I know people have different standards and reasons for mounting deer. We have 4 on the wall that range from around 115" - 125". Haven't been able to get into the 130" range yet but that's the goal. What do some of you base your decision on?
Wall hanger?
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I have 6 on the wall ranging from 130" to 145". It would take a 140" to mount another one. Unless it was just a crazy unique rack.
X-Tennessean
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My biggest on the wall is a 155", my next wallhanger will be a droptine or 10" bigger than what my current biggest is.
I have started doing eruo's and quite honestly just as pleased and a WHOLE lot cheaper!
I have started doing eruo's and quite honestly just as pleased and a WHOLE lot cheaper!
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
I don't shoot a buck unless it is a trophy worthy of display to me. If I want a deer to eat, or if I want to supply some elderly friends with meat, I prefer to shoot does. As a consequence, every buck I shoot goes on the wall in the form of at least a Euro mount. Since I'm lacking on wall space for shoulder mounts, I probably won't shoulder mount another deer unless it's over 150" or so. My 'buck of choice' this year was 139.75", and he made a beautiful euro mount. Likewise for the big cull 5 ptr that scored 118".
I DO regret not caping them out and saving those capes... they were spectacular quality, and might have come in handy in the future, as I have 1 shoulder mount that isn't holding up as well (poor taxidermy, and 1st deer I ever mounted) that may need to have the cape replaced at some point.
I DO regret not caping them out and saving those capes... they were spectacular quality, and might have come in handy in the future, as I have 1 shoulder mount that isn't holding up as well (poor taxidermy, and 1st deer I ever mounted) that may need to have the cape replaced at some point.
If it's a mature deer it better watch out for my 1st tag,the 2nd would have to be something that wows me when I see him.I have alot of 120 to 135 inch racks in my shed.6 on the wall that's better,all bow kills.
catman529
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I havent got one yet that I want a shoulder mount done. I got my biggest this year at 117" and made a euro mount on a piece of barn wood
I started out mounting a couple 125/130 bucks when I finally got some good property to hunt and manage after college. For a couple years I held out and passed several trying to up the game. Last year I killed a 145 ish buck the largest yet. I have also done a couple euro mounts on decent 8 pts and like them because they take up less space and are cheaper. Not sure what I will do after this year as last year I said I would only shoot a doe a year and then a buck if it bigger than the last year --- Well.... I Killed a 177 inch buck this year. If I hold to that I will probably never kill another buck in tn ever. You can bet it's getting a shoulder mount.
southernhunter
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I started skull mounting most of mine due to the cost . My biggest is 156" but honestly I'd mount another if it was a memorable harvest or a mature buck "4.5+" regardless what it scored.
I have 4 mounted that score 135-144. But I have 8 all together ( shoulder mounts) I too have started doing euros but my biggest euro is more like 115
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A trophy is personal. If you worked your tail off to chase a deer for 3 years and shot a 120" 8 pt. trophy. I have a 135-140 10 point mounted. I have all other racks wall mounted. My property doesnt hold trophy racks. My trophy is finding and killing the biggest deer there. Last year is was a 115" 8 pt. This year there is a 125"ish 10 pt that I'm after.
120" or better and he's going on my wall.
I have mounted 125" deer for people that would swear up and down they would score 140"+. Its not until they make me put the tape to it that they realize it doesnt score what they think it does. I now have a 170"+ replica on display so people know what a real "booner" looks like. Point being, score is practically irrelevant in most situations. A 20" wide 8pt with good mass that goes in the 130"+ range is an impressive deer, a 115" buck rutted up with a 20" atlas neck measurement is a true giant in TN and if he had a half way decent cape would make a beautiful shoulder mount. Same thing can be said about a immature early season buck with no battle scars, might have a small rack but the right taxidermist could make it into a piece of art.
So what do you want? Antlers hanging on the wall or something special? I prefer something special and if I have a say so in it I want it to have some impressive bone sticking out of its head too!
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So what do you want? Antlers hanging on the wall or something special? I prefer something special and if I have a say so in it I want it to have some impressive bone sticking out of its head too!
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fairchaser
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I have heads mounted from 100 to 183 inches. Each hunt and each deer was special. I can look at each one and relive the hunt. Size has little to do with it although I'm killing bigger deer now and my standards are higher. I say if you have the money and the wall space, go for it. Have no regrets.
I want a 3.5 year old or older and I know when I see it 90% of the time. Occaisionally I make a poor choice decision in the heat of the moment and take a 2.5 and am never really happy with that. However what is realistic in our area is if you hunt hard you can take a mature buck , just not very often will you see one older than 4.5 so I take 110 and up as a habit. I have passed on them and I usually want the second buck to be at least as good as the first and preferably better. Works for me.
Os2 Outdoors
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They must break 150" or be extremely unique for me to mount.
It all comes down to hunting location and past success. I've got about a dozen P&Y bucks going into the 180s so I'm much pickier about what I spend my money on when mounting.
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It all comes down to hunting location and past success. I've got about a dozen P&Y bucks going into the 180s so I'm much pickier about what I spend my money on when mounting.
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chebuck
Well-Known Member
It'll take the biggest buck with said weapon for me to mount. I've got 5 on my wall now. A 150 with a muzzleloader and a 135 with a bow is where I'm at now.
just boiled a 145 in 8 point .there just to costly to mount at my house
Fireman 244
Well-Known Member
I have two mounts on the wall. One that was shoot when my son was 11 y/o and we hunted together in Georgia. Trip to always remember he actually call the deer in. Good eating 7pt (size didn't matter it's a father son deer), One heck of a trip! Second deer is a 125 10pt my first Tennessee deer I took with my ML. More about memories. Now I'm wanting for the big boy 140 or better.
Rollo
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Emotions dictate what I have mounted. Only buck I've kept so far was a non-typical 8 point. He barely scored 120 but he was old and weighed in around 200 lb. Took a friend of mine to a place "rumored" to have deer but I had only bird hunted this property. My dad was in the hospital at the time and he told me to get out and take my buddy hunting. I put my buddy in a stand and I hung out on the edge of a cut soybean field. This hoss walked across a 40 acre field right up to me and turned broadside. If I had my camera I would have taken pictures instead of taking the shot. But no one would have believed me if I told them about this monster. I had no intentions of shooting that day. I just happened. My next, if it happens, will be a chosen buck off of my small piece of property.
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lungpuncher1
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Having a 170 on display is probably not good business practice for a taxidermist. That would down play alot of peoples idea and enthusiasm of their 120" 8 point.AT Hiker":l5lk0cu2 said:
Buzzard Breath
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I've got deer mounts that range from 80" to 200"+. Anymore, I don't mount a deer based on antler size. It's all about the experience and sometimes I'll kill a deer that I think would make a really cool mount, so I'll have it done. I've started making more euro's with my deer. I'll keep these a few years and then give them to someones kid who has taken an interest in hunting. A guy can only have so much of this stuff laying around before it becomes clutter.
lungpuncher1":8re0pb90 said:
First, my apologies if I came across conceited. The point of the replica deer is not to belittle anyones deer, it is to highlight a magnificence animal, grab your attention and allow people to get up and close with a high quality mount without touching one of my clients. I just made the comment "people now know what a real booner is" because that is what a lot say when they see it. Most are also aware of the realities of killing or seeing a deer like that.
Second, I had the same concern as you mentioned when I first started doing work for people. It would never fail that someone would kill a giant (150"+) at the start of season and that rack would be in my shop while everyone else brought in their trophies. Best part is, not one single person has ever made the slightest comment about jealousy or regretting killing the deer they did. Most either gawk over the rack and congratulate the hunter or say, "one day I hope to bring you a big one like that" and then we move on to picking out how they want their trophy displayed.
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Mike Belt
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I have 3 heads on the wall and none of them have what I would call impressive racks. One was my first decent Tn buck, one was my heaviest and biggest rack at the time, and one was the first buck I mounted myself. A lot of bucks have hit the ground in front of me since those three but I just collect the racks. Over the last 5 years or so all I do is skull mount my kills and I will probably continue to do so.
gobblinfool
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If you don't personally mind work or smell, you cant beat European mounts!! European mounts take up less space and keep the wife happy, I used to have a shoulder mount of my 1st Caribou.....took up way to much space and became a burden moving him around. Anything 100" or better gets to stay inside, all the rest I put outside on the Pergala. When I shot my monster in KY this year (gross 150), the first thing I thought of was how I would get the shoulder mount done......but then I saw a picture of Eva Shockey with a 170 class deer, antlers were dark chocolate which mine are.....and how much it stood out against the whiteness of the skull. Maybe a 200" deer will get a shoulder mount!!!
JeepKuntry
Well-Known Member
Going to mount an 8pt I killed this fall. My guess is he's 115" or so. Have another 8 mounted in that size range as well. My next deer will have to be larger than the previous 2. If it's close, I'll do a euro mount.
