I’m a trophy hunter. Yup, that is what I said. So what makes me a trophy hunter? I would be willing to bet that you are sitting there thinking to yourself that I am a trophy hunter because I like to hunt deer with giant antlers. This is typically what people think of when they think of trophy hunting. They would not necessarily be wrong to think that. However, I believe that is less the case than people would think. Yes, there are those in the hunting community that hunts animals for their giant antlers or some other metric that makes them a trophy. To that point cannot sit here and say that I have not taken deer in the past with large antlers and been extremely excited about my accomplishment. I have never taken a giant “trophy” class animal and one day maybe I will and I hope I do but that is not what I am referring to when I say to you I am a trophy hunter.
There is so much more to hunting to me than the taking of an animal. To me, that is just one small part of the overall experience and that is where the trophy lies for me. The journey that unfolds through the experience of the adventure that is the hunt, for me, is the true trophy. Regardless if I take an animal on any given day in the field there is still a trophy in the end. It is the memories and experiences that were gained during that hunt that mean more to man than anything else. Sure, if I take an animal I have the meat to put in my freezer, which will then feed my family and me for a time. The reward of that is an amazing feeling that is for another discussion. As with any life experience that is rewarding it takes work to be successful. It is no different in the hunting experience. I spend countless hours researching and studying an area to hunt. There are repeated trips to scout out where I want to focus my efforts. Understanding the land and how the animals are connected to it. All of this is hard work and even without taking an animal, there is a reward in the feeling of being part of nature.
There are very few people who can say they have experienced the wonders of nature as a hunter has. I would call myself a general outdoors person as I enjoy the outdoor experience from the lens of a hiker and other activities. However, it is through hunting that I feel most connected with that world. The interaction with the animals and the landscape generates an interconnectedness that I have not found anywhere else. This is what provides me the greatest experience. Being able to go out and get off the beaten path and immerse me in places that only a fraction of people will ever see is truly life-altering. Anyone who has spent the amount of time in the wild places knows what I mean when I say that. I have spent countless days sitting in the woods in the predawn darkness listening to the world awaken for the day. Seeing the sun come up and the birds begin to sing nature’s songs. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of miles walked studying ever piece of animal sign and figuring out their patterns. Each and every one of these experiences is what make the trophy I hang on the wall of memories in my mind and soul.
Throughout my life, I have had a lot of experiences outside of the hunting world and the outdoors in general. I have watch movies, gone to amusement parks, concerts, and many other places along the way. There are fond memories of many of them but they do not compare to the memories I have in nature. The connectedness I have to the land and the animals I hunt burns deep into my being every time I out there. Over the years I have kept and mounted deer heads, bird feathers, and other things from hunts where I took an animal. People have asked me often why I do and some are disgusted by it. My response is always the same. Every time I look at one I am reminded of that experience. I can tell you where I was, who I was with, often the exact date and time it occurred without any form of reference. It’s that level of connectedness that is the trophy I hunt. Whether you are a hunter or not get out in nature and enjoy the amazing places we have. Now go find your own trophy to put up on the mantle above the fire of our soul.
