Mountable Buck?

COSA · Oct 19, 2005

I know that there are many factors (experience, overall hunt experinece, heaviness, character, etc.) but what is the general gross score that you all would consider a buck "mountable"? I'm debating on a 166" buck.

D13er · Oct 19, 2005

Taxidermist's would be broke if that were the cutoff.........I say mount them all.

JB

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
--Benjamin Franklin 1759

NVBighorn · Oct 19, 2005

That's a tough question COSA. Very personal choice. I mounted one that went 166 then skipped one that nets 173 and another 170 in velvet. Capes got ruined but I also just couldn't afford to mount 'em all nor did I have the room. I did antler mounts with plaques. Looking back (years later when I might have the money) I wish I'd mounted both. Maybe I will someday. I've seen many bucks mounted that I wouldn't but if it's something special to the hunter I say go for it. Score can't be the only criteria. Let's see pictures.

Hey, by the way, I might get to go sheep hunting this year with a friend in the same area you killed your ram. I have another hunt going the first week but after that I might get to go if work will allow. Going scouting Saturday. Pretty excited.

Oregonbowhunter · Oct 19, 2005

I think it's a personal preference. Score wouldn't matter to me, maybe it would have been a particularly memorable hunt that would make me want to have it mounted. Maybe it's a buck that scores lower but has a certain character. I think there are certain characteristics that people like more than others and to find a buck with those attributes may mean more to that person than they would to another person. Some like trash, some like width, some like tons of mass, some like symmetry. I killed a buck this year that was a very symmetrical 22" outside spread, 4x4 with nice eyegaurds and a 3 inch sticker. He probably scores in the lower 150's but means a lot to me because it is my first buck of this caliber, and it was a tough hunt. I didn't have it mounted however because I didn't have the money.

Hope this helps

Justice44 · Oct 19, 2005

I know someone who shot a 160" 4 point 28" wide buck and if he would not have mounted it I would have beat his a$$

BCBOY · Oct 19, 2005

I have higher standards than many. Shot a 190 class 10x4 with triple droppers a couple years ago and didn't get him mounted. I guess I set the bar a little high to begin with. My first and only buck I got mounted is a 215 11x9.

stu · Oct 20, 2005

I think it is totally up to each individual. I have never shot a muley yet with bow and arrow and when I do, it's going on the wall, not matter what the size. Many people in the world don't even get to see a muley in the wild let along be able to get close enough to one to shoot it with archery equipment. A trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Just my 2 cents!!!

Muley1922 · Oct 20, 2005

I haven't had the chance to harvest a 160" buck yet, so I would mount it for sure.

five_point_buck · Oct 20, 2005

I only have two mounts. The first I mounted because he was the first one I did "all on my own". That was a big accomplishmnet for me. The second was a 180 that I killed with my brother in tow, it was a long agonizing hunt where hard work paid off. He was also the biggest buck we'd killed in 8 years (out of 45+/- bucks). In this area, he just might be as good as it gets.

In both cases, there wasn't any thought. If I ever get another mount, it will have to be a dooozie.

five_point_buck
C.B.C.S.

B_F_E · Oct 20, 2005

10 years ago, my Dad was 65 years old & I took him were I knew there was a nice little buck, anyways he shot it & wanted it mounted, it was a 23" buck with not much mass. I objected.
He mounted it anyway & it ended up to be the last buck he ever shot & the only one he ever got mounted. I'm sure glad he mounted it, I have it now & like it as much as any mount I own.

Saskman · Oct 20, 2005

The one I took this year will be ther first mule deer I have had a shoulder mount done on. I have a couple of horn mounts and have done a couple of european mounts. I can't justify mounting them all as I do not have much wall space. It has to be quite big or very unique for me to mount it. I do have 3 whitetails shoulder mounted but there won't be an more of them mounted unless the are bigger than the three I have on the wall now.

Saskman

bcmulie · Oct 20, 2005

Whether or not I had any particular buck mounted would depend on a combination of the following factors:

a) How big the buck is. I would be tempted to mount anything over 170.

b) The quality of the hunt that I took the buck on. I have a 160 class buck mounted in my trophy room that I took on a grueling but very rewarding hunt. Shot him the last morning of my hunt, 7 miles from the road where we parked the truck, after tracking him in the snow. Great memories that I wanted to preserve by having the buck mounted. On the other hand, if a 160 class buck walked out onto the road in front of my truck the first morning, I would be less inclined to have it mounted.

c) How it compares to other deer I have taken. In essence, the "ladder of hunting" would apply to whether I had a buck mounted. If I already had two or 3 180 class bucks mounted, I might not have the fourth one done.

d) Of course, money. If I was a millionaire, I'd probably have a lot more animals mounted. Sigh - at least I can dream.

If you had a good hunt that you want to remember, and don't already have a bunch of mounted bucks, I'd be inclined to mount this one.

bcmulie

bckcntrybuck · Oct 20, 2005

I am getting a nice 4-point that only scored 135 mounted. Next buck I mount will probably have to be 160+ though.

Roy · Oct 20, 2005

We have quite a few mounts in our family - all are nice bucks but there is no standard. If we like the buck or bull and the story is good then we do it. My dad mounted a buck once that he would probably never do again but since it was just him and my brother on the last day of the hunt and my brother was so proud - he had to.
ROY

elkaddiction · Oct 20, 2005

As others have said, so much more goes into the decision than score. I've recently ordered a horn mount for a buck that is taller and wider (slightly) than the last buck I had mounted. Hoever, the motivation was the memories created with my older boy who present, and who alo wanted it preserved. My standard for rifle hunts is clearly raising every year--archery bucks of course pose different considerations. Finally, wall space and $ (or the lack thereof) plays a role in the decision. Would I mount any more 170 type heads probably not--of courese, with a rifle, I hope not shoot them either. My weakness is my hunting companions. When my boys really want me to shoot a buck, if its mature, I can be talked into it for their memories and the pictures they like to show their friends.

quickdrawkinker · Oct 20, 2005

I've mounted 2 of them that size--they sure do dress up the family room! I'd say go for it--the average hunter doesn't know the difference between a 160 and a 180 anyway.

PhantomLord · Oct 20, 2005

higher standard ehh BC, I think you mean your to dead ass broke to have any mounted, sure must be nice to shoot 3 deer a year up there, I think we have been over this before,

higher standard then most, give me a break

BCBOY · Oct 20, 2005

LOL! You are probably right about being too broke. You know there are more important things to pay for in life, like the mortgage and groceries.

Not to mention a wolf and cougar that are presently at the taxidermist and a big ass black bear that will be dropped off as soon as those are paid for. On top of that will be the 200+ monster that I saw last Sunday. Ain't killed him yet, but I still have over a month left to get er done.

PhantomLord · Oct 21, 2005

you have wolves up there huh. is that like shooting a coyote here? and as far as letting dogs chase animals and corner them, i prefer to do the hunting myself.

and so you live in a place where you get 4 months to shoot 3 deer? wow must be nice to be a canuck, we have to draw for a regular season tag, and on top of that we get 5 days to hunt, oh well, the price I pay for living in the greatest nation in the world EHH! HOSER!!

coonhound40 · Oct 22, 2005

by all means, if the hunt is worth remembering, get it mounted. In 2004 I finally achieved my goal of shooting a P&Y Muley. It scored 173 P&Y, that hunt was amazing, if he had been a 140 buck I probably would have still had him mounted. My wife thinks I'm a freak, after a year I still just sit and look at the mount and replay that great hunt.

Don't get caught up in the worlds hipe, remember if your doing it to impress someone other than yourself your probably not ever going to be satisfied.

manny15 · Oct 23, 2005

memories are what your preserving...

COSA · Oct 23, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-05 AT 07:25PM (MST)[p]http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID6/10890.html
Here's a photo, I'm leaning against getting a full mount, especially since I already have a buck in the shop already this year.

Triple_BB · Oct 24, 2005

Doesn't matter to me what some one else thinks. If its a trophy in my mind, it's going on the wall. I'd mount a buck like yours...

nmtaxi · Oct 24, 2005

I'm getting my boy's forkie ready to mount. Of course, for me it's only work and not $$$. But I think even if I didn't do taxidermy, I'd be getting it mounted for him.