I have only had three deer shoulder mounted. One was the first buck I shot. The second is the biggest buck I've shot (by points, not score). The other was a large muley I shot. All the rest are european mounts. Like the rest, if I'm not going to put it on the wall, I don't shoot it. The last three years, I've become more management minded. Though not "trophies" to many folks, the bucks I killed the last two years were 6 and 7 years old respectively. That's an old deer in our area since the neighbors shoot everything that walks.

This year, I have yet to see a deer that I want to shoot. I have pictures of one that is young, but would be a trophy to me because he'd by far be the widest whitetail I've ever killed and has a very unique rack with a drop tine. However, I think he's only 3 or 4 years old and will most likely grow. Of course, in order to do that, I have to keep the neighbors off him. I guess the ultimate decision will come if I am offered a shot. So far, that hasn't happened.

As someone said, a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.