Trophy hunting is a form of hunting for sport in which parts of the hunted wild animals are kept and displayed as trophies. The animal being targeted, known as the "game", is typically a mature male specimen from a popular species of collectable interests, usually of large sizes, holding impressive horns, antlers, furs or manes. Most trophies consist of only select parts of the animal, which are prepared for display by a taxidermist. The parts most commonly kept vary by species, but often include head, hide, tusks, horns, or antlers.
Theodore Roosevelt standing beside a dead elephant on a trophy hunting trip in Africa.
A hunter and local guides posing with an elephant they killed, 1970
Hunter with a bear's head and hide strapped to his back on the Kodiak Archipelago
Moose head and deer antlers mounted as hunting trophies
Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to exploit the animal's body for meat and useful animal products, for recreation/taxidermy, although it may also be done for non-exploitative reasons such as removing predators dangerous to humans or domestic animals, to eliminate pests and nuisance animals that damage crops/livestock/poultry or spread diseases, for trade/tourism, or for ecological conservation against overpopulation and invasive species.
Bowhunter with a compound bow using a call
Hunter carrying a reindeer in Greenland
Saharan rock art with prehistoric archers
Inuit hunting walrus, 1999