Trophy Hunting: The Professional Hunter's Dilemma

Republished Courtesy of African Indaba Newletter


Trophy Hunting: The Professional Hunter’s Dilemma
By Stewart Dorrington, President, and Peter Butland, President-Elect of the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA)

The Hunter
The hunter’s desire for a trophy, a memento of the hunt, a reminder of the sweet and the bitter of past hunts, is as old as mankind itself. From the rock art of ancient man, adorning the walls of his cave, to the heads and horns lining the walls of the modern trophy room, trophies have served to give immortality to the hunted animal.

For some, a photograph will suffice, a private reminder of a personal experience, or a small item, used daily, made from the hide or horn of a fondly remembered animal. A bag of biltong, personally made and slowly savored by the hunter, piece by piece through the long hunting off-season, while not conventionally seen as a trophy, is certainly a memento of the hunt.
For others, the animal lives on through the art of the taxidermist, to be enjoyed by the hunter and shared with those back home, those who do not have the privilege of visiting far places and seeing at first hand the living wonders of the natural world. Such hunters will remember for each trophy, each stalk, each shot and each follow up. Eyes will light up in the retelling and the sharing of each tale.

For others still, there are systems in place whereby they plan their hunting lives, working their way through lists of species and sub-species, recording their progress and earning credits as they do so, and setting goals for the future.

And for yet others, the trophy is no longer a memento of the hunt. It has become an end in itself. It has become tangible evidence of of an achievement. It is part of the constant challenge thrown out from man to man to compete, to measure one against the other, to achieve perceived success and to demonstrate dominance.

Cultural background has an inevitable influence on the hunter’s trophy expectations and his hunting motivations.

“Is it old?” may be a question to pass some hunters’ lips. Worn down tips, thick, gnarled bases or bosses, cracked and green with fighting and rubbing are the attributes of a mature animal, which is approaching the natural end of its life cycle.

Broken or malformed horns are fine. “That is nature,” the hunter will say.
“Is it bigger than Karl’s?” may be the first concern of others. As Pop said to Hemingway, “It’s impossible not to be competitive. Spoils everything, though.” Husbands and wives, friends and brothers have all had relationships strained and hunts soured by the insidious competitive spirit of man being allowed to intrude on the hunt to the exclusion of appreciation of the multi-facetted wonders which make up a holistic hunting experience.

The Professional Hunter
The professional hunter will in time face a wide spectrum of these desires.
It is not for him to be judgmental about the motivations of his hunting clients. They are products of their upbringing, of their cultures, of the world in which they live and of the pressures under which they are placed, or place themselves. And were it not for them in their totality, with all their good and all their bad, with all their strengths and all their weaknesses, he would not be a professional hunter. There would be no hunting profession.
It is the professional hunter’s job to do his very best to meet his clients’ expectations. He must empathize with his clients, seek to understand their cultural backgrounds and meet their reasonable expectations. He must meet his clients’ material needs and see to their safekeeping. He must try to open their eyes to the beauties of the natural world, sharing with the client his knowledge and understanding of that world. He must guide them in the hunt as best he possibly can, in accordance with his, the professional hunters, value system.

The Dilemma
And this is where the professional hunter’s dilemma arises. What should be the guiding principles upon which his value system is based?

Great strides have been made in nature conservation in Southern Africa in recent decades. Scientific, social and economic principles have been applied to the benefit of wild life and the environment. Increasing wildlife numbers have been widely, but not universally, matched by improved trophy quality. Successes in habitat restoration, the rebirth of biodiversity in previously devastated areas and the reintroduction and conservation of wildlife should be honored and respected by every professional hunter. That respect should underpin his value system.

A genuine, informed and applied concern for the well being of the wildlife in his hunting area will, therefore, be a good starting point. Over time it will make a difference. It will make a difference to wildlife, the environment, to the clients’ respect for him as a person and for the profession in which he operates. But does the professional hunter have the luxury of time?
A soundly based ethical code of hunting is an essential further element of the professional hunter’s value system. But does he have the strength of character to impose it on a strong willed client with his own, perhaps very different, hunting ethic and ambition?
In their heart of hearts, most professional hunters know what it is that should form the basis of their value systems. But the pressures of the modern world intrude on all aspects of life. The influence of these pressures in the hunting field can and does lead to corruption. Competition among peers and the desire to see their names in the record book are real temptations to professional hunters too.

There is widespread concern that in many parts of the world the record books are compromising much of what hunting is all about. African hunting – with its wide variety of species – is particularly affected. The record books and award programs have turned an individualistic pastime into an occasionally fierce competition. Fair chase, hunting traditions and sound conservation principles often fall by the wayside.

Far too many visiting hunters have only limited time available and yet they want to hunt a long “shopping list of trophy animals”. And many hunters want record trophies – in the “top ten”, wherever possible. These expectations are simply unrealistic, but they put the professional hunter under extreme pressure. Importantly too, it’s the professional hunter’s reputation, which is at stake. What does he do, if the visiting hunter's objectives are nothing short of high scoring record trophies and if the client insists on unfair chase methods to achieve his goals? If he disregards the client’s wishes, an unfavorable hunt report may be the result. And unfavorable news travel fast in the hunting world. Is it reasonable to expect a professional hunter or outfitter to put his business success at stake?

For an outfitter and professional hunter, the economic dilemma is augmented by the enormous market power vested into the record books by international hunting associations. Professional hunting associations and individual professional hunters have been critical of the present recording and award procedures and its system-immanent abuses. Unfortunately, the hunting associations have not to date addressed the issues on an internationally coordinated, industry wide basis.

There is only one way to change this situation – hunting associations must look for a solution which adequately considers the interests of all, and importantly also those of biodiversity conservation. Sustainable trophy hunting requires that game populations be managed according to biological principles – and not those dictated by the figures of a scoring system. Killing a high scoring, yet immature buffalo bull has serious implications on sustainability. This applies not only to buffalo, but to all game in general.

Last but not least a word about hunting ethics. It is generally said that ethics are valid in the eye of the beholder only. What is ethically acceptable hunting practice in one culture or on one continent may be unethical in another. But let us not forget that hunting ethics are the result of thousands of years of hunting traditions – they change and evolve with the times, but one thing is for sure, their origin and purpose is in one key factor called sustainability.

The Challenge
We would like to issue a challenge for all hunters and in particular for the international hunting associations. Although this challenge emanates from Africa, we are sure that it applies to all continents. The challenge is to decide what is right and what is wrong and to determine what your own personal value system should and will be. The real challenge then will be to stand by what you believe is right. And if alone, it is a challenge to strive to stand steadfast and to lead steadfastly by example. Let us analyze the conflicting demands, emotions and beliefs; let us get the scientific evidence and most importantly, let us arrive at solutions which will benefit wildlife!

Of course the challenge points towards the international hunting associations and their members, but significantly, it also addresses the professional hunters and guides here in Africa and around the world.

We, as the professionals in the hunting field, need to show our visiting hunters what hunting is really about. That the fulfillment in hunting is not found in inches and points, but in a holistic, participative experience in natural surroundings. Anything else lessens the value of the experience. A trophy obtained easily is not well remembered nor cherished, whereas the one that has been hard earned will always be respected and cherished, as will the memory of the hunt and the animal.

There are a good number of highly dedicated professional hunters who are conducting their safaris, (and hunting clients who hunt), in this way. There are those professionals who refuse unacceptable demands and turn their backs on the money There are those who are seeking a different way to evaluate trophies, to achieve desired ends and to avoid undesirable results.
On one thing we can all agree. We wish to preserve our hunting heritage for posterity. To do so we all need to ask ourselves where we as hunters stand in meeting the challenge.

Hunting for Trophies

Republished Courtesy of African Indaba Newsletter.


Hunting for Trophies
By Raymond Lee, President, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS) & International Sheep Hunters’ Association (ISHA)


Hunting Programs
Humans have pursued wild animals since the very dawn of man. Early hunters secured their food, clothing, and tools from the animals they harvested. Human social structures were formed around hunter/gatherer groups; with status within the group often determined by one’s success at acquiring food. As millennia passed, hunting continued to provide sustenance. However, due to changes in agricultural production, advances in food storage technology, and cultural changes in society, the life giving essence of hunting also changed. No longer was it absolutely necessary for a person to hunt for their immediate food. Hunting came to be considered as recreational, or a sporting activity. While there are still some passionate individuals who would say that they hunt to live – it is probably more accurate to say that they live to hunt. Many authors have written on man’s connections with wildlife through the challenges of the hunt.

A more modern form of hunting is that practiced by the conservation hunter. This is the person who uses hunting as a means to help support wildlife conservation and promote professional wildlife management. These hunters pay, sometimes huge fees, for the opportunity to pursue an animal – with the knowledge (hope) that some of the fee will go to help wildlife conservation efforts and to support the local community. Programs like this exist in North America, Africa, and Asia. For these programs to be successful there must be a reasonable return of money to the central government, to the state/provincial government, to the local community, and to wildlife conservation. A $50,000 hunt fee should certainly be able to provide a little something for each of these levels.

Rather than, or in addition to, the more common charitable gifts, these philanthropists make their donations to enhance wildlife. These donations can easily surpass $100,000 for a single hunting opportunity. These opportunities offer no guarantee of taking an animal. In fact, on a number of these hunts, the hunter/donor chooses not to harvest an animal. The North American model of wildlife management, where hunters pay to support wildlife conservation efforts, is augmented by these contributions. The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, alone, has generated over $30,000,000 through this fundraising process. These funds have allowed the Foundation and its partners to increase wild sheep numbers in North America from fewer than 50,000 in 1975 to over 200,000 animals today. A significant benefit of these programs in the inclusion of the local community. Typically, locals are used to help guide hunters, locate game, and assist in the hunting camps. This gives the individuals involved with the hunts a job – thus greatly enhancing their self-respect and their respect for wildlife. This also leads to local efforts to manage and to protect their animals. Thus the hunting programs lead directly to local social benefits (such as health care and education) and to wildlife conservation benefits.

Keeping Score
Since the earliest cave paintings, man has depicted the largest animal specimens in their art. This desire to take the largest animals is not directly related to food quantity, but to the challenge of acquisition. Taking a larger, older aged, presumably more wary animal has always been a challenge. And man has always liked challenges.

As hunting reached the recreational stage, seeking out older, larger animals became the more desired approach to hunting. Following the huge declines in wildlife populations, it was considered more sporting to pass over the young and the females and to take only a limited number of “trophies.” This change also led to the end of unregulated meat harvesting and to the initiation of the tenets of fair chase. In the United States this occurred in the end of the 19th Century and was heralded in by the formation of the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887. Subsequently groups like Safari Club International and the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep were organized by hunters who wanted to share their experiences with others, and to give back to the animals they so enjoyed pursuing.

As this practice of trophy hunting became more popular, it also became more competitive. It therefore became necessary to develop a method for assessing the “quality” of a trophy. The Boone and Crockett Club developed their first records book in 1932. They conducted their first scoring competition in 1947. In 1950, they combined the systems of Grancel Fitz and of James Clark into their new Official Scoring System.

Humans, being competitive by nature, developed a variety of scoring methods, with perhaps the most common being the Boone and Crockett system and the SCI system. The primary difference between the two is that the Boone and Crockett system rewards symmetry, while the Safari Club International system rewards gross size. These systems are both complex measuring systems to determine the total mass of the feature considered most admirable about the trophy, i.e., horns for sheep, antlers for deer, and skulls for bears. These scoring systems have proven helpful in wildlife management as declines in trophy quality may indicate over harvest, while increases would allow for greater levels of harvest. Decreases can also be affected by diet, climate, and disease – all factors of interest for the professional manager. The ability to compare scores by geographic area and through time is of value to many wildlife biologists studying environmental changes and their impacts.

As time has passed there have been more and more trophy books produced and a surfeit of hunting awards invented. Many of these trophy books are produced to stimulate interest in hunting, and to enrich the individuals producing the books. At this time, many individual states in the United States have their own trophy books, with many for individual groups of animals (the deer family represented by “Bucks and Bulls” being most common). Individual organizations also produce their own record books to promote their interests, such as the Mountain Hunter Record Book produced by the Guide and Outfitter Association of British Columbia. To be recognized in this book, you must have hunted with a member of the Association.

More modern awards promote the experience of the hunt and the contributions of the hunter over the mere harvesting of trophies. The International Sheep Hunters Association, for example, presents just 2 awards at their annual meeting. These awards are based on: (Super Slammer Award) the difficulty of the hunts, the weapon of choice, and the quality of the animals harvested – not necessarily the total number of sheep taken. It is a tribute to a person that shares the values of fair chase hunting, supports wildlife conservation, is a good ambassador for hunting, and has a sterling reputation in the sheep hunting fraternity; and (International Hunter Award) is based not only upon the recipients honoring the tenets of fair chase hunting, but it is for conducting themselves in a manner that does honor to both themselves and their country. The recipient is involved in conservation projects, promotes the benefits of hunting to political figures and government officials, and presents a pro-hunting image.

Public Opinion
Various opinion polls of the general public demonstrate a tolerance for, and even some support for, recreational hunting. Trophy hunting, in its strictest sense, however, is not well supported. It will require hunters to send a stronger conservation message to allow for the continued practice of purely trophy hunting – where typically only the trophy parts are retained by the hunter for display and recognition, and the edible portion is left for others. The ethics of the conservation hunter will be very important to the future of hunting. As long as the public sees a conservation value from hunting and feels that hunters respect their game, hunting will continue to enjoy the support of the public. Hunting opportunities will likely cease when hunting practices are no longer consistent with public values.

The ultimate trophy animals – certainly the ones that garner the most interest and produce the most money - are wild sheep. China, for example, could be one of the greatest recipients of financial support from conservation hunters. There are numerous wild sheep species in this country – the very popular Argaliforms, comprised of the Asiatic bighorns (ammon types) and central Asiatic thin horns (polii forms). However, the on-again, off-again hunting policies have certainly had their impacts upon the popularity of China’s hunting programs. In addition, due to a disconnect with the public, China’s hunting programs were recently terminated. It will take convincing this public that sufficient biological information exists to support the harvest and that appropriate conservation values will be protected to restart hunting.

Perhaps the most modern, and least desired, outcome of trophy competitions is the “artificial” production of trophies. By manipulating diet, genetics, and activity, it is possible to produce unnatural sized animals. Growing trophies is anathema for conservation hunters. This sort of manipulation of trophies will certainly not stand up to public scrutiny, and should not be sanctioned by the hunting community.

SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals: Documenting the Hunting Heritage

Republished Courtesy of African Indaba Newsletter.

SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals: Documenting the Hunting Heritage
By R. Douglas Yajko, MD, Chairman, SCI Trophy Records Committee

The Safari Club International measuring system was developed by SCI founder and Chairman C.J. McElroy in 1977. Mac as he was known in those days had a vision of providing a record book for SCI members the scoring system was developed for use in the SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals.
The record book quickly gained notoriety with the members and began to evolve into what it is today. The largest change occurred in 1993, giving more emphasis to mass for antlered game. Since that time, all entries for deer, elk and other antlered game have been measured under the new system. The new books have more than 134,000 entries in a four-volume set, including a two volume set of Africa, North America and Rest of the World pages. Encompassing 29 years, this record book is the epitome of an international record book. It includes species, categories, maps, taxonomy and all internal boundaries. We are continuing to refine the distinction between free range and estate animals, and this book will include both categories for all continents except Africa. The previous editions, edited by C.J. McElroy, John Brandt, Al Cheramie, Jack and Casey Schwabland, Irvin Barnhart, and me, show progressive and dramatic growth over the past 29 years.
The new edition continues to recognize the increasing international character of SCI. Federal laws in the U.S. prohibit taking of species designated as “endangered.” However, game laws vary from country to country. So, we now list animals that are legally taken and then exported legally from the country where they are taken to the homes of members of SCI and other countries where these stringent rules do not apply. We also list endangered species that were taken prior to the passage of the endangered species law.
The goal of the SCI Record Book is to provide an accurate and complete natural history of the world’s game animals. It also records in a regular and timely way the trophies that define contemporary hunting throughout the world.
The Trophy Records Committee is committed to using the record book to market SCI through taxidermists, meat processors, outfitters, guides and booking agents throughout the world. A concerted effort is being made to increase the measurers’ network, making it much easier for SCI members and potential members to have their animals scored. SCI members can now locate an official SCI measurer near them by visiting www.scifirstforhunters.org and clicking on the Trophy Records icon on the home page. Documenting the Hunting Heritage is the primary focus of the SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals. The minimums are lower in the SCI Record Book to encourage more hunters to submit their trophies and provide us with a better picture of the distribution of wildlife.
The Latest edition to the SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals is the Virtual Record Book. Now hunters from around the world can research a hunt prior to booking their hunt. The Virtual Record Book has many sort functions allowing hunters to sort the records by species and location or by species and guides. For example if a hunter is planning his or her first trip to Namibia for Gemsbok and other plains game they can go into the virtual record and pull up all gemsbok taken in Namibia and view the score sheets to see what the horn length and base circumferences are on mature animals. After learning about the species the hunter can then sort the Gemsbok entries by guide/outfitter determining who SCI members rely on the most when traveling to Namibia.
A free demo of the virtual record book can be viewed by clicking the following link: http://www.scirecordbook.org/demo. An annual subscription is required for the SCI Virtual Record Book and is available to non-members as well as SCI members. Pictures of the species taken are being gradually added to the Virtual Record Book. The Trophy Records Committee is planning to add the taxinomic notes, diagrams and maps to the Virtula Record Book in 2008.
The magnitude of producing the record book presents many challenges that require careful judgment and an enormous amount of work to provide this tremendous service for SCI members. In May 2005, updated and state-of-the-art software was implemented. The records in this edition are much cleaner than in past volumes; however, there is a lot of work to be completed for future editions of the record book. Volunteers on the Trophy Records Committee and the staff at SCI headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, put in the time and effort because we love and believe in what the book represents. The book is not just a list of trophies, but a conservation tool to use in hunting camps throughout the world. We are striving to print the most accurate and informative record books in the industry and wants to thank the members of SCI for adding their personal trophies to the book, hunters from around the world benefit from the data printed in the record books.