Field photos with hunter sitting on top of the animal

[elkhuntinfool78]

So growing up hunting my Dad always taught me never to take a photo with an animal where you were sitting on top of that animal as it was disrespectful to the animal.

It's something that has stuck with me through the years and coming from a family where hunting was like religion I kinda took it as any serious hunter would feel the same.

That said I see a lot of pics where folks are proudly sitting atop their animal and while I know many of them have respect for the animal they've taken it still to this day leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when I see it.

So I'm just curious how do you all feel about it?

 

[Dsnow9]

There was a thread about this a while back, grip and grins we don’t like or something like that. The first bull I ever shot and first big game animal, I sat on the elk because that’s what the guy who taught me how to hunt did. I’m not a fan of the pic but it’s still the biggest bull I’ve ever shot lol. I haven’t taken one like that since and sometimes don’t even take photos with myself in them anymore.

If a guy wants to sit on his animal I’m not gonna judge anymore than the guy who looks like he is mourning the animal or something like that in a staged photo.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Who cares.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

There was a thread about this a while back, grip and grins we don’t like or something like that. The first bull I ever shot and first big game animal, I sat on the elk because that’s what the guy who taught me how to hunt did. I’m not a fan of the pic but it’s still the biggest bull I’ve ever shot lol. I haven’t taken one like that since and sometimes don’t even take photos with myself in them anymore.

If a guy wants to sit on his animal I’m not gonna judge anymore than the guy who looks like he is mourning the animal or something like that in a staged photo.

Didn't realize there was already a similar thread, would you mind posting a link so I can give it read. Can't seem to find it searching

 

[Dsnow9]

Didn't realize there was already a similar thread, would you mind posting a link so I can give it read. Can't seem to find it searching

Grip and Grin Pictures I don't really care for.....

Just thought I would start a thread on pictures I don't really care for..... due to "artistic style" of the photographer. No offense to the animal, and no offense to the hunter. Just offense to the photographer... We all "long arm" our pictures, but, there should be a rule you have to...

www.hunttalk.com

It’s not exactly the same but follows the same theme and probably the same conversation you were attempting to have

 

[TrapperJ]

Watched that video on monster quest where that guy sits on that huge hog and it takes off with him on it other then that I dont know of anyone sitting on there anmial and I just set behind it smiling

 

[Akcabin]

I'll agree. Not something I do but it's your photos. I also think that it's better to not have a bunch of blood in the photos or tongue hanging out for a nice picture. Guess just trying to present the animals in their best

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

Grip and Grin Pictures I don't really care for.....

Just thought I would start a thread on pictures I don't really care for..... due to "artistic style" of the photographer. No offense to the animal, and no offense to the hunter. Just offense to the photographer... We all "long arm" our pictures, but, there should be a rule you have to...

www.hunttalk.com

It’s not exactly the same but follows the same theme and probably the same conversation you were attempting to have

Thanks for posting that link, not sure why I couldn't find it.

 

[TOGIE]

it's a bit cringe in my book. but whatever.

that said, in this modern world where the threat to hunting being a legal activity is very real, persistent, and constantly at the whims of the voters I basically find the majority of any broadly shared social media of hunting cringe. sit on it if you want, but leave it and most other pics amongst your closer circle.

 

[gouch]

I have never found it a good look but then again I don't have even one grip and grin photo of me that I like. I usually hunt alone so it is hard to set up the camera and get in position for the shot, not to mention the fact that I suck at composing photographs. When I am not alone, I am with someone who is a crappy photographer or just doesn't give a damn, or both.

So, I'm not one to judge.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

If I ever shoot an elephant I'm for sure sitting on that thing.

 

[mtmiller]

If I ever shoot an elephant I'm for sure sitting on that thing.

With a chopped off tail in your hand?

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

With a chopped off tail in your hand?

Absolutely

 

[idelkslayer]

Just as an exercise in thought have you asked yourself any of these type of questions?

Where did my dad get the idea that sitting on a animal is disrespectful; what makes him right? Where does the idea come from? Who gets to be the authority on what is/isn't respectful and why? What reasons are given for it being disrespectful? What are the counter arguments? Does it matter? Is there anything you feel is normal but other hunters would find disrespectful, how do you justify your opinion? Is this maybe a personal preference rather than an actual problem?

For what it's worth, I read the same thing at some point in my youth and always believed it at face value. Now, I don't really think it is disrespectful, couldn't care less if someone wants to sit on their animal for a photo.

 

[geetar]

It bothers me less than the TV hunters " giving them time to expire " and coming back the next day to find them stiff and likely spoiled and cleaning them up and posing in perfectly staged photo shoots.

 

[mtmuley]

With a chopped off tail in your hand?

I never knew that was a thing until my buddy Steve killed an elephant last week. He didn't sit on it. mtmuley

 

[RealMuddyboots]

It bothers me less than the TV hunters " giving them time to expire " and coming back the next day to find them stiff and likely spoiled and cleaning them up and posing in perfectly staged photo shoots.

This could be a 100 page thread easily until it gets deleted.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

It bothers me less than the TV hunters " givingI them time to expire " and coming back the next day to find them stiff and likely spoiled and cleaning them up and posing in perfectly staged photo shoots.

Don't even get me started on the " hunting influencers "

I was honestly just curious as to people's opinion on this aspect.

I would go ahead and delete the thread if I knew how...lol

 

[brockel]

Hunters worry about what other hunters do WAY to much

 

[Rack Daniels]

They say “A picture says 1000 words…”

To those of us that admire ONE photo and then our imaginations wander…
Where?
How?
A quality trophy photo to us, the hunter, is enough to light an inferno of motivation. Perhaps even to spark a brand new interest in something completely unfamiliar…

Now put yourself in the opposer’s corner. Someone who despises hunting? Someone who thinks hunting is primitive and barbaric. What would we, the hunter prefer that ONE photo to be?
Of course, any dead animal in any pose would be cringed at by such… The story in the photo is not only the animal… Smile big and open those eyes wide! After all, they are the window to the soul…


@EyJonas, If there is anything positive to come out of HT for you— you have impacted someone greatly. I appreciate that harsh criticism way back when… You know the saying, “If you knew better, you’d do better.”