Some advice from a taxidermist of 30 yrs. I always recommend your first buck be mounted, now please keep in mind that this is advice as a hunter and taxidermist. I had my frist buck mounted when I was 10 yrs old and there will never be another first nor the memory. There are alot of reasons I hear from clients and my own personal criteras. I went on a hunt in Alberta 3 times, all 3 times I have killed bucks two of the three I mounted. #1 no brainer 170" 15 pt, # 2 155" 8pt and my third was 140 " 10 pt. The big 8 I thought was special but the 10 wasnt, I spent alot of money there and shot him the last day. But becasue I had seen some slammers that week I didnt think he was of mounting potenial. I have killed in Maine and because of the way I tracked them down in the snow they were trophies to me. I have killed some real nice bucks here in PA which if they are wide, heavy and I liked the hunt, I have mounted them. Some I have mounted for people who like the perfect symetrical rack, others like the width, thickness, amount of points or something narly. "The trophie is in the eyes of the beholder". Some have even mounted deer that they have found but because they feel the deer is nice and deserves representation , so they have them mounted. The bottom line isnt in a distintive criteria, but it is how you feel about the particular animal or even just the chase.