Madison Richardson

English 111

Turning a Way of Life into a Sport Commented [1]: Significantly short of the required
1,700 words (~600 words short)
Hunting plays a crucial role in the regulation of our environment and has been a way of
life for people all over the world for centuries. However, some individuals abuse the power of
taking the life of another living being and utilize that power simply for the fun of killing. Hunting
for fun or for trophy has become a normal part of the world of hunting. Trophy hunting is the
practice of hunting animals, typically non- indigenous ones, for the sole purpose of collecting a
trophy from the animal such as antlers, tusks, horns, or mounts. However, this process is
detrimental to the reputation of hunting and to the lives of the animals involved. Therefore, it is
imperative that harsher regulations be put in place to restrict the ability to carelessly take the
lives of these creatures. Commented [2]: Clear argument

Despite negative connotations, there are some economic and environmental advantages to
trophy hunting. Most trophy hunting focuses on “exotic” animals such as lions, giraffes, and
others not indigenous to the United States. Therefore, the appeal of trophy hunting helps to
encourage travel and tourism in places such as Asia and Africa that are not typically travel
destinations. Fees for transportation and hunting licenses in these areas also help stimulate Commented [3]: Remember to cite each sentence in
which you include research.
economies in these areas, which are typically considered to be “developing countries.” For
example, in the African country of Namibia they grossed an estimated $318 million through their
tourism industry in 1996, which jumped to $450 million by 2000. It is calculated that
approximately %14% of that money was accumulated through trophy hunting and safari hunting
expeditions. (Michael N. Humavindu & Jonathan I. BBarnes, 2003) Sponsoring hunting trips for Commented [4]: Use last names only

tourists and collecting on license fees plays a large part in the economic development of these
countries, but at what cost?
Trophy hunting has largely been associated with the endangerment and extinction of
many species throughout history. The amount of money and resources spent on protecting and
maintaining reserves for these species by far outweighs the revenue made from these hunting
expeditions. According to Daniel Cossins (2012), a science journalist for “The Scientist,” it Commented [5]: Place larger “containers” in italics

would take approximately $76.1 billion annually to protect all animals on the endangered species Formatted: Font: Italic

list and maintain their habitats. (Cossins, 2012). Without the threat of endangerment, the
 Madison Richardson
English 111
government’s of these countries and conservation agencies wouldn’t have to distribute so much
funding for wildlife conservation, while also making it easier for these species to repopulate.
Both in economic and moral perspectives, trophy hunting poses more hardships than
benefits. While the fascination with these animals make mounting them the ultimate trophy for
experienced hunters, regulations need to be imposed to make this practice obsolete. In addition to
the economic factors that make trophy hunting an unnecessary practice, there are moral values
that most hunter’s believe in that are absent in trophy hunting. A majority of hunters understand Commented [6]: ‘s = possessive
S= plural
the weight of taking the life of another animal, and they do not make that decision lightly.
Therefore, utilization of that animal as food ensures that it did not die in vain and that it’s life Commented [7]: It’s = it is

was not wasted. Hank Shaw, a hunter and journalist from New Jersey, states that “wasting meat
is the sin I cannot forgive. When I kill an animal, its death is on my hands, and those animals to
whom I’ve had to deliver the coup de grace are especially close to me. There is a bond between
us that requires that I do my part to ensure they did not die for nothing.” (Shaw, 2011) However,
that is precisely what is happening in the process of trophy hunting. Most people don’t typically
eat the meat from lions and giraffes, especially Americans. But that doesn’t stop people from
paying hundreds of dollars to shoot one. Upon killing one of these animals the hunters typically
take whatever portion of the animal they want to mount and the rest is left to decompose, or be
consumed by other animals later. This takes away the moral aspect of hunting. In addition to the Commented [8]: Explain the moral aspect of hunting a
little more
wasting of the animal, most of these “hunts” take place in enclosed areas, forcing animals to sit
and await their fate without being given a fair chance. This is yet another aspect of hunting that is
being stripped away in trophy hunts that threatens the morality of the activity. Myanna Dellinger Commented [9]: You frame your research nicely.

(year), a law professor at the University of South Dakota, expresses that these “hunts” are
“clearly an ethical violation in any normal sense of the word ‘hunt’ and even violates many
hunter’s own fundamental notions of what constitutes a ‘fair chase’.”(Dellinger, 54) Trophy
hunting goes against the basic values held by hunters and should be regulated to reduce the
negative impact on the economy and on the reputation of hunting itself.
While trophy hunting is legal in most countries, and there are some economic benefits in
allowing these hunts to take place, there are far more downfalls to keeping this practice legal.
While annually, trophy hunting expeditions create millions of dollars in revenue, governments
 Madison Richardson
English 111
are forced to spend billions undoing the damage caused by excessively hunting these animals and
invading their habitats, while concurrently wasting the life of that animal for the sake of a wall
mount. As of today, there are already regulations in place to limit the effects of trophy hunting,
including issuing permits for trophy hunted animals, banning imports of endangered animals that
have been hunted, and regulating how many permits are issued each year for certain species.
However dDespite these efforts, more and more animals face the threat of extinction due to
senseless killings and over-hunting.
Overall, the immense shortcomings of allowing this practice to continue outweigh the
economic benefits of hosting exotic hunts. While the hunting of exotic animals will always be
practiced, stricter regulations should be implemented to reduce the waste of these animals and
ensure that populations remains a healthy size, while also eliminating “enclosed hunts,” giving
animals a fair shot at survival instead of determining their fate for them. This will ensure that all
animals have a fair chance at survival and that the species that walk the earth today will still be
here in the future.
 Madison Richardson
English 111

References
1. Humavindu, M.N. & Barnes, J.I. (2003). Trophy hunting in the Namibian economy: an Commented [10]: Place sources in alphabetical order

1.a assessment. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 33, 68. Commented [11]: Don’t number your sources. Indent
any line after the first .
2. Cossins, D. (2012). Conservation Will Cost $76 Billion. Retrieved from https://www.the- Formatted: Indent: Hanging: 0.25"

scientist.com/the-nutshell/conservation-will-cost-76-billion-40357
3. Shaw,H. (2011). On Killing. Retrieved from https://honest-food.net/on-killing/
4. Dellinger, M (2018). Trophy Hunting - A Relic of the Past. Journal of Environmental

Law and Litigation, 34, 54.

4. Grade: D (missing too much content—think of it as the equivalent of not Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.49", No bullets or
numbering
completing 40% of an exam)