I don't consider myself a Trophy Hunter. Mounts in general have not been important however....

I have mounted two deer and one duck.
My first deer was mounted because I just thought it was 'the thing to do'. That first mount was an important lesson for me. Expensive and eventually, it wasn't a great taxidermy job and was lost over time. Eventually, I began to realize that a mounted deer or whatever was just not important to me.

The duck was a different thing altogether. I shot this duck in a swampy tidal marsh close to legal light in the evening. He landed wounded. My Springer "Cleo" and I searched for this Woody for an hour in the dark. No go. Then as we were leaving to get some flashlights and lamps she jumped into a swamp run-off creek and came back with this duck. I never would have retrieved this duck without her.

She died the next week in front of my house from an impact with a car.

I took the duck to a local and somewhat reknown taxidermist to have it mounted. I never thought it would become important to me to have a mount done but there I was.

The last mount was a 305 pound monster my Youngest son and I took in Catskill this year. Again, I wasn't looking to mount a deer but this deer is an important milestone for me. My sons first foray at deer hunting and it was a monster from on top of the mountain. My son was instrumental in bagging this gray ghost. If not for him, I never would have shot this creature.

In short, if you think it important to mount, you will know it inside. If you find yourself considering a mount more than before with other, lesser deer, then you should capture the moment whatever the cost.

Nothing will bring that moment back faster or with more reality than having the creature looking back at you in your 'place of respect'.

My $.02