Deer mount
 

Ok I have a question for you guys. What makes a deer worthy of mounting it for you. Taxidermy isn't cheap. What things about a buck makes you want to get it mounted.

I know, or thought I did, what these things are for me.

I killed a 153" 10 point in 2007 and it was no question to mount him. He was also the first buck I did this with...partially because of money...but also my previous bucks were small. So I had said to myself I won't mount another one until I get one bigger than that one.

Enter this years buck...now I missed one buck in 2008 with a bow (fletching hit a twig) that would have been as big or bigger....and then I had another I lost (neighbor killed it later in the year) but I have not killed a buck since... but this year I took an 8 point...doesn't score great or anywhere close to the '07 buck but dang is he pretty. I saw him with my daughter a few weeks prior to season across the farm (not far from where I shot him) She was calling it her buck (sorry baby) but it worked out that he showed up for me...so this buck was one I wanted to mount...but it dawned on me after I shot him that its not really a size of deer thing for me, or not totally...its more a memory and one that suites my fancy....plus I can afford it better now...:s1:


So tell me what does it take for you...is it mere size...or are you more like me...or something totally different...or do you think people are crazy for spending that much money on a mount...whatever

As you mentioned, it's got to be bigger than my biggest bow kill to get mounted. Not really big, but he's my best so far.

I hear Ya!!, each deer, big or small will have a memory attached, & taxidermy is a spendy option, what I have been doing the last few years with the bucks I have taken, is doing the euro mount, its easy, kind of fun to do, & I think they look good, (not all people do) Big or small, I mount them all this way, jmop D

my dad mounts EVERYTHING!

I will do a european mount of non-trophies, anything of reasonable size will get a shoulder mount.

for the most part though I mount everything too, but I don't shoot dinky bucks, although may start taking more management style bucks on our lease, in which case I may use antlers simply for rattling, or a european mount, real dinks I'll probably just take the antlers.


It's one thing if you shoot 5 bucks a year to not mount all of those, but 1 buck/year. It's also priorities, 1 of mine is hunting, so if that means having to eat in for a month to afford a mount, I'd do it, others wouldn't. some hunters will spend like drunken sailors elsewhere in life but come to mounts, gear, etc... they're cheap, can never go on a hunt etc... priorities!

The "has to be bigger than my biggest" rule applies to me. However, I did mount a 4x4 that sored around 140, even though I have a bigger 5x5. The 4x4 wich is a few inches smaller, actually looks like a bigger deer. I would mount a 150 4x4 any day over a 140 5x5. While the Same number of inches of bone, the 4x4 will look much bigger. It's not all about the score.

If I ever shoot a unique buck I will probably mount it too.

I have also thought about mounting a doe to put next to the boys on the wall.

It's a sickness for me, if it's nice, that sucker is going on my wall. After I finally got a monster buck this year, I may wait until I get another monster. I just don't like sticking a nice rack in my antler bin and not on my wall, where he will be immortal, or prized until I die anyways. :D

Mounts
 

I don't consider myself a Trophy Hunter. Mounts in general have not been important however....

I have mounted two deer and one duck.
My first deer was mounted because I just thought it was 'the thing to do'. That first mount was an important lesson for me. Expensive and eventually, it wasn't a great taxidermy job and was lost over time. Eventually, I began to realize that a mounted deer or whatever was just not important to me.

The duck was a different thing altogether. I shot this duck in a swampy tidal marsh close to legal light in the evening. He landed wounded. My Springer "Cleo" and I searched for this Woody for an hour in the dark. No go. Then as we were leaving to get some flashlights and lamps she jumped into a swamp run-off creek and came back with this duck. I never would have retrieved this duck without her.

She died the next week in front of my house from an impact with a car.

I took the duck to a local and somewhat reknown taxidermist to have it mounted. I never thought it would become important to me to have a mount done but there I was.

The last mount was a 305 pound monster my Youngest son and I took in Catskill this year. Again, I wasn't looking to mount a deer but this deer is an important milestone for me. My sons first foray at deer hunting and it was a monster from on top of the mountain. My son was instrumental in bagging this gray ghost. If not for him, I never would have shot this creature.

In short, if you think it important to mount, you will know it inside. If you find yourself considering a mount more than before with other, lesser deer, then you should capture the moment whatever the cost.

Nothing will bring that moment back faster or with more reality than having the creature looking back at you in your 'place of respect'.

My $.02

For me its all about the memories not the size. I have mounts ranging from huge to small, I have one at the taxidermist from this year that scores a 148, not my biggest, not my smallest but it was the best shot I ever made on a deer so it is being mounted. A memory that will always be on my wall.

My first buck was a 6 pt. Rack wasn't all that impressive but being my first buck, I had him mounted. I don't regret it. It's still a trophy to me and I think that it's up to the person. I would'nt mount another one that size now but I also don't shoot'em that size anymore. Now if I was to get a great 6 pt or a good 8pt, I'd get them mounted. I see nothing wrong with mounting any deer if you like it.

You guys will probably make fun of me but I have a spike mounted because he was my first buck and a 4pt because he was my first rutting buck :/. I don't care about size it's the memories that matter to me

Yep, the memories and the dream. I often go down to my man cave to reflect on those great moments. Each deer represents something special and going down there to reflect on them or think gives me peace....

how I look at it my taxy takes payments so its not costly up front spread it out 3 months mount is paid. If I shoot it then its going on the wall. Still trying to get my girl her first with a bow she isnt comfortable with her 44 mag yet so been using bow only this year. what ever she gets will go on the wall as well.

Glad to see you all think alot like me. I see nothing wrong with mounting a first deer....spike doe or monster buck. If I would have had the money my first would be sitting on my wall next to my biggest.

I have not actually shot that many bucks...I have been fortunate to shoot a couple nice bucks because I let the smaller ones go. The buck I shot this year looks bigger than he scores...So I'm putting him up. Plus it was a great hunt and has some story behind it for me. and I can agree an 8 point will look bigger than a 10 with the same score (or better) My biggest is a 10 and this 8 from this year is a great deer but scores poorly...thats why I don't care much about score.

I also have kids...as far as that goes if they all kill deer in a year i'll go bankrupt....and my wife will probably kick me out....(she doesn't want any mounted) So Euro mounts may be an option....I considered it with this one...but figured why not...

Someone mentioned putting a doe up with there bucks.

I'm planning to put my buck from this year up across the room from my big buck...one day I'd like to have a doe next to the bigger buck....kind of a stare down before a fight scene.....

Also I tend to try to mount them the way i saw them in the field...within reason. I'm fortunate to have a good Taxi that gives me his suggestions and is patient with me...lol

Ive only shot 2 bucks, a spike and a forkhorn. Not going to spend the money to have either shoulder mounted, but I did do euro mounts of them and they are hanging above my workbench.

lets see a picture !

To me a mount is not just the size, its the hunt and the memory

I have several bucks mounted, my first buck, my first decent bow kill (124 7/8) , 142" bow kill, 129" bow kill, 147" gun kill and this year getting my firearm buck mounted. Not because he was huge, just 119" ( lost a 8" g3) but because of his crazy rack and beautiful double throat patch and also the memory of the hunt

However with all the bucks I have shot the one we have mounted that I am the proudest of is my sons first buck, a small forkhorn, but he dropped it at 99 yards and I got it mounted because it was his first buck and because we shared it.

He can have it for many many years and look back and remember all the hunts we took together and the great times

Thats my two cents....

meant to add, I have shot 12 bucks in the 10 years i've hunted, some I do skull cap mounts and a couple I have euro mounted.

My son got a nice little 8 point on our youth hunt this year, he just wanted a euro mount so that is what I did, turned out good and a LOT less money, like free LOL

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.

It is all personal preference. Just like anything else. You will mount it or not mount it for your own reasons. I personally like getting tattoos. I get tattoos where I can see them and for me, not for anyone else. Its a matter of opinion for things like this. My only buck I ever mounted was my first. A six pointer. I actually called him in to 50 yards and took him on my birthday with a muzzleloader. Since then I only do Ero[pean mounts because I get to preserve my deer, it doesn't cost me more than $15 each time I do it (cheaper if you don't make a plaque) and I feel like I have accomplished the hunt form beginning to end. Good luck with your decision.

I shoulder mounted my first 8 pointer. Spent 8 years hunting to get an 8.

I wish I had mounted my first deer, a four point. But I was only eleven. I also wish I had done something with a doe from 2 seasons ago. It came out on a drive. My grandpa and I both shot at the same time and had bullet holes about 2 inches apart on her. I didn't think much about it at the time, but I wish I had at least had a rug made from the skin or something.
-Jake

I am primarily a meat hunter so I do euro mounts. If I got a monster I would probably have it mounted.

We are mounting my son's first buck
 

My son scored a nice 8 point buck as his first. My first was an 8 also. Funny each about the same. However he is 12 and well I did't get my first buck until I was 19 or so. It took me many years to get that one hunting in the swamps of the UP of Michigan.

As for mounting the next ones? We'll see. but you got to mount the first, no matter what. No do overs.

We'll get it back from the taxi in a couple of months. I'll post a picture of it in his room.