Hunting for the Sake of Meat
A recent survey of American hunters by the Responsive Management organization asked the question “what’s the single most important reason you hunt?”. More than 35% of the responses indicated that they primarily hunted for the meat. While the responses might not seem unusual, only 22% responded that way in 2006. Trophy hunting came in dead last at 1%.
There’s a major misconception about the purpose of trophy hunting. B&C supports the taking of trophies as a matter of big game management and scientific record. B&C has long supported selective hunting for mature animals that have already genetically contributed to overall herd health. Selective hunting also supports conservation and game management efforts when a balanced age structure within a given big game population is an objective of State wildlife managers.
Our record books are a standing testament as to the success of the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, which was the result of the Boone and Crockett Club’s early efforts to establish conservation on this continent.