Reply to Hedrick et al.: Trophy hunting influences the distribution of trait values through demographic impacts

Coltman et al. (1) claimed that the “production of smaller-horned, lighter rams and fewer trophies” is “an evolutionary response to sport hunting of bighorn trophy rams.” Using data from the same population, we conclude (2) that the very rapid shift in body mass they report was principally demographic in origin rather than evolutionary. Our conclusions are further supported by additional research (3) that has demonstrated that the approach Coltman et al. (1) used to detect trends in breeding values gives unreliable results that are highly anticonservative. Hedrick et al. (4) are correct in …