ORIGINAL: WesternMdHardwoods
Ex: If I were to kill a mature nice 100" buck with my rifle here in westernmd, I dont believe I would mount it, but if I were to kill the same buck with my bow he would probably(most likely)be a wall ornament for me!!!
Hey Hey, careful now, you're starting to label yourself asan elitist or purist. -or- (however people want to take that)Even though you didn't say anything about how you thought that was superior over another guy's methods... Watch your back man!
but I DEFINANTELY see more pride for taking an animal with the bow rather then with the gun?? That would be my deciding factor!!!
Yes you do, you just said it in that very same sentence. You feel as I do that a buck killed with a bow will mean more to you. I've further evolved my conviction to include not shooting a big buck with my high powered rifle. It's not for many people but it is
for me. I feel more pride and experience more joy when I use a bow.
To answer your thread question?... I will mount a buck if it carries significant or special meaning to me. In October I shot a small 9 with lots of character. I was also hunting with my brother in law whom I'd seen grow up before my very eyes since the age of 2 to 18. We tracked that buck together and dragged it out of the swamp together. That memorie along with the buck is what I'm putting on the wall. I shot another 8 but this one was mature and field dressed 220. I outsmarted him and earned myselfthat shot. He is at the taxi as well.