Velvet or dark Cape?

sageadvice · Mar 4, 2016

Something i been thinking on awhile and why not, lets hear how some of you guys would toss it. If all else about the same, nice racked big trophy buck, what would you prefer given the choice?

1. Dark cape slicked out nice, throat patch, hard horned.

2. Summer coat, lighter color, beautiful full Velvet

3. Wouldn't matter to me, no preference, i like em all.

I think i know which way i'd go, not #3, but still not sure. Thanks,

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Shadow · Mar 4, 2016

Dark slick cape all day long. Velvet doesn't do it for me at all.

mntman · Mar 4, 2016

#1 for me if I had a choice but in reality, #3 cause that means I am hunting more

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

Codylee1985 · Mar 4, 2016

I think a buck should always be mounted the way it was killed.
If I ever kill a shaggy velvet hanging bloody horned buck u can't bet your last dollar that's the way I'm gonna have him mounted.
I love them all!

littlebighorn · Mar 4, 2016

A mount with a short burnt orange summer coat and thick fuzzy top means you have arrowed a wall worthy creature. The archery part is a feat in and of itself. I don't have one of those.
I do have the slicked off versions, so the former is more appealing to me right now.
But why have to choose, when you can have them both?

rmanwill · Mar 4, 2016

Hard horned

Duckdon83 · Mar 4, 2016

I like them all but if I had to choose id say #2.

nebo · Mar 5, 2016

I have both 1 and 2 but I can tell 2 was a hunt I won't forget. A lot harder I think to get one in velvet then a hard horned dark.

lostinOregon · Mar 5, 2016

All of my mule deer mounts are late season mounts except one. It is my wife's CO muzzy buck. This buck was killed just after he rubbed his velvet. This cape and buck is almost black. It is darker than any late season deer cape. So the early season buck is darker than any late season buck. Everyone that sees that buck love that cape. I don't think that all muzzy bucks are that dark but this one sure is.

Rich

sageadvice · Mar 5, 2016

Thanks guys!

Thru the years i've lost several sets of my bigger bucks antlers. My Dad gave a couple racks of mine to a friend of his while i was away in college , he didn't know how important they were to me as he was strictly a meat hunter, and i had one stolen from my patio, my best 3x3 muley buck, maybe a 155 type. The only other Buck i'm missing, i think, is a buck i took back in 1977, a 20" big 3x3 pure Blacktail in full velvet that was a monster for that country at the time. I loved that buck and that hunt was another story in itself but that rack ended in a street dogs mouth to never be seen again. sob! lol

I do like the looks of a nice full velvet buck. Still undecided, i might now be leaning on going with option 3 but it's tough not to prefer a really dark buck, dark rack, with a contrasting white throat patch. Pretty son of a guns! lol

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

HiMtnHntr · Mar 5, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-16 AT 06:40AM (MST)[p]I like a classic later fall cape, but I have those. I want an early fall gray, right after it changes from the "red". I have the velvet antlers to go with it, just no cape! The fresh gray cape and velvet antlers is rare!

So, if any of you come across one . . . Has to be on the big side. . .

theox · Mar 6, 2016

I'm a velvet guy.
I think because I love mass and velvet looks more massive.

Longun · Mar 6, 2016

I Like them when they are hard horned and turn "Blue".....

marley · Mar 6, 2016

This buck has been by far my favorite buck to date. The red cape, the double throat patch, the giant neck, and the hard horned frame. I have never seen a prettier deer on the hoof or at my feet.

sageadvice · Mar 6, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-16 AT 09:06PM (MST)[p]He sure is a pretty buck Marley but i'll have to take your word for it that he is red, or reddish, it just looks slick and darkish to me.

So there can be and are mixes, some deer didn't get the memmo on dress coats for proper seasons attire.

Thanks guys!

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Deerlove · Mar 7, 2016

I like the early cape. Thin fur that you see in early Sept.

muleyslayer52 · Mar 7, 2016

I love them both!!!!!

My biggest to date was 2014 Archery:

HiMtnHntr · Mar 7, 2016

Great looking cape! That's the one I need . . .

BrowningRage · Mar 9, 2016

Dark cape, hard-horned, every time. I don't mind summer scouting and seeing the fuzzy horns and skinny necks... But when it comes to what I want on my wall, it's a gray-coated brute every time for me...

Of course, I've yet to bag one like that. Sooo...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24