Taxidermy and Mounted/framed Insects (and stuff like that)

[doctor09210]

I'm not too fond of taxidermy animals...especially mammals...I hate the ego of man displaying something so tacky and macabre to satisfy his own ego...I'm sorry...but I'm not into that. And I'm not against hunting per say...if you are going to eat the meat...that's fine...but for the pure pleasure of killing for trophy purposes...especially snuffing the life on an awesome predator (whose meat is not going to be consumed anyway) just for kicks...well...I'm not too fond of that practice.

A tarantula is fine though...go for it...

agreed

[Werewolf]

So, go stand next to a bear or big elk or bighorn sheep in HIS environment and then tell me if you'd have the huevos to shoot at that thing with a 2.5 ft long, pointed stick. Trust me, if you're against hanging a trophy on your wall, you don't.

Nuff said.

SC

If I had to kill a wild animal in self defense, I would. But I'd feel no pride in doing it and no urge to keep or show off the corpse.

[jessica]

OMG I could never imagine myself dressing an animal. I would faint probably...the last time I saw making preparations to take a cow down for a feast in Kenya...I ran out of there like a bat out of hell.

[doctor09210]

it's one thing to eat it
it's another to trophy it
it's a whole different ball game to kill out and walk away

[mikeoz]

I think I'm on Hector's wave length on this. I'm not at all against legal hunting. But, you've already had the experience and nothing can replace that and since the experience is what matters I don't get the the need about showing off or bragging rights on an stuffed animal corpse. I just think keeping the animals mounted corpse around as some sort of trophy is kind of morbid and egotistical.

Yeah, my wife feels that same way. That's why there are no heads or antlers hanging in our house. We're in the process of building a country cabin, though. I think I may have some chance to hang a set of antlers in it. Either that, or someday I might be lucky enough to have a mancave .

BTW, I'm not even sure what to think about the four elk antler arches in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
[IMG][/IMG]

[mikeoz]

it's a whole different ball game to kill out and walk away

That's unethical, pathetic and just plain disgusting. Plus, thankfully, it'll get you put in jail.

[Hector]

I guess I'm trying to say that if I fly to Montana, hike into the woods for 10 or 12 miles, stalk a 400lb elk for a day and half and then kill it from 25 yards away with a bow and arrow, yeah-- It's head is gonna hang on my wall. Of course, I'll eat the meat and share it with close friends (you haven't lived until you've had a venison or elk burger) but that mount on my wall is a great conversation piece to tell the story and acts as a symbol of my accomplishment, which I feel is special. There aren't a lot of guys who can take down an animal like that with a bow and arrow--

It's a COMPLETELY different game when you're 300 yards away with a high powered rifle and a scope that can see the gnats buzzing around his snout. This is really hard for me to explain and also for you to understand, because you're not a hunter and you've probably never stood in the shadow of an animal 3 times bigger than you, ****ed off and snorting, armed only with a bow, 6 arrows and a hunting knife.

Moments like that when it truly is man against nature (and I've had many in my life) define who I am as a human on this planet. Nature has taught me to fear nothing, but respect everything. To harvest what you wish from the forest and the sea, but eat what you harvest and never let an animal's life go to waste by not consuming it or killing simply for sport.

That's just me.

SC

Sandy...my dad was a big time hunter (he was kinda like you too, a big time traveler as well)...and he taught me how to hunt as early as 1970...when I was eight years old...yes...eight years old.

Where you even alive at that time?

I grew up in a hunting family...all his brother were hunters...and all my mom's brothers were hunters. Their favorite place was Mexico's Sierra Madre.

I'm actually a friggin' sharpshooter (at least I was before my sickness, and nerve damage due to rapid muscle atrophy, not the shooter I was, but still pretty decent)...I have handled every kind of weaponry know to man...lol.

I'm still armed to the teeth...

However...I soon discovered that hunting was not for me...but out of respect for my father...I continued going to hunting trips with him, his brothers, and other friends. My dad's favorite place to hunt was in Mexico's Sierra Madre.

I believe the last time I took out an animal (and it was a hare at that)...it was with a 22 rifle...and I was in my teens...after that...I told my dad I didn't want to hunt anymore...but that I would gladly support him...and go on hunting rips with him...he understood...and was very cool about it.

But he never collected trophies...that was not his style...he taught me to respect nature (as you do)...and be a great shot...be good at kills...that way the animal does not suffer. He believed in consuming every single part of the animal (sometimes that was not such a good idea, lol)...and he would take the antlers to a local knife-maker...and had them made into knife handles...they would barter stuff with each other. The fur would also be distributed to different local artisans.

Mmm...venison beef jerky is awesome!

That's the reason my dad never got into compound bows...you have to have extraordinary skills (and I'm sure you do)...for you have to be very patient...be properly camouflaged, walk for miles on end...and be super accurate (people don't realize how hard is to shoot with an arrow, you need tons of practice), quiet, and deadly...because many times...the game will run for miles after being hit...and you have to track it down...and many archers loose their prey. The animal can still be alive...and it's the duty of the hunter to put it out of its misery.

I know what I'm talking about, Sandy...I ain't no rookie...

I've also been exposed to archery...had a collection of bows...mostly compounds...even a crossbow...but sold them all except for an 80s model...still pretty good condition.

To this day...I still periodically go target shooting...and once in a blue moon...I also take my old compound bow to loosen it up...just to have fun.

I'm now getting into skeet shooting...currently shopping for a shotgun right now...

[Hector]

It's a COMPLETELY different game when you're 300 yards away with a high powered rifle and a scope that can see the gnats buzzing around his snout. This is really hard for me to explain and also for you to understand, because you're not a hunter and you've probably never stood in the shadow of an animal 3 times bigger than you, ****ed off and snorting, armed only with a bow, 6 arrows and a hunting knife.

Was it a grizzly bear?

...or at least a black bear?

Because if it was...I'll be super impressed...I will bow to you for eternity...

[Hector]

Sandy...have you gone to running of the bulls in Pamplona?

If not...would you do that?


Also...have you hoped on a wild bronco?

I was about 12 years old...and hopped on a yet not trained adult pony in Chihuahua...and was terrifying...went flying a few yards...I did it only once...and then I said...screw that...

[Adam West]

I am not a hunter....I have never shot anything more powerful than a .22 and at nothing alive. With that said; I am a carnivore. I eat beef, chicken, pork venison, buffalo, rattlesnake....anything that is edible to me, just don't do the killing myself. Wth that said; I'm a very good shot with gun, compound bow, etc. My best friend is an avid hunter and I will often engage in target practice with him. I always beat him much to his chagrin and I always shrug my shoulders and say "lucky shot". I think the animal mounting starts to cross the line of PC. In the early days of American before there were chickens, cows, and pigs; our ancestors lived off of wild game. Native Americans lived off Bison and didn't think twice about taking their skulls and pelt to wear not only for warmth but as a status symbol. The tradition still exists today but rather than wear a coon skin cap; one eats the meat and preserves a part of it to show they accomplised.

[Hector]

Having said all that, I think fossil samples are cool as heck...

[Hector]

stalk a 400lb elk...

...and you've probably never stood in the shadow of an animal 3 times bigger than you...

400lb elk?

That's not three times bigger than me, that's barely my twin brother...