Cherokee Outfitters:

Personally I think it is a mistake to measure one's hunt by rack size/book score. I'm not saying you do, by the way. Also, I'm taking the view that when you talk about "trophy" you are talking about a rack, a set of antlers. Thus, even the talk about the challenge of the hunt being involved in evaluating the trophy, this is clearly based in the idea that the rack is the thing of value of the hunt. Basically the whole rack size/book score game leads to the conclusion that if you don't bag a rack that is bigger than 90% of the other racks or bigger than 95% of the other racks, you didn't succeed. What this means, using simple math, is that 90% or 95% of the hunters fail. Well, that just isn't true. I'm thinking that a lot of those other 90% or 95% of hunters enjoyed deeply satisfying hunting experiences sitting in the woods, perhaps hunting with family members. I'm thinking that a lot of those other 90% or 95% of hunters learned some valuable lessons about their capabilities, strength, weaknesses, what counts most in life. The game of comparing rack size is just too ridiculous.

Ask yourself who benefits from the rack size obsession? Guides and outfitters who can get you into the best territory, ranch owners who have property where the big bulls come down out of the mountains when snow hits the high country. Hunting equipment sellers who can sell range finders, latest camo, better telescopic sights, spotting scopes . . . because who would give up the opportunity to obtain even a slight edge in the competitive game of bagging a trophy? You don't have to have all that stuff if you are just taking a healthy big game animal, as evidenced by the fact that healthy big game animals were successfully taken many years before this expensive equipment was commonly available to hunters. Lord knows how Jack O'Connor and Elgin Gates ever bagged big game before there was 3-D camoflage, scent-lok clothing, and laser range finders. I think it is at least plausible that the current obsession with rack sizes and trophies is largely cooked up by folks interested in selling products to hunters. The hunting/outdoor sports magazines are complicit in this marketing effort because they depend upon the advertizing of the companies selling gear. How many articles in these magazines seem to be directed to praising the performance of such and such spotting scope, such and such a cartridge, such and such an outfitter? This rack size obsession turns hunters away from the essential, spiritual element of hunting to being consumers to be stimulated to buy new and more products.

At least that is my opinion. Other opinions may vary.