The Consequences of ' Trophy Hunting ' rhetoric
Misperceptions about trophy hunting run rampant in the media , online and among non-hunters , which leads to legal consequences . That means legislation that bans any part of an animal that could be considered a trophy . African species are favored due to their iconic status , but as acceptance grows for bans , you can bet limits on parts of North American species crossing state lines will follow . Here ’ s a look at legislation banning taxidermy .
CALIFORNIA
S . 1175 prohibited the possession of elephants , lions , leopards , giraffe , zebra , hippos , baboons , hyenas and more . Pushed by HSUS , the bill was attached to COVID-19 legislation banning wet markets . It failed to pass .
CONNECTICUT
For the second year in a row , the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance defeated legislation that would have banned the possession of taxidermy from the African Big 5 .
NEW YORK
Six active bills ban everything from import at airports and transport through the state to the Big 5 and giraffe parts .
FEDERAL BILLS
US H 4804 prohibits the importation of endangered and threatened species . US HR 2245 , known as the “ CECIL Act ,” treats animals even proposed for listing as threatened or endangered species as if they already were .
There is nothing new about paying homage to the hunt ; mankind has always done so . But today , anti-hunters and many non-hunters see a trophy as wasteful or egotistical , which is leading to legislative issues .
new . Taxidermy is just another iteration , and it ’ s not even innovative . The oldest surviving example of taxidermy dates to a nearly 500-year-old crocodile hanging in an Italian church . The favorite pets of 17th Century aristocrats , including warhorses , dogs and even parrots , have been memorialized through taxidermy . This perpetual need to honor the animals in our lives , whether wild or domestic , permeates the human consciousness .
There is nothing abnormal about taking a picture with a kill , animal parts on display or celebration surrounding a successful hunt . Preserving a piece of that memory , the time , skill , patience and proficiency it took to be successful , is understandable when taken in context . Memorializing the hunt has been with us from the moment we were first able to document it , and it ’ s been practiced by every culture that has ever lived .
Trophies are the Embodiment of a Memory
Today , taxidermy has evolved into a modern art form , with some pieces in the actual art scene fetching tens of thousands of dollars . For the hunter , taxidermy mounts are a means of self-expression and a respectful tribute to the animal he has killed . As much as a physical reminder , that animal on the wall embodies not just the memory and story , but the spirit of the animal and hunt ; the connection between predator and prey , and all that goes into that relationship .
That realistic incarnation of an animal displayed in our home or office is an enduring legacy and memory of the
Adobe Stock ; Captured Expression Taxidermy
8 SPORTSMEN ’ S MONTHLY