Trophy Hunting

This book gets to the roots of trophy hunting stereotypes, unpacking and explaining the multiple facets of what trophy hunting is, and why it is so controversial in dividing environmentalists, the hunting community, and the public. It provides the first interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach to the study of trophy hunting, investigates the history of hunting and trophy hunting, and delves into the background of trophy hunters, how they identify themselves, and what motivates them to hunt. The book also excavates the role of social media and anthropomorphism in shaping trophy hunting discourse, the viability of trophy hunting as a wildlife management tool, the ideals of fair chase and sportsmanship in trophy hunting, and what hunting trophies are both in the literal sense and in terms of their symbolic value to hunters and non-hunters. The analysis and discussions are underpinned by a consideration of the complex moral and practical conflicts between animal rights and conservation paradigms. This book appeals to scholars in environmental philosophy, conservation and environmental studies, as well as hunters, hunting opponents, wildlife management practitioners, and policymakers, and anyone with a broad interest in human-wildlife relations.