I've actually been to one of those game camps (was in a remote area when traveling in southern Africa and needed a place to stay - didn't hunt, couldn't have afforded it even if I wanted to). And like anything to do with conservation in the developing world, this kind of "rich men pay to kill big game" stuff is more complicated than it looks. Those game parks do exist for wealthy people to kill exotic animals. However, they also protect vast swaths of land that would otherwise be given over to cattle grazing, thus driving out native wildlife. The economics of hunting protects a lot of land, vegetation, and, ironically, wildlife. I had a lot of candid conversations with the guys that ran the place, and they were probably candid with me because I was NOT a hunter.

They told me a lot of stories of rich men (in these stories, it was always men) being guided to kill the animal, most of the time from a vehicle with little risk to them - some were competent marksmen, but many were not. Often, the guide had to finish the animal off to end its suffering. It didn't sound very sporting, and my hosts didn't seem to have a lot of respect for such inexperienced clients. Whether the Trumps fit into that category...who knows.

The big $$ animals on the property tended to be gleaned from overpopulated game parks, where they could live and roam free (at least for a while) on thousands of acres rather than being immediately shot by rangers or starving, and lower cost animals were local to the land. The land was native habitat and plants, which protected many smaller creatures of no interest to hunters.

Staying there destroyed many of my preconceived notions, and I left with a much more nuanced outlook on big game hunting, though I must admit I'm still not too partial to the people that pay to do it.

Personally, I don't have a problem with hunting in general, though I think pure trophy hunting is odious. If you're not going to personally eat some of the meat or use the skins, and especially if you're not going to gut and clean the animal, which many of these clients don't, I don't have much respect for someone that just shoots it. You absolutely CAN be a conservationist, animal lover, and a hunter...but a conservationist and a trophy hunter? IMHO, not so much.

I gotta say though, in all of those pics, the Trump boys kinda look like tools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't really have a problem with this, as I don't know the circumstances behind the kills. If, as the article says, it was to feed villagers, I"m okay with it. I will say that the "lynching" pic of the croc was a bit disturbing.

It wasn't a "lynching" just hanging it for a better picture. Plus you always hang an animal to drain the blood and make skinning it easier.

I'm aware, but just the whole thing of white guys standing around something hanging was disturbing to me.

Any you wonder why people don't take you seriously when there is a real racial issue. Sometimes it's best to just keep quiet.
- AA Male

What people? What real race issue? What are you talking about?

FWIW, I'm not black, but I'm thinking you were assuming I was....What does it make you for assuming?

Anonymous wrote:Don't really have a problem with this, as I don't know the circumstances behind the kills. If, as the article says, it was to feed villagers, I"m okay with it. I will say that the "lynching" pic of the croc was a bit disturbing.

such a gross family

Anonymous wrote:Big deal. It is totally legal and did not involve endangered species. This comment by a PP hit the hypocrisy nail on the head: "How is that leather purse you have working for you? Have any other exotic leathers in your closet? "

Regards from,

An animal lover and conservationist

PP here. You can't really be an animal lover and defend what they did.

Elephants are magnificent creatures, incredibly intelligent and social. I listened to an NPR program about a woman who has devoted her life to saving injured elephants who have been mutilated by poachers and it really moved me.
To slice off the tail the way they did and hold it up triumphantly to imitate the pose of the ivory hunters of days past - well, that revolts me. I'm a bit disappointed in the responses here - I thought for sure there would be more outrage and concern. Actually, I'm disgusted.

I boycott the show simply because it sucks.

Trophy hunting is gross.

I just don't get killing for "sport." It's ghoulish.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't really have a problem with this, as I don't know the circumstances behind the kills. If, as the article says, it was to feed villagers, I"m okay with it. I will say that the "lynching" pic of the croc was a bit disturbing.

It wasn't a "lynching" just hanging it for a better picture. Plus you always hang an animal to drain the blood and make skinning it easier.

I'm aware, but just the whole thing of white guys standing around something hanging was disturbing to me.

Any you wonder why people don't take you seriously when there is a real racial issue. Sometimes it's best to just keep quiet.
- AA Male

White people also go to African villages to help feed the needy and provide healthcare. White people also help build schools and get African kids educated.

How is this a racial issue?

Oopps, AA Male. I just reread your post and I apologize.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't really have a problem with this, as I don't know the circumstances behind the kills. If, as the article says, it was to feed villagers, I"m okay with it. I will say that the "lynching" pic of the croc was a bit disturbing.

It wasn't a "lynching" just hanging it for a better picture. Plus you always hang an animal to drain the blood and make skinning it easier.

I'm aware, but just the whole thing of white guys standing around something hanging was disturbing to me.

Any you wonder why people don't take you seriously when there is a real racial issue. Sometimes it's best to just keep quiet.
- AA Male

White people also go to African villages to help feed the needy and provide healthcare. White people also help build schools and get African kids educated.

How is this a racial issue?

Anonymous wrote:Hypocrite here, as I eat meat, but those pics are disturbing to me...

I don't eat meat and won't look at the pictures. Disgusting!

Um, the gator is hanging in the wrong direction - have never seen an animal bled through its tail. I am willing to bet that these guys just posed with animals that someone else killed.

Anonymous wrote:His sons are grown adults, why would you boycot his show for something his adult children did?

Not that I'm watching the show anyway. I find Trump annoying, but this doesn't change how I feel about him.

This, and I personally detest the Donald.

Big deal. It is totally legal and did not involve endangered species. This comment by a PP hit the hypocrisy nail on the head: "How is that leather purse you have working for you? Have any other exotic leathers in your closet? "

Regards from,

An animal lover and conservationist

Hypocrite here, as I eat meat, but those pics are disturbing to me...