I guess I am an oddball in the deer hunting world. I have never had a deer mounted. Got a very large bobcat mounted many years ago and then gave that to a member on here to give to child for a Christmas present. Saved the antlers on wall mount boards for years and then gave all of them to a guy to make things with. Lost bunch of antlers in the shop fire in 15 and now got several piled up again in the shop.
I always thought if I killed that "big special one". I would get it mounted. I never saw that one while hunting. Since with the cost and then the fact that most are thrown away after someone dies , no point to me to have a bunch of mounts. I always just invested some more money in guns, which I know can be kept by family or sold off easily.
I have photos of most and on a rare occasion look at some of them, More often than wedding photos. Lol
Still have the memories of some hunts but those are getting fewer with aging. I know my son and family have no real desire to have a lot of "things" from my life. We are planning to sell our farm and downsize in the next year or two, My son has no desire to be an out of state landowner and the problems that creates.
They will have the photos and the memories
As Fairchaser says none of this really matters in the end. It is about the relationship you had with God,family and friends.