stikbow - biffhntr...

Do either of you hunt New England?

If the answer is yes and you live by that code - I tip my hat to you both!

No it would be different if I lived there I would be thrilled with a nice deer. I live in Illinois and hunt Illinois and Indiana I can be picky because I have pretty good ground for this area. There are alot of deer here so I am able to pass on deer that would be a monster in new england. These are my standards not one that I would push on anyone. There are people in my area that do not do this. This is just my way.

Bigger then the last one that I mounted. I mounter my first buck and he was about as small as a would put on the wall 115'' so the next would have to be bigger and so on. If I shoot a smaller buck which I rarely do I do my own euro mounts for the memories.

Same 4 me, if i am not going to mount it, it walks. killing isn't everything for this hunter.

This says it all.....if you're not going to mount it, why shoot it. Most states are now encouraging the taking of does. Fill the freezer with baldies and let those smaller bucks hopefully grow to maturity.

I also do alot of europeon mounts with the smaller bucks that I have shot

That you pay for it. I don't think I could kill a deer big enough to make me want to part with that kind of money. I would take lots of pictures though.

Paul

I didn't mount my first deer,But i mounted my first buck that had a decsent rack(probly 110" 10 pointer last year).Last weekend i took my fiance hunting with me and i was able to share a harvest with her and it was an 8 point that probly scored around 100" if that,but it was the most special hunt and deer that i have taken in the past 10 years of hunting.And that 8 point is at the taxidermist right now.So i say that a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.

I have only had three deer shoulder mounted. One was the first buck I shot. The second is the biggest buck I've shot (by points, not score). The other was a large muley I shot. All the rest are european mounts. Like the rest, if I'm not going to put it on the wall, I don't shoot it. The last three years, I've become more management minded. Though not "trophies" to many folks, the bucks I killed the last two years were 6 and 7 years old respectively. That's an old deer in our area since the neighbors shoot everything that walks.

This year, I have yet to see a deer that I want to shoot. I have pictures of one that is young, but would be a trophy to me because he'd by far be the widest whitetail I've ever killed and has a very unique rack with a drop tine. However, I think he's only 3 or 4 years old and will most likely grow. Of course, in order to do that, I have to keep the neighbors off him. I guess the ultimate decision will come if I am offered a shot. So far, that hasn't happened.

As someone said, a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.

I have no desire to mount any deer - not going to stop me from shooting them because others think mounting is the only reason to kill one.

Steve