I recently read an op-ed peice(i think) where the author(an avid hunter, fisherman, and conservationist) expressed his... ahem.... concerns about hunters displaying their kills on the roof of an SUV, or in the bed of a pick-up truck with the tail-gate down, while driving through town to show off their achievment.
Personally, my parents instilled in me at an early age that ethical hunting meant making the kill count. More than any other way, in the freezer and on the supper plate. We have always hunted on family land about 8 hours away from home in the Texas hill country. This entailed a significant stretch along the interstate. I remember while growing up seeing people displaying their trophies on the roofs of their SUVs, or with the deer's head hanging out of a cooler or over the edge of the truck bed. The most egregious of such displays, to my parents who understood that the trophy was in the dinner we brought home, were the ones who did nothing to keep the meat cold or clean. Don't hunter's ethics include the use of all the meat? We always skinned, quartered, and kept on ice our kills. When we got home, my mom proceeded to remove all meat untill the seleton looked like a buzzard had gotten to it. I still see this happening from time to time and I can't help but think of my mother's grimace at the meat that was lost as the result of spoiling and scraping off with a wire brush to remove the road grime.
Here in Texas it seems to be pretty common practice, especially outside of the handful of large towns and cities. We always skinned, quartered, and kept on ice our kills. When we got home, my mom proceeded to remove all meat untill the seleton looked like a buzzard had gotten to it.
The author of the article I read was really adament about proposing legislation for the banning of public display of harvested game. What are everone's thoughts and experiences on this.
Now I'll get off my soap box and let everyone else chime in, if interested.
-Davoh