Boonechaser's response ( http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/3884098-post5.html ) in another post reminded me of a local fellow who also shot a ~200 class buck. Before he even had it mounted, Basspro had contacted him about buying it. I heard, third hand so I don't know, the offer was around $10k, but he turned it down.
I am not a horn hunter, and have never mounted anything except one rack. I would hope I wouldn't sell my deer short, but the first whiff of anything in the $10k range, and I would be transporting the deer to the buyer in person.
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Mit pulver und blei, die gedanken sind frei!
A-lot of guy's do indeed Sell there Trophy Racks, they have a Reproduction made of it for themselves to keep. The Rack will Always be known as Your's, if Professionally Scored it would be Impossible for anyone to Claim having shot it but the Hunter that actually did as there's no way each and every Circumference and Point lenght, Beam Length, Inside Spread could be the same from another Rack. It someone tried to have it Scored as there Kill it would be spotted in an Instant By B&C P&Y or any State that had a Record of the Original Score Sheet.
There are Antler Collectors who Pay BIG Money for Giant Whitetail Deer Antlers for there Collections. But there's No Glory in having something that Nice that someone else shot execpt the Original Hunter.
If I shot something World Class, I'd sell it as long as it went into a Collection that Toured the US so Everyone could see it at Hunting Shows, I'd have the Repoduction Hanging on My Wall, Why let something that Big Collect Dust in Your Home when only a Handful of People would ever see it. I'd want it to get all the Golry it Deserved and for everyone to see it.
(BP)
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Those who hammer their Guns into plows will plow for those who do not. Thomas Jefferson
If the money was right, of course I'd sell it. First I would have an identical rack of it made from measurements. But then I would sell it. Especially to a place like Cabela's or Bass Pro where they present them on display and really take care of them. Also I heard, these large sporting good stores would rather have it green and then do their own taxidermy to match their needs.
With the money from the sale of such a trophy you could do some important things or book another hunt in some excellent hunting spot with a guide. So yes I would sell it.
Where I live a lot of people shoot trophy deer. A large number of them end up hanging in a tavern on display for all the people to drool over. Then the bartender will mention your name when telling the story of the head if someone asks. Usually a small brass plate with your name and date on it. And then a few years from now, when the thing is covered in cigarette smoke (although not anymore) grease from the cooking vats, dust and dirt from not being cleaned properly, it somehow is not so magnificent anymore. Just a memory of what you did. Oh but they do look good with sun glasses, Santa hats, Green Bay Packer hats, and an assortment of things like Christmas lights hanging off the antlers. Its a sad fate for a nice buck.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Das stimmt! I am third generation American. My paternal Grandmother, born in Deutschland (Schleswig-Holstein), was the only person who really spoke german I can remember, but I took 6 semesters, 3 years, of college Deutsch.
My mother can trace back to 1651, Martinus Ringswald, Sasbach am Rhein.
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Mit pulver und blei, die gedanken sind frei!
Would you sell your trophy?
