M.R. James comment on trophies

[coxral]

Just watched Tom Nelsons' 'Dead Down Wind' this morn. M.R. James made a comment saying that he hears people talking about their trophies in stores, around town, etc. He says if you don't have an animal properly scored, pay the listing fee and have it entered into Pope and Young you can't call it a TROPHY, "PLAIN AND SIMPLE" ! Personally, all my bow kills are TROPHIES to me. Don't believe I've ever killed one that would make the books anyway. Maybe he just means animals that would be able to make the book, don't know. Thoughts?

[remington300mag]

Ya, I seen that show as well, and just like most of the shows on TV and the people on them he is 
I guess what we teach our kids about every animal you harvest is a trophy is all wrong in his book..... again, this is just another self appointed elitist puking garbage all over the TV!

[npaull]

Personally, I'm deeply disturbed by the whole concept of "scoring" an animal such that some are somehow "better" than others. I think it's total BS, disrespectful to animals and hunters, AND (most importantly) looks really, really bad to the non-hunting public... makes the activity of hunting look like nothing more than a giant penis competition by proxy... Most hunting TV shows today are disgusting (though some programs are great, I like Fred Eichler's stuff a lot).

[carver52]

This just seems to be an extension of what you see on every hunting/fishing show.  Nothing but giant bucks and bulls taken on private ranches that feed the local animals all year.  They pour attractant on a two track road and blast away at the best buck on the ranch.  If Mr. James meant his comments to mean what they sounded like then I think he's about as off track as most of the TV nimrods.

I once asked some TV personality why more shows weren't filmed in more common hunting situations, as in refuges, public areas with blast off races etc.  They said the show had to be filmed with lots of action.  Period.  So are we the consumers feeding this approach?  I hope not.

[JLS]

I could care less what another person's opinion of my "trophies" is or is not. 

Horn porn is what sells.  No one is going to pay to see a TV show of someone smoking a muley doe on public land. 

This attitude will eventually spell the demise of hunting in North America and the unwashed masses will be relegated to public lands only.

[bow4elk]

I've known M.R. James over 15 years and this way of thinking is NOT consistent with his values, in my experience.  I'd like to see/hear the actual context of the quoted words here. 

[npaull]

This attitude will eventually spell the demise of hunting in North America and the unwashed masses will be relegated to public lands only.

I agree JLS, or at least, I agree that it poses a risk (hopefully won't actually end hunting).

The whole concept of scoring an animal is incredibly distasteful to the non-hunting public... it really makes hunters look bad. I wish people would stop reflexively asking about an animal's score ... terrible.

[GoldTip]

Just watched Tom Nelsons' 'Dead Down Wind' this morn. M.R. James made a comment saying that he hears people talking about their trophies in stores, around town, etc. He says if you don't have an animal properly scored, pay the listing fee and have it entered into Pope and Young you can't call it a TROPHY, "PLAIN AND SIMPLE" ! Personally, all my bow kills are TROPHIES to me. Don't believe I've ever killed one that would make the books anyway. Maybe he just means animals that would be able to make the book, don't know. Thoughts?

I think you unfortunately either didn't listen very closely or you only heard what you wanted to hear.  What he said was don't say your animal scored this or scored that unless you are getting it officially scored and having it officially entered.  He didn't say you couldn't call the animal a trophy.  You simply should not refer to it as a "P&Y this" or a "B&C that" unless it is being officially scored and entered.  I met MR James one time and he was every bit as interested about how my hunts went that fall as I was about all the different animals in different states and continents that he got to hunt.  I got to talk to him for a bit and it would be my opinion that he believes every animal harvested is a trophy, if you feel it is.

[MAGhunter]

Yes, he specifically stated, that you should not call your animal a booner or pope & young if you have not had it officially scored.  Kinda BS to me.  People know what they got on there wall, regardless if its in the books or not!  If you feel its a booner or pope & young, then its a booner or pope & young in that persons head.  A trophy is a trophy...it doesn't have to be told that by someone else.  My  

[GoldTip]

Yes, he specifically stated, that you should not call your animal a booner or pope & young if you have not had it officially scored.  Kinda BS to me.  People know what they got on there wall, regardless if its in the books or not!  If you feel its a booner or pope & young, then its a booner or pope & young in that persons head.  A trophy is a trophy...it doesn't have to be told that by someone else.  My  

Well I guess we would have to agree to disagree then.  What he is trying to say is that before you lable your animal a "booner" or a "poper" that you should support those organizations by having it officially scored and entered.  He's not trying to say it is any less of a trophy, to you or to anyone else.  I thought truly when he was making his statements that he was getting as sick of the "big horn and horn porn" craze as many others are.   

[high country]

hence why all by heads and hides are "high country" trophies......even the plains killed songdogs.

[D-Rock425]

Yes, he specifically stated, that you should not call your animal a booner or pope & young if you have not had it officially scored.  Kinda BS to me.  People know what they got on there wall, regardless if its in the books or not!  If you feel its a booner or pope & young, then its a booner or pope & young in that persons head.  A trophy is a trophy...it doesn't have to be told that by someone else.  My 

Well I guess we would have to agree to disagree then.  What he is trying to say is that before you lable your animal a "booner" or a "poper" that you should support those organizations by having it officially scored and entered.  He's not trying to say it is any less of a trophy, to you or to anyone else.  I thought truly when he was making his statements that he was getting as sick of the "big horn and horn porn" craze as many others are.   

That's how I understood it too. 

[bow4elk]

Yes, he specifically stated, that you should not call your animal a booner or pope & young if you have not had it officially scored.  Kinda BS to me.  People know what they got on there wall, regardless if its in the books or not!  If you feel its a booner or pope & young, then its a booner or pope & young in that persons head.  A trophy is a trophy...it doesn't have to be told that by someone else.  My  

Well I guess we would have to agree to disagree then.  What he is trying to say is that before you lable your animal a "booner" or a "poper" that you should support those organizations by having it officially scored and entered.  He's not trying to say it is any less of a trophy, to you or to anyone else.  I thought truly when he was making his statements that he was getting as sick of the "big horn and horn porn" craze as many others are.   

I'm with you GoldTip - I know M.R. personally and know this is a very skewed, ignorant view.  He has done more for promoting ethical bowhunting than most could dream of.  We all benefit from people like him and organizations like B&C and P&Y.  How a hunter feels about his/her tagged animals is precisely how it should be.  Nobody can take that away.  But let's not confuse the issue here.  And coxral, quit spewing inaccurate information - it makes you look silly.

[bow4elk]

...and if anyone would like me to get a statement from M.R. on this matter, please let me know.  I'm sure he'd oblige with a comment to his critics.

[coxral]

bow4elk, I guess I hit a nerve on you! Just threw what I saw up for comment! Wasn't trying to ruin your day. And, I have met him before (was with Mr. St. Charles) and also I have much admiration for him. I guess it's like when they interview several people at an accident and they get several different views. That's what makes us individuals. Have a nice day!