taxidermy worthy?

4orMore · Dec 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Dec-18-09 AT 03:49PM (MST)[p]So I connected on the "tri-pod" buck this year during the Muzzleloader hunt in Utah. Not a monster, or even close to B&C, but admittedly it's my best to date and a great trophy and experience in my eyes. Just wondering how many of you out there support my decision to take him to the taxidermist? You gotta help me convince the Mrs. it was money well spent! Also, I haven't put a tape to him yet, let me know what you think he might score. I was hoping I could stretch it to 165-170 gross. What do you think? Over guessing it? (Those monster ears are deceiving, he's 25 inches wide.)

Iowan · Dec 18, 2009

Its a great buck - save your money and go on another hunt. I have spent thousands on taxidermy over the years and would sell most of it for 20% what I have in it - that said I do have an elk and deer at the taxidermist now. Do as I say not as I do.

quest · Dec 18, 2009

4orMore Id say hes around 140----150. Its all up to you if you get it mounted. quest

sageadvice · Dec 18, 2009

I like being surrounded by taxidermy and so yeah, if it were my best buck to date, i'd probably have it done up! That's a nice buck now days and he might look great if his ears are positioned back a bit instead of sticking straight out.

I think he's better than 150 but not a lot, maybe 155-158. Did he look good in your scope?

Joey

LowCountryElk · Dec 18, 2009

Mount him up. Do it now. You won't ever regret it no matter what you get down the road. It'll bring up the memories and there is always the chance you don't do better. You probably will, but so much the better. A wall full of memories makes a great man-cave.

Feleno · Dec 18, 2009

i have a few 'smallish' bucks mounted that are a good deal smaller than a few of the bigger ones i've taken but i mounted them for the memory of the hunts, not the antler size... and I enjoy them as much or more than the bigger mounts because of that.

appleman · Dec 18, 2009

rememner some of your early good looking ones will make ur later bigger ones look even better-do it!!!

WVHUNTER · Dec 18, 2009

For the first 30 years I hunted I didn't have anything mounted because I didn't have anything worthy of being done. The last 10 years I have had more stuff mounted than I have room for. With that said I am having a buck about that size being mounted now. I have a long bucket list of things I want to hunt so it may be a few years before I hunt mule deer again.

I think your buck's 160+, It's a nice buck and a big buck for a lot of areas.

I don't think you will regret it either way you decide.

treedagain · Dec 18, 2009

great looking buck....if you got the room, mount him up

fishgodhlake · Dec 18, 2009

trophy or not if the hunt is somthin you want to remember no better way to do it than put him up. I have six on the wall and wish I had more. Some bigger some smaller. Nice buck. Check out the buck I shot this year on photo contest page under Ryans Idaho 9+11. Great year for big bucks!

hoopscoach · Dec 18, 2009

If you can afford it, I would go for it. That's a really nice buck. I would have him mounted.

WYTetons · Dec 18, 2009

European mount him.

Senjo99 · Dec 18, 2009

Mount him. You'll still be enjoying the mount and memories long after you forget about the expense of having him mounted.

cbeard · Dec 18, 2009

What the other guys said-mounts should be about memories and not just size. He is obviously a special animal to you so mount him or you will regret it later.

He's a nice buck too-nothin' to sneeze at.

cbeard · Dec 18, 2009

On a personal note I killed a 320" bull in WY on public land using a general tag as my first elk. Real special hunt with friends (no guide) and my first trip out west.I was proud as a peacock but made a snap decision a horn mount would be OK. Big mistake. Every time I look at those antlers I wish I had mounted him!

(Matter of fact,I am going to buy a cape and do just that after the holidays.)

muleybull · Dec 18, 2009

You can never have too many deer mounts in the house.

www.muleybulloutfitters.com

Anaconda · Dec 18, 2009

I would put him around 165 and yes, you should mount him if you can afford it.

Jrhunt · Dec 18, 2009

155-160 (my Guesstimate)- Mount him up- you will not regret it,

He will look good and big on the wall~
Thats a trophy buck and don't let anyone tell u different. Its your trophy buck.
If money is tight, Cape and freeze until this summer. If not take him in tomorrow, Tell momma that you do not have to pay for 6-8 months. She will be ok with it and give u the green light. Great job.
Get a horn tape and measure him yourself. Very fun! you can get the B&C form/info online and a tape at MuleyCrazy.com. Great job~ cool buck!

nbjbhunterman · Dec 19, 2009

I would put him in the 160 class you must remember spread doesnt mean jack except for the main beam spread!!!!! that is the only spread you use on the score

NBJB

nbjbhunterman · Dec 19, 2009

Of course I would mount him muzzle buck 160 class that is sweeeet!!!!

NBJB

Triple_BB · Dec 19, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Dec-19-09 AT 09:30AM (MST)[p]Nice buck, but I wouldn't mount him. Yer young and have many years of opportunities left. Things to consider are wall space, money, will you get a bigger house at some point, blah, blah, blah. If yer on the fence, I'd removed the antlers, bleach them and get a wall plaque kit. Flesh yer cape and send it to a tannery. If you do some checking, you'll be able to find someone who does wholesale and public work. It'll run you about $100 or so. When you get it back, soak yer tanned cape in water and freeze it. It last forever and 10 years from now if you haven't found something bigger, take it to yer taxi man and have it mounted. Yer no worse for the wear. If you find bigger, you can always sell the cape later on.

caddishatch · Dec 19, 2009

I have a 130" 3 point and a 170" 4 point mounted... I get more compliments on the smaller 3. Its a much prettier deer, to most people score doesnt matter, they just like lookin at a good lookin buck! I would definatley mount that deer!

bigmoose · Dec 19, 2009

Nice buck ! He will look good on the wall. Have the ears up and inside the main beams. Moose

swbuckmaster · Dec 19, 2009

mount it man!! that is a great deer in Utah. You said so yourself it is the best so far.
besides it will look better next to a few more!

4orMore · Dec 19, 2009

Thanks guys. Great comments and advice. I appreciate the support. I've always wanted to have a wall-hanger and this buck looks like a good place to start. I can't wait to get him back! In fact I think I'll go to the shop and score him this week and let you know what we come up with. Best of luck to everyone in the upcoming draws!

silverlake176 · Dec 19, 2009

Hell yes mount it. Sounds like you are proud of your accomplishment, as well as you should be. Back in 2000 I killed a 28" buck and never mounted the buck because it didn't reach the magical 30" mark. Now I'm wishing I would have mounted the buck. Do yourself a favor and mount the buck.

338BUCKNBULL · Dec 20, 2009

MOUNT IT AND HAVE THE ANTLERS PINNED SO YOU CAN REMOVE THEM AND PUT FUTURE SETS ON IT, OR IF YOU FIND A SET OF DROPPED ANTLERS.

Gator · Dec 20, 2009

Mount him he's a great ML buck.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

sven · Dec 20, 2009

nice buck, I would mount him as I have mounted a couple smaller bucks Nice but only one over 150, but to look at the memories is a great feeling , just me , and muz buck what a great buck

tinehunter · Dec 20, 2009

I think you have to remember, The trophy is in the eye of the beholder. I have a 25" 4x4 buck I killed when I was in high school. To date it's the biggest buck I have killed and I have it mounted. I know a lot of people that look at it and say why would you spend the money to mount that, but I have great memories of that hunt every time I look at that mount.

Idahoron · Dec 20, 2009

The buck I killed this year is 160 gross and I didn't mount him. I did keep the cape and plan to have it tanned. If I need one later or if I change my mind some day. For me I will mount any 30" outside main frame deer. The buck I got this year was a good one but I have better on the wall already. Ron

gahunter · Dec 20, 2009

Heck yes, have that deer mounted that is a tremendous buck.

"Easy now, keep the croshairs right behind his shoulder & squeeze the trigger"

4orMore · Dec 21, 2009

I just got back from the shop. We scored him at just shy of 160. Nice guessing! It's always fun to practice field judging a set of antlers. He's going to look great on the wall. And it's going to be even better trying to "one-up" him next year.

Bullelk1 · Dec 21, 2009

I faced the same dilemma this year. Shot my best whitetail buck to date, and I am 49. He scored around 140. I asked my 2 best buddies their opinion, and they both said "H#ll yes, get him mounted!", so I did.

You killed a fine buck and you will never regret mounting him, even if you shoot a few others with higher scores. He is a trophy, and you need to post the after shots on here!!

silentshadow · Dec 22, 2009

Nice buck. Get him mounted, you won't regret it. Wish I would have mounted some of the bucks I have shot over the years. Looks like the Beaver Mountain. Let me know.

KentHunter · Dec 26, 2009

If that was "my biggest buck" to date then I would have it at the taxidermist getting it mounted. Nice buck. Way to go.

nv_hunter · Dec 27, 2009

If you want to mount it I would! When I first started hunting archery I shot a 22 inch 4x4. I was very pround of him but the guys I was learning from said they wouldnt mount it and now I regret it. They had big bucks with there bows so I can see why they wouldnt but I wish I had followed my gut and had it done.

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