Memories or Trophies?

I guess it can be summed up as “to each, their own.”

I read an article recently that pretty much labelled anglers & hunters as ‘egotistical killers’… and that we display our “trophies” simply to pump those egos. Personally, that couldn’t be farther from the truth or the reality for me.

For me it started long ago when I was just a kid myself… hunting and fishing with my Dad put a lot of food on our family’s table over the years. It continued when I was a single Dad, raising my own family without the benefit of financial support payments. The fish and game I harvested was an important part of our daily protein intake.

Sure, every once in a while you might get lucky and land a trophy fish worthy of a memory, or from a location that you might always want to remember and may never be able to return to… but not because I was only out for a trophy or to feed an ego.

My personal collection of antlers or fish that I display in my house all started with the goal of food in mind… with the exception of Brook Trout.

And although I do have 2 Brook Trout on display, they are both fibreglass replicas made from simply the length & girth measurements and a couple photos before the fish was live released. I’m sure lots of other anglers have done the same thing in the best interests of conserving their catch.

It’s quite different when it comes to animals like moose or deer… in this instance, photographs are the only option if a hunter chooses to “live release”.

My moose & deer antlers are my memories of my first archery & rifle harvests… harvests that fed my family, and others, for many months… so I’m darn proud to display them. They represent countless hours of calling practice, scouting, planning, sitting for long hours waiting for the right opportunity for a clean shot and an ethical harvest.

And I love recounting the stories to my grandkids when they come to visit and see the fish or antlers… they ask all kinds of questions that children often do, so – for me anyways – it’s a way of teaching others about conservation; my appreciation of the outdoors; and the countless experiences it has provided for me, and so many others.

So my friends, here’s the point:

Fish how you fish and Hunt how you hunt… celebrate the moments you that you get outdoors and the memories that you make.

Display your memories if you choose – or not – but be proud of each and every accomplishment you earned on the water or in the woods. Don’t let someone else determine what’s important for you to remember.