Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I was trying to explain to a non-hunter (not an anti) why you would want a deer head on your wall. To her, it’s just a dead animal on the wall. Even though we have several deer, caribou, elk and antelope heads plus a whole bear and several fish, I couldn’t explain it. I could stare at my biggest 8-point for an hour and be impressed but I can’t explain to a non-hunter why. Any help with this? Thanks.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I can' t speak for everyone but I believe the reason that we hunters mount our animals is to remind us and never let us forget the memories that we made when we hunted and took that animal.
I know when someone has an animal mounted and I see it for the first time, I always ask, " tell me the story behind that one." We want to hear the stories, we want to remember the hunt.
My great grandfather took a great muley buck along time ago. He got it mounted and I remember growing up as a little kid seeing this monster muley hanging on his wall. I never got to hear the story of how he took that buck. After he passed away back in 1993, my dad got the mount and it now hangs in the garage at his house. The mount is in bad shape, the hair is falling out, the hide on the nose is split, and the left ear is broken and about to fall off. Everytime I look at that monster buck hangin there on the wall, I wonder what story my great-grandpa would have told me about that hunt and what memories he made the day he got that bruiser. To me, that' s why we display those animals on the wall. :)

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

That' s a good response. Thanks.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Great question. I can just sit and stare at my mounts, I don' t have many, and relive that hunt like it was yeasterday. I let my children name the mounts. The eight point buck is named Flounder and every time I see that dried blood on the antlers I can remember calling may dad on the radio and saying, as I held up the head for the first time, " I know what I want for Christmas." My first fly caught trout, an 18" native brown from a mountain stream. I selected the fly while at the stoplight in town, thirty miles away. Match the hatch my butt. and on and on. I get to quietly relive my most precious memories, I get to pay tribute to the animal I killed forever. The first year I brought home Flounder, my wife tried to decorate it for Christmas with a red nose and such. I WENT NUTS. That animal died not to be a holiday decoration but to be forever honored. She understood.

Greg

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

For the memories....As JD and Gryan said.. I can look at anyone of my mounts and remember the " story behind it" as it happened yesterday.

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Thanks for the responses guys. Good stuff. Also, $418 for a deer head is better than 12 million dollars for a Picasso. My 15 month old boy could paint me a prettier picture for free:D.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I agree with all replies and the memories are a very big part. One more aspect to me that is important is hunting is a sport and the mount is a trophy that the hunter recieves as a symbol of his hard work, dedication, and love for the sport. Would a football player not want to have his Super Bowl Ring?

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Great analogy, Miller Man.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Why do people frame their first dollar ever made in their own businesses? You see them in almost every little store or shop in North America. It' s up there for everyone to see, but is no different than any other dollar...EXCEPT to the guy who it belongs to! You probably will never be able to explain why we have mounts to non hunters (at least I' ve stopped trying), but you know what it' s like when another hunter sees it, you can usually talk for hours. You do it because you can, that' s the beauty of it! The memories of the hunt are the icing on the cake:D JDinAB

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

One Word................RESPECT

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I would agree with the memories aspect and add the fact that they' re just plain good-lookin in my book. Its a unique kind of decoration if you ask me. The women have fake flowers and fake plants and I have my fake animals.

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Memories, admiration, respect, trophy, reward, rarity, dedication and the list goes on. I think most would agree looking at your mounts, horns or even pictures of hunts past will take you back to the moments before, during and after that day. Not only that you' ll probably remember the reactions, discussions, jokes, work and so on that goes with a hunt trip or group. One picture or mount can be like watching an entire hunting video, probably best left as not able to understand unless you' ve been there. However I use my mounts to tell stories of how dad or uncle got that animal and all that was involved. It is pretty rewarding to see the kids eye well up like saucers and not make a peep listening so carefully and you know (cuz we have all done this with our hunting pals and there stories) they feel like they are right there with you.

The main reason is to P off the wife...lol:D;)!
Typical reaction:
" Your not putting another head in this house!!!!" [:' (]

My typical response after she went shopping:
" hey honey I found the perfect spot for my moose mount come look in our room...it can watch TV with us now!!!!" [:o]

Typical reaction to my response:
" Burr this doghouse is getting pretty old, need to add some insulation and get rid of that walk through door thing!!!!;)"

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

So my wife has something to dust and treat with pledge and what everyone else said

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I would like to agree with all that is said, except for the few that have them hanging there for EGO. normally during the course of the coversation " the Record Book" will be mentioned. [:@]

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Nice answers guys! John D., I would have loved to hear your grandfather tell his story also! Good luck this year ya' ll. -- CDH

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

These are all great answers and I relayed them to the non-hunter. She understood all the reasons but said that it would still creep her out having a dead animal staring at her. I guess you have to be a hunter/fisherman to truly understand. A city-slicker would probably not be awe-struck by walking through Cabela' s but I was (twice in a week). I can' t see the appeal of playing Play Station 12 hours a day and never going outside but some people do. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

To me a mounted animal lives on forever.

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Lee, I never once saw a score or book mentioned. If the word " Trophy" makes you assume or consider it an ego stroke, then I am sorry. Yes, I consider myself a trophy hunter, but in noway is it for ego stroking or do I think I am better than anyone else. I simply do it for myself, sport and pass times are about personal challenges, feeling and happiness. I first and foremost am a hunter and if I am so lucky to harvest an animal I look at that as icing on the cake" Meat & bones" are equaling a trophy and reward to me. [8D]

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Hey Skeeter, guess i have been hanging around with the wrong crowd. thanks for the reply, did not mean to offend anyone. used to have one head myself, biggest deer i shot with a bow. :D

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Lee, no offence taken. We' re all different and have different things that crank our motors...just wanted to show even though trophy deer make may engine tick, I am a hunter just the same and think all harvests are a reward worth celebrating and giving thanks for.

Good Luck and have a great season:D

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I believe Miller Man hit it on the head

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Next time you try to explain it use bowling trophies or diplomas as a reference point of comparison . Why do folks hang their college degree on the wall ? Because they' re proud of their achievement .

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

To this quote I will add; In the heart of the hunter.
It is a thing of respect for the animal and a memory of the hunt.

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

Ever see a kid bring home his first little T-Ball trophy, or bring home a certificate from school for being successful. or a golfer win the Gold Jacket in a golf tournament, To me its about all the same, it is something we love and are proud of and our mounts are our trophies and cerificates and jackets. Our mounts is away of remembering a hunt, and that we was able to be successful in our sport and a way we can re-live and share that hunt with others everytime we see it.


The next " non hunter" or " anti" that questions your reason for a mount, just tell them that you could have tossed it in the junk pile or left if for the buzzards and coyotes to eat but you thought it best to perserve the great animal and its memories for years to come instead of trashing it.

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I never keep heads or fish or anything like that. I am an avid hunter but not a trophy hunter in any way. I hunt for the meat and often take pictures of my kids first things. I have many great memories of hunting but need no heads or horns to spur those memories. I sometimes keep a horn or two if the are suitable for knife handles or something else useful . Iv' e No problem with people who must always kill a buck or keep thier souveneers.:)

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

I thought they were to scare the kids.... :)

RE: Why Mount a Deer Head?
 

My first and only head mount was mounted in 1992 and is my best buck to date.
For me this deer was the ultimate challenge. I hunted him for two years and when I finally shot him, (5 minutes before the end of legal shooting time), he went through the thickest most impenetrable tangle youve ever seen and one hundred yards later he landed in a beaver pond. We tracked him on our hands and knees and lost blood about 30 ft. from the pond. I was just about to give up when I shined the light on the edge of the pond and saw half an antler sticking out.
I knew right then I was going to mount this deer. Not only out of respect for the hunt but because it was a truly handsome looking deer. I often find myself sitting there looking at that deer that I shot 11 years ago and daydreaming of that special hunt.