Thanks New, but it's too late, I guess I hate hunting and hunters..I mean, since I said I wanted to ban giraffe hunting...??? yeh, that's what I said...it's ok guys, I still think it's silly to shoot a giraffe, but I do not want to stop anyone from doing it, I have already said this, but i guess it does not matter. It is an opinion, my opinion and that's all, I don't have the power to ruin hunting by saying that I think it's silly to shoot a giraffe. I have asked several hunters in the last two days about it, and not one said that it was something they would have a desire to do, nor did they see a point in it. As far as the plight of Africa goes, well i know a lot about Africa, I studied it extensively as ahistory major in college, and I can tell you that Africa's problems stem from far greater things than what has been discussed here. For example, the aftermath of WW2 and the colonization of Africa in the 1800's by the French and English, Dutch, Portugese, Germans, etc... drawing up boundries without a clue about the many cultural differences within those boundries, and that has caused 100's of civil wars. Ok, enough of boring you guys, my point is, Im not judging anyone, Im just stating my ignorance to the hunting of giraffes.

I don't have any desire to hunt african game,but I know a number of people who have and have had the times of their lives.I know hunting has a huge impact on their economy and as a result also protects game species from poachers.
It seems like it is all a matter of what we are used to,while I couldn't get myself to kill a zebra (horse) or Giraffe (goofy stuffed animal)no interest in the animal or the meat,I have no problem with those who do.There are animals I have purposely sought to kill without any intention of eating them,coyote's as an example.
It is interesting,there is a part of me that thinks why the heck would any one want to shoot a particular animal just to put it in their trophy room? Yet I practice a very similar thing in holding out for bigger bucks.Again I think it is really a matter of what we are used to.

I've done studies on this, and even wrote my college grad paper on this very subject. Without giving you guys my entire 25 minute presentation I'll break it down quite simply.

Old male giraffe is past it's prime, and no longer reproducing. Old male giraffe is using up resources that are valuable to those other giraffes which are still reproducing. Old male giraffe will soon die of disease or old age. Concession ownerhas the option of letting old giraffe live another year or two and die of old age, only to receive no compensation for dead giraffe. OR, concession owner may have American hunter come in and hunt the old male giraffe and receive monetary compensationfor the hunt, for the taxidermy, as well as utilize the meat from the giraffe to feed guests and other people. BTW, giraffe meat was the best tasting of all game I had when I was in South Africa.

I didn't want that photo to come up as an attachment:

I don't think anyone on here is opposed to shooting big bucks or waiting or passing on smaller ones, I do it, but i also realize that Im going to eat it and enjoy it on my wall. I have nothing against trophy hunting and sometimes i practice this myself, I just wanted to know why someone would shoot a giraffe. I honestly thought it was illegal, as did my wife when we watched it. No big deal really, Im not pushing to stop it or even want to end anytype of legal hunting. I guess there are trophy giraffe, I was unaware of this. I was not aware of a trophy zebra or baboon...I guess a trophy really is in the eye of the beholder. No I don't have to kill deer to eat, but I do eat what I kill. I pass on foxes and other animals a lot just because... I have no reason to judge someone who does shoot a fox or anything, I just but I know people that shoot them and throw them away. Im not saying I will not shoot one in the future, but I don't just shoot one simply because it offers a shot. Coyotes can be harmful to the area and I understand shooting them, or any animal that can cause this damage, I guess if giraffes cause damage and need to be controlled then have at it. My ingnorance to this is innocent I swear!!

Fair enough, I agree. However, these problems from the past are slowly unraveling. New boundries are being drawn and new governments are stepping up-some good, some not so good. From a conservationist's point of view, do we just ignore the wildlife and let poaching run rampant? This is a problem now! It requires a solution now!Someone has to pay for it! I mean, it takes time and money to establish governments with their laws and regulations. While the bureaucrats are hammering out details, poachers are hammering away at the rhinos and elephants, etc. Anti-poachers are training to combat these theives. They train witha lot of heart and soul. They spend months away from their families. They lay it on the line. They are soldiers on a bloody battlefeild. They make $30 per month. They have my full respect! Again, It's hard to tax people with nothing. I am thankful for giraffe hunters.

I understand your issue with the giraffe, but I can assure you that this is not wholesale rape, blunder, and pillage. Hunting in Africa is very well orchestrated and becoming more so with each passing day. Most thick skinned games are heavily protected. They are not killed for the sake of killing.

I personally think each and every one of us should forego our tax refund checks in lieu of round trip airline tickets to Africa. If nothing else just to see how others live. It will leave you with your eyes and mindwide open. I can guarantee all the whining and complaining, we do, will cease. We have it well here in America!

I agree with you and Im not against it under those circumstances, but i can think many other animals that would be on my list in Africa, but i have no intentions of ever going. I HONESTLY had no idea that shooting a giraffe was an option in Africa.

At the end of the day killing an animal, is killing an animal. It never ceases to amaze me the self righteousness of people who think their reasons for killing are better than someone else's. I honestly think that most of these types of threads are started out of boredom or an attempt to "stir the pot". I seriously doubt the Giraffe cares what the hunter's motivation was, why should it bother you? If it's legal, quit your whining about it and find something constructive to do with your time. Flame away! Just my $.02!

Hate to burst your bubblebro, but this isnothing but naive...thank goodness all hunters don't think like you.

Facts and stats many time don't mean a hill of beans. It is not hard to find many, many instances where sound wildlife/fisheries biology and management is ignored and emotions/agendas win out with respect to hunting/fishing laws. Not only are the anti's numbers high, they have an enormous amount of money on their side...and they are constantly looking to convince the middle ground folks, non-hunters who have no opinion or just haven't made up their minds yet. It is those middle ground non-hunters that each and every hunter oughta think and worry about when it comes to hunter behavior/image.

Just like not shooting a giraffe, it certainly is your right to not give a crap about anti's and their agendas...but someday something will happen that will make you give a crap...that I would bet on.

You, and every hunter, oughta take a few minutes to follow this link to sign up for email updates on anti movements and call for actions across the country. If you think there isn't much to worry about, or much going on...these email alerts will show you how wrong you are.
http://www.ussportsmen.org/Join_Input_Form.cfm

LOL Hey, he already told me he wasn't naive, apparently he didn't convince you of that either LOL .