It would have to be an above average 6x6 or an exceptional 5x5 before it would get shoulder mounted. I would euro mount smaller ones of course.
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If I'm shooting something with horns on its head its because it is something I'm proud of and wouldn't shoot it if I wasn't planning on mounting it. Goes for every antlered animal I shoot. Helps that I am a taxidermist and can afford it. WCL
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I have harvested a few bulls in my lifetime. None have been shoulder mounted. Just plaques. My first mount will be 300-320. Then the next would have to be 330-340. Just a matter of time and I am hoping it will happen. Not looking forward to paying for it but the wife knows already what the first one will be ahead of time.
Same with deer. I have a mount and will not mount another until it is bigger than the one I already have.
For a shoulder mount above 300. I usually give the antlers to my friends dad to make things out of. Although my first elk bull with the bow will probably get a plaque or euro mount.
Another situation would be a deformed interesting looking animal.
If I'm shooting something with horns on its head its because it is something I'm proud of and wouldn't shoot it if I wasn't planning on mounting it. Goes for every antlered animal I shoot. Helps that I am a taxidermist and can afford it. WCL
Agreed. If I don't have enough respect for the animal to have it mounted then I don't shoot it. This is why god made does and cows.
That's kinda how I think, why shoot a bull or a buck if I'm not going to mount it? at least when I can take a doe/cow in it's place. Everyone around me wants me to take more animals, especially these decent/good sized animals I pass on. I am getting a lil tired of getting skunked on hunts though. I'm doing what I can though, least I think so, I'm only putting in for/hunting quality areas alledgedly. Maybe I should just relax a bit more and see what happens.
I've been on a few "quality" hunts lately, where all my research suggests its a great season/area, then you get there and people are saying, or the unit next to this is great..... or ya this season is the rut, but I like the 1st season....
I guess with time, more experience, and continuing to hunt quality units, I should be able to take a trophy at some point.
That's kinda how I think, why shoot a bull or a buck if I'm not going to mount it? at least when I can take a doe/cow in it's place. Everyone around me wants me to take more animals, especially these decent/good sized animals I pass on. I am getting a lil tired of getting skunked on hunts though. I'm doing what I can though, least I think so, I'm only putting in for/hunting quality areas alledgedly. Maybe I should just relax a bit more and see what happens.
I've been on a few "quality" hunts lately, where all my research suggests its a great season/area, then you get there and people are saying, or the unit next to this is great..... or ya this season is the rut, but I like the 1st season....
I guess with time, more experience, and continuing to hunt quality units, I should be able to take a trophy at some point.
I believe you hunt CO....curious where you think quality/trophy areas are. As a lifelong "local" I probably have different ideas than you.
I apply/build pts on CO, hunted back in college for elk 2 years, but have not since, considering an archery mule deer hunt in 2010 though.
Otherwise I'm just building pts, mule deer is really all I look to CO for currently, I would like to pursue sheep, moose, and goat there, but have yet to apply/build pts for any, as they require paper applications and the money up front.
When I hunted elk, it was rifle, OTC, once near Vail, the other time near Gunnison.
I believe the mule deer areas I'm looking towards are on the western slope, but I really haven't dove into the research aside from building pts for deer.
At what point do you mount it?
