At what point do you mount it?
 

Wondering what size in this case an elk has to be for you to mount it.

It would have to be an above average 6x6 or an exceptional 5x5 before it would get shoulder mounted. I would euro mount smaller ones of course.

If I'm shooting something with horns on its head its because it is something I'm proud of and wouldn't shoot it if I wasn't planning on mounting it. Goes for every antlered animal I shoot. Helps that I am a taxidermist and can afford it. WCL

I have harvested a few bulls in my lifetime. None have been shoulder mounted. Just plaques. My first mount will be 300-320. Then the next would have to be 330-340. Just a matter of time and I am hoping it will happen. Not looking forward to paying for it but the wife knows already what the first one will be ahead of time.

Same with deer. I have a mount and will not mount another until it is bigger than the one I already have.

when it stops moving and I can sneak up behind it..............

For a shoulder mount above 300. I usually give the antlers to my friends dad to make things out of. Although my first elk bull with the bow will probably get a plaque or euro mount.

Another situation would be a deformed interesting looking animal.

Agreed. If I don't have enough respect for the animal to have it mounted then I don't shoot it. This is why god made does and cows.

That's kinda how I think, why shoot a bull or a buck if I'm not going to mount it? at least when I can take a doe/cow in it's place. Everyone around me wants me to take more animals, especially these decent/good sized animals I pass on. I am getting a lil tired of getting skunked on hunts though. I'm doing what I can though, least I think so, I'm only putting in for/hunting quality areas alledgedly. Maybe I should just relax a bit more and see what happens.

I've been on a few "quality" hunts lately, where all my research suggests its a great season/area, then you get there and people are saying, or the unit next to this is great..... or ya this season is the rut, but I like the 1st season....

I guess with time, more experience, and continuing to hunt quality units, I should be able to take a trophy at some point.

I believe you hunt CO....curious where you think quality/trophy areas are. As a lifelong "local" I probably have different ideas than you.

skb:

I apply/build pts on CO, hunted back in college for elk 2 years, but have not since, considering an archery mule deer hunt in 2010 though.

Otherwise I'm just building pts, mule deer is really all I look to CO for currently, I would like to pursue sheep, moose, and goat there, but have yet to apply/build pts for any, as they require paper applications and the money up front.

When I hunted elk, it was rifle, OTC, once near Vail, the other time near Gunnison.

I believe the mule deer areas I'm looking towards are on the western slope, but I really haven't dove into the research aside from building pts for deer.