I’m with you...don’t see much of an upside to encouraging these killings...but lots of downside.
As one that has been there, and done that, I think we need to look at facts, not emotions. What happens when trophies can’t be imported into the US? In regulated hunting, each PH (guide) has his own area that he can hunt, it is his, and he also polices it for poaching, therefore him having sport hunters is a net gain for animals.
He has on quota 3 elephants, 2 lions, 7 leopard, and 15 cape buffalo. If he can’t sell them to US clients, he advertises and goes to events that cater to Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Arab states. He sells the hunts to them, they shoot the quota, and there is no change in numbers of animals. It does nothing but make someone who grew up and lives on concrete a good feeling because, by God, they kept an American from doing something they enjoy! Net result to elephant population....0. Like all liberal ideas, if they don’t like it and participate in it, then it sure as hell ought to be illegal.