fed us so well. The trophy is a simply a by-product in exactly the same way your shoes are a by-product of the steak you may have eaten last night.