Mounting your trophy
 

Ok, as long as we are on the toppic of BIG buck, little buck, I have a question. What would a buck have to score for you to mount it? About 10 years ago I shot an 8 pointer with my gun, it scored about 120, and I didnt have the money to mount it, otherwise I would have him on the wall now. I was just wondering what everyones secret # is before you would have one mounted?

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I have a 150 class and a 160 class on my wall and they are my trophies if I shoot anything bigger than my 160 class I will mount it otherwise I will just do up a skull mout and put it in my garden cost zero money to clean up the skull boil it or just do what ever I feel in the mood for. The only time I will mount a head that is smaller than the ones on my wall now is if its a non typical don't have one of those yet. :D

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

My first buck scored 98" and is proudly displayed on my wall. Next one would probably have to be close to 120 to mount it. Ah, who am I kidding. Anything over 100 is going right next to it, right above my wifes recliner.:D:D

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I just got the first one back I've put on the wall, he grossed just over 150 and netted 145 5/8. This one was a rifle kill though, and if I were to get one in the 120's with the BOW, I would mount it. I will say though that even if I shot one this year with the rifle that didn't score as high as last year's I still may mount it. To me it's a little about displaying an animal that was a proud specimen in the woods, and why not continue it onto my wall?? lol Here's a pic of my mount that I just got back.....crappy digital camera, but I'll try to get a better one on once they're developed from my 35mm.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I agree 100%, I have a 168" non typical and 137" on my wall that I shot with my rifle. I mounted the 137" after the 168". I don't think that you have do outdo your best deer in order for it to go on your wall. I think if it is a trophy to you and you have the money to mount him, then he should be proudly put on your wall. I really don't have a standard amount of inches a deer has to have for myself. I would say it would probably have to exceed 120" unless it is a really unique looking deer. Any deer that pushes or goes P&Y is definately going on the wall, even if I have to work a few more overtime hours for it.


By the way, great looking deer RattleSnake1!!

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

Since I do them myself now, anything that we shoot will be mounted. I will be looking for one that is bigger that any I've shot while my son only has to beat a spike. Around the 125 range would be good enough for me.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

At my age and considering the price I dont have them mounted anymore. I did when I was younger,but still was very careful about which ones i had mounted. I mounted my first 150 buck and used that one as a guide. I have a 182 still sitting here as a skull mount and thats the way it will stay.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I have an ugly Pheasant mount I had mounted after a great day of hunting on my aunt's farm in Illinois with two of my best friends. My other friend who declined to go because "there ain't no birds on that farm" is still the running joke of that hunt. We took 5 roosters, 6 bobwhites and 11 rabbits that day. Every time I see that "ugly" bird on my wall it reminds me of a great day in the field, my family, and my friends. In my book that is the best reason of all for getting anything mounted.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I think that for a buck to go on the wall, it would have to fill one of the following:
1. Remind me of fond memories, regarless of the size
2. Be a special deer -- First with bow, wife's first, etc...
3. Have some unique quality
Last, and probably least in my book, be large enough to be impressive to others...

I hunt for me and the memories and for food, not for what other's think of me.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

Thats pretty much how I am too!

I had my two biggest deer mounted when I was younger. I ended up selling them to an uncle in the city for college tuition. I just sent off my last kill to get mounted, Yet I have bigger just skull mounted. To me it depends on how I feel about that particular animal.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I do them all as skull mounts and make a plaque that looks like a flint chipped arrowhead out of mesquite to mount them on. My buddy paid a taxidermist 100 bucks to do a halfassed job and I found that it only takes 2-3 hours of real time to do a fantastic job. Boil time doesnt count when you are having a beer and watching the grill at the same time!

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I have 4 mounted now and another 3-4 skulls dislpayed, so to mount another would have to:
1. Be bow only
2. Be over 130
3. Be very unique if under 130

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

Although I've never offically had my best scored I put a tape to him and he's in the 120 range. For me to shoot another buck it would have to match or be better then my best. A mature 120" deer is a trophy in my area. There are very few mature animals and Maine may be known for big bodies but huge racks aren't the norm.

IMO if it's a shooter it's a hanger.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I only have 1 one my wall and I still mount it, from time to time :D

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

same here, one property i hunt all we can shoot is one cull buck and a mounter buck 8pt/w16" min, and all, or more than we want does.

100's ok
135+ is better
170 and over is deadly, with me and a bow this would give a whole new meaning to rattling( breathe in breathe out )

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

It's really up to you IMO. Is there any on esingle reason that you would like to have it mounted? If yes then mount it.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

This is how i fill also. I have 8 mounted the biggest scoring just over 133 . I also have quite a few scull mounts as well. Some of the bucks that i have had mounted scored less that the biggest But all scored over 100. This is 23yrs of bowhunting and is the core of who i am. I am not trying impress anyone! "never have never will with the quanity deer i take or the size antlers they have". Just for my own reflextion of who i am. And the fond memories that have been shared with family and friends

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I always make sure the wife is in the mood first.:D If she's not in the mood I aint getting a mount.

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

LAMO-yeh i guess i fall in that line as well!:D

RE: Mounting your trophy
 

I don't think I would have any guidelines as far as score to follow before I would get a deer mounted. If I think the deer has an impressive rack or if I think it looks nice, I'd get it mounted. I have one whitetail mounted, it's the first one I ever took. It's a perfect 8 point and it's probably around 100 inches. It's a beautiful mount and I enjoy looking at it and remembering that very special hunt. I've killed several other bigger deer since but haven't gotten any of them mounted. Instead, I did european style mounts with those bucks. I will however get another deer mounted eventually, but as of now, I haven't taken one that I wanted to put on the wall.