A Note on Focus

Framing, foreground, subject. Background, backlight, composition. The number of things to remember when taking a good trophy shot could choke a horse.

Now consider how wind shifts, light changes, and how animals respond to split-second mistakes, and you’ll understand why this article focuses only on the photos you should take post-harvest. We won’t cover landscapes, action shots, etc. for one simple reason: when you’re hunting you should be hunting, and the camera should only come out when the hunt is done – rarely before.

The Reality of Field Photography

Animals don’t fall conveniently next to dramatic overlooks with perfect lighting. More often than not, you’ll find them in thick timber, deep ravines, and dense brush that seems designed to wreck a good trophy shot. Like hunting itself, with field photography you work with what you get – not what you want.

Some of these techniques are no doubt easier with a buddy behind the camera, but don’t let solo hunts stop you from creating a quality photo. A steady rock and your phone’s timer function can make all the difference between experienced and entry-level.

10. Respect the Legacy

Think about how hunting has survived every cultural shift, every generational change, every attempt to diminish its relevance. It wasn't through legislation or lobbying—it was through shoeboxes full of faded photos of fathers and grandfathers. Photos might be hunting's most powerful preservation tool.

Every trophy photo joins a tradition as old as humanity itself. Ancient cave paintings depicted hunters chasing bison, deer, and mammoths. Paintings from the time of kings and queens showed harvested game alongside loyal dogs. Your photo continues that legacy.

Hunting doesn't hand out participation trophies. When you earn success through preparation, persistence, and skill, document it with the same intentionality you brought to the hunt itself. That photo will show your children what you’re made of, will inspire your grandchildren to hunt, and will preserve the adventure and beauty of this pursuit long after you’re gone.

Investing the extra time isn’t just about the photo—it's about adding your link to an unbroken chain of heritage as old as civilization itself – and one that must survive each generation to reach the next.

Remember, you’re representing not just yourself, but part of a community of millions of fellow hunters.