wall hanging standards
 

What are your standards before you get a deer mounted? I am trying to only get deer mounted that are bigger than the previous deer mounted and was successfull this year in doing so with a 130" + deer, since my previous was a little over 120".

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I say to each his own. I have no standards, I mounted my first buck and don't plan on mounting anything unless it is special to me. A trophy is in the eye of the beholder!!

RE: wall hanging standards
 

140" or more for me (i have 8 already) so i am running out of room, but i am happy to have that problem.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I don't know, your call. I would say deffinetlysomething with a spread wider then the ears and nothing smaller than a 10 point.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I agree to me every buck I shot is wall standards.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I have my first buck mounted and then I have a 142 inch 8 pointer. I say that if I can match that with more points I will get another one mounted. I also now have a buddy who is doing a good job at mounting deer and he will do it for far less then the guy I used to go to. I will have to see if or when that day comes.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

You should get a mount based on what you would like to see on the wall, not how big it is. If there is something different or sentimental about the deer, or if it is just a nice rack, get it mounted.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I only shoot bucks that I would mount!! If it isn't big enough for me to mount I wont shoot it!!! Walt

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I've done two shoulder mounts (an 8 point and a 10 point), and I'd say that limiting to "nothing smaller than a 10 point" is the wrong way to do it. My 8 is is 4" wider and scores 14" more than my 10.

My son got his first buck (a 95"+ 8 point) last week, and it's getting a shoulder mount. Relative to the two shoulder mounts I've had done previously, he's kinda small, but, in terms of memories, he's by far the biggest of the bunch.

I've had European Mounts done of the three other bucks I've shot. Every buck is significant in some way or I wouldn't have squeezed the trigger...

RE: wall hanging standards
 

If I shoot the deer it is worth hanging on the wall or I dont shoot

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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!

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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:D.

Paul

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

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

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I have a good 8 mounted that I killed in Virginia that is about a 125" buck. But the 1st week of bow season here in Florida I killed a 10 point that is only about 115" buck. I may never get another chance at a 10 point with my bow so I will without a doubt mount him also. If the deer is a doe but it is trophy status to you mount her.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

Had my first buck decent, not huge 10 point mounted. Never planned on mounting one, but since it was a nice rack and my first buck I went for it. Probably won't bother mounting any others unless they are really something special.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I only shoot bucks I'm willing to have up on the wall. If it isn't worth spending the money then I let him pass.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I have always thought something 8pt or bigger would look good on the wall ! This year I got pretty dang lucky and found my first wall hanger~ 16pt. it's going to be hard to top that one

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I would say something in the 160-170 range...I only have room on my "wifes wall" for two mounts. I have 173 and my daughts first buck up there already. It would be hard to move either of those deer off the wall. I took down a mid 150 12 when my daughter killed her deer. So Im pretty happy with what I have now. I may just do a skull mount on anything under around 170...it would just depend on the deer and hunt.

RE: wall hanging standards
 

I have always said I wouldn't mount the next deer unless its bigger than the last deer.........Ive always hunted 2 leases, one in east texas and one in west. The one in east texas after 16 years i had yet to shoot anything bigger than a 6 point, until this year so where its not my biggest, it may be one of the most memorable.