Bragging Rights?

[Bull Shooter]

Man is truly a competitive beast. I often wonder if the simple solution to our collective hunting differences and issues would be to simply eliminate scoring records such as Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett. Can you imagine; man competing with our game versus competing with each other? It seems to me that the majority of our ethical issues (and legal issues – to a lesser degree) all stem from our desire to take the biggest and the best... bragging rights, if you will. What do you think? Regards, Mike

Hmmm...there is likely something to that but it seems most of the heated debates lately have had more to do with method and geographical location. I think method is the root cause. There is no scoring for coyotes but Brad's post went south because of method. Bill's elephant wasn't that big in terms of score but it went south because of method and geographic location/species. I'm sure there are loads more examples of this. No doubt score may cause some people to do unethical things but it seems most of the naysayers on this board take issue with method. IMHO

[LongDraw]

Bullshooter,

Curious how you figure eliminating a record book would solve collective hunting differences and issues???

[Bull Shooter]

Originally Posted by LongDraw

Bullshooter,

Curious how you figure eliminating a record book would solve collective hunting differences and issues???

Hey LongDraw/Sheep - I was specifically thinking of discussions with regard to trail cameras, advancing technolgies and more effective tools. It got me thinking. What if there was no formal platform for recording the biggest and the best. I recognize that it isn't going to happen, but I could not help believing that a lot of the so-called problems and challenges we seem to regularly encounter would likely become non-issues. Of course, I am going on about 6 hours of sleep for the week so I might be thinking a little irrationally. Regards, Mike

[LongDraw]

Competition is what drives advancement and innovation.

If it was not for this inate part of being human we'd still be trying to club Wooly Mamoth's and living in caves.

There is way more uside to competition than downside.

I gotta be missing something in that trail cam thread. To me it was one of the most enlightening, mature threads on here where people agreed to disagree and totally respected each other's thoughts yet a number of people keep going on about it. What am I missing???????? Or was it just such an anomoly on this board that people can't believe it's true.......

Sorry Bull, not to take away from this thread.

[Bull Shooter]

Originally Posted by LongDraw

Competition is what drives advancement and innovation.

If it was not for this inate part of being human we'd still be trying to club Wooly Mamoth's and living in caves.

There is way more uside to competition than downside.

Holy Crap!!!... I hope you don't think I'm a Socialist!!! The Karl Marx book was just a gag. Regards, Mike

[Bull Shooter]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

I gotta be missing something in that trail cam thread. To me it was one of the most enlightening, mature threads on here where people agreed to disagree and totally respected each other's thoughts yet a number of people keep going on about it. What am I missing???????? Or was it just such an anomoly on this board that people can't believe it's true.......

Sorry Bull, not to take away from this thread.

Not being a true trophy hunter, I was just a little surprised that it was an issue that B&C had to consider. Obviously, hunters had concerns - with regard to record book status.

The IMHA was another example that came to mind. I supported the idea and logic of surrendering the antlers or horns to the Province. To be honest, I don't think I would have to support that requirement in the absence of record keeping. I might be wrong, and that is the reason I started the thread, but I think a lot of these things would become non-issues. Regards, Mike

I think you might be putting a bit too much emphasis on the actual book Bull.....I am a dyed in the wool trophy hunter and love leafing through the pages but have yet to enter any of my trophies with B&C. For me, the trophy is a personal quest that I 'll likely share with my buddies over a beer annd yes I'll write about it because that's how I pay my mortgage but the only person that I care about being impressed with the trophy is me.

As for the Native and Metis issues, those are already none issues as unless they were taken under the authority of hunting licence, they are not eligible for the books.

Certainly there is some bravado surrounding the books and to some the noteriety is important and far be it for me to criticize them providing it was all done in the spirit of the law and fair chase. I've met several world record holders over the years and all have been truly modest men that attribute their trophy to good fortune.

I'm sure there are some unethical blowhards as well but I don't think the existence of the book creates that.

B&C and the other record keeping groups are really the only ones to define fair chase on paper so it's not surprising that issues of technology must be addressed.

[Bull Shooter]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

I think you might be putting a bit too much emphasis on the actual book Bull

Probably... just trying to figure out what makes guys tick... no hidden agendas, I promise. I did pick up the latest B&C Awards book. I enjoy most of the stories and pictures but seldom remember the scores. Regards, Mike