How big does it have to be to mount?

[TeacherMan]

So I have a couple really nice whitetail mounts, and a nice mule deer mount, how large of blacktail does it have to be to mount? Four point with eyeguards? I havn't ever put much time into hunting them, do I have way to high of expectations?

My whitetail minimum is 150"
My muledeer minimum is 160"

[Intruder]

I think it really depends on what you like.  Score isn't everything.  I've seen some really nice mounts that had a lot of character but lacked in inches.  Each guy kinda needs to set his standards for that one. 

[WAPITIHUNTER]

Once you start trying for a trophy Blacktail you will become demoralised and a spike buck will start to look like its mountable.

[rasbo]

all my mounts are from something that was dear to me,a 15" speed goat I got while my mother was with me,27" muley my wife and sons were with me ive killed bigger.awesome bobcat holding down a grouse,shot it with my youngest boy 30' called it in,got a 22.5 yr old sow I shot at twenty ft,I got a 19" black bear hes brown with black legs,shot him at ten feet hes not mounted.My 1st blacktail was a 5x5 should have mounted him,made necklesses from his horns and coyote bones gifts for friends.I believe you decide what the trophy is to you.If I was a trophy hunter none of these would make my wall,Its all about the memories to me.

[croix]

I don't think there is a simple answer for you. I would mount a spike if the memories that go with it are worth putting on the wall. As far as numbers though, B&C for columbia bt is 125" for the awards book and 135" for the all time book. P&Y minimum is just 90". I don't personally think that  number of points is what I would use to define a wall hanger. I have a 3x3 with one eye guard mounted that measures at 129 and some change - my daughter named him Frank.

[bucklucky]

This is my opinion , doesnt mean anyone has to agree with me. Any deer can make a really nice mount, just depends on whether or not you like the art of taxidermy or just a mount of a monster buck you killed. I have mounted spikes for people and IMO they have made some of the best mounts. Its not easy making a tiny deer look tiny if you know what I mean. I would never go by score in mounting a blacktail. Ive mounted some dandy 2 points over the years that would dwarf some of these nice 3 and 4 points that have been posted on the site, of course 2 points dont score real well.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[huntnphool]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

+1

I have a pile of bone in my garage that I haven't had mounted, mostly because of the room in my house. Some are large racks by most standards and I have smaller ones that are on my wall simply because of the memories. Size doesn't matter when it comes to mounts, for me its about the memory. That being said, once I build a detached garage they will all be up on the wall.

[billythekidrock]

Since you asked. Definitely no to spikes and two points. May as well mount a doe.

I think of a mount as a 3D picture and as a reminder of a good hunt. That being said, "developing" costs have gone sky high.    So nothing short of a good 3 pt blacktail. It would have to be a real whopper for me to have it done. A good 4x4 would have to be at least 15/16 inches inside and at least that tall before I considered it. Now if a buck simply outclasses every other deer in the local area then you would really want to consider it.

Here are some blacktails that we had mounted and some that were not even close to mounters.

Mounted

Dad's.


and another of his.



Mine.



and another of mine.


Not mounters.





The next two were shot on the same day.



This one was close only because of the hunt and how I outsmarted him.



A whitetail would definitely have to be larger then this one.

[huntnphool]

BTK, I cant see any of the pics, is it me?

[billythekidrock]

BTK, I cant see any of the pics, is it me?

I think it was a server issue. I was getting bumped and timed out. They are there.

BTW.. nice email to RMEF.

[BENCHLEG]

for me the next one will be 140 or a real cool non typical. i have a 115- 4pt and a 122-4pt  and numerous in that range but i need big.

[billythekidrock]

for me the next one will be 140 or a real cool non typical. i have a 115- 4pt and a 122-4pt  and numerous in that range but i need big.

I have no idea what those numbers mean so I hold my hands out..
"it has to be this biiiiiig!"

[bucklucky]

for me the next one will be 140 or a real cool non typical. i have a 115- 4pt and a 122-4pt  and numerous in that range but i need big.

I have no idea what those numbers mean so I hold my hands out..
"it has to be this biiiiiig!"

 

[elkfan2]

I dont think it really matters how many points the deer has or how many inches it scores as much as it matters how you want to preserve the memories.

[bucklucky]

GEEEEEZ ROB! Those need mounted  Id liketo see your Muley collection! Looks like a good one!

[jake]

jesus huntnphool, i wish i had a couple of deer that caliber in my shop, dont worry i'll be weeding the dinks out for you man.

[SHANE(WA)]

150 for whitetail

[Huntbear]

I am not trying to insult the southern brethren on here, but I have seen more forkies and tiny "6" pts. (that is eastern count for you that do not get out much) get put on the wall here in Georgia than you can shake a stick at.  I guess they just do not know what a real big buck looks like.  3 weeks ago, was walking from car to Walmart, there was 3 mounts in the back of truck... all 3 together might have scored 80 pts. 

[TeacherMan]

Thanks for all the info, I agree that the memories are what really matter. I had my first whitetail buck mounted whe I was 9, he would be lucky to score 95, but he has like a 40" neck. But you are correct the memories are what matter. I'm to the point where I will have smaller deer mounted in the future, my daughters when they get old enough to hunt. I can see where a spike may end up on my wall at that point. As for the blacktail I have really nice whitetail and a really nice muledeer on my wall, a couple of the whitetails make BC, the muledeer is just under. In terms of my trophy room I would like a nice blacktail to represent the species with all my other trophy animals. I eventually want to get what I call the "WASHINGTON grand slam" mounted on my walls. All the big game you can legally hunt in Washington state. If they where all book animals that would even be better.

[huntnphool]

I eventually want to get what I call the "WASHINGTON grand slam" mounted on my walls. All the big game you can legally hunt in Washington state.

Looking to add one to my wall in the next couple weeks myself

[Michelle_Nelson]

May as well mount a doe.

BTKR , it's your personal referance but their is absolutly nothing wrong with mounting a Doe.  I have done several and they turn out absolutly beautiful!  They add quite a bit to a wall full of bucks.  They also look good mounted with a buck.  I have done several does most of the time it's a woman requesting it.



HuntBear I mount alot of small deer in Georgia when I was down their doing taxindermy.  The average score was right around 100".  Done several doe and several spikes and 2 points (4pts in the south).

Yeah big racks are great but it is all personal preferance when it comes to a mount worthy deer.  Such as a childs first deer, wifes first deer, last hunt with a loved one, a deer you've never worked harder for, first out of state hunt, first kill with a bow,  mounting a loved ones but that has some significant value.  It's not all about the score but that is what I hear the most of.

[bucklucky]

I even did a euro pedestal with a Muley Doe, it was an 8 year olds first deer.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Now that is something I have never done.  Never done a Doe Euro. 

[Dadbear]

Hunt quality... that's the standard to use when deciding whether or not to have an animal preserved with taxidermy. In years to come, the memory of a quality hunt will outweigh antler size. A mounted trophy will help keep those memories vivid.

[jjhunter]

Teacherman,  quit holding out on us.   I want to see a pic of your big muley.  NET 190" type deer are rare, but my favorite big game trophy!

[Houndhunter]

depends on how much money i have, which usually aint enough

[heavy hauler]

my friend sniper tom is getting his little 2 point mounted by bucklucky.toms 8 year old son was with us on the hunt.after tom killed the 2 point he went right back to  iraq.he was home a month and could only hunt one day.so it was that 2 point or nothing.i think he is getting that mounted for the memory of the time together more than the size of the buck.

[billythekidrock]

May as well mount a doe.

BTKR , it's your personal referance but their is absolutly nothing wrong with mounting a Doe.  I have done several and they turn out absolutly beautiful! 

I have never mounted a doe, but back in the day the hogs were fair game. 

[runamuk]

May as well mount a doe.

BTKR , it's your personal referance but their is absolutly nothing wrong with mounting a Doe.  I have done several and they turn out absolutly beautiful! 

I have never mounted a doe, but back in the day the hogs were fair game. 

  thats just wrong, thought it was supposed to be sheep

[bucklucky]

 

[bucklucky]

my friend sniper tom is getting his little 2 point mounted by bucklucky.toms 8 year old son was with us on the hunt.after tom killed the 2 point he went right back to  iraq.he was home a month and could only hunt one day.so it was that 2 point or nothing.i think he is getting that mounted for the memory of the time together more than the size of the buck.

Ya , and yopu know what he told me?

He said if he gets killed in Iraq , just keep it  And then he laughed 

[Michelle_Nelson]

May as well mount a doe.

BTKR , it's your personal referance but their is absolutly nothing wrong with mounting a Doe.  I have done several and they turn out absolutly beautiful! 

I have never mounted a doe, but back in the day the hogs were fair game. 

  thats just wrong, thought it was supposed to be sheep

If you can catch them, LMAO. 

[Palmer]

We usually mount our first bucks taken.  I got mine in 2006 and it's around 120".  I got another this year around the same. 

My friends son got a 116" blacktail and thats a record youth archery in this state.

[Triplebrow]

I have a hard time with this.  I've shot some really nice bucks but fear if I have it mounted I'll end up shooting a larger one.  I guess mounts aren't really that important to me anyhow, but I do keep the racks.


So to answer the question,  it would have to be outright HUGE to the point where I don't think I will ever get a larger one.

[billythekidrock]

I have a hard time with this.  I've shot some really nice bucks but fear if I have it mounted I'll end up shooting a larger one. 

That's my point. If you mount a two point then you will almost have to mount a three. Then what happens when you get a four? Or the second four or a monster three.

[Gobble]

I have a hard time with this.  I've shot some really nice bucks but fear if I have it mounted I'll end up shooting a larger one. 

That's my point. If you mount a two point then you will almost have to mount a three. Then what happens when you get a four? Or the second four or a monster three.

You fill up the house with deer heads 

I have a huge bonus room above the garage that is around 700+ sq ft. It has cathedral ceilings and big walls, it would take alot to fill that up. I say if you have good memories about the hunt/animal get it mounted if you can afford it. I have bought some DVD's on how to mount deer and I'm going to try my first on this smaller 4 x 4 I got this year, that would be a perfect buck to try it out on. Then I will mount the 5 x 5 I got last year (when I get a new cape)  For me its all about the memories of the hunt.

[TeacherMan]

I guess I like a house that is full of dead animals  . My wife is pretty understanding. I have 11 shoulders and who knows how many skull caps, and we are not even going to mention the bear rugs and antler sheds. Not all the animals are mine, some are my dads, moms, etc... I have them all Its all what you enjoy, in the long run its all about the memories.

[Houndhunter]

My friends son got a 116" blacktail and thats a record youth archery in this state.

only 116 is the youth record? i need to find some kid with a bow

[Michelle_Nelson]

I have a hard time with this.  I've shot some really nice bucks but fear if I have it mounted I'll end up shooting a larger one. 

That's my point. If you mount a two point then you will almost have to mount a three. Then what happens when you get a four? Or the second four or a monster three.

You fill up the house with deer heads 

We havn't decided if we are going to have a house built or if we are going to buy one already standing but your can pretty much guarantee it will be full of dead animals, hides, antlers, etc.  It has nothing to do with being a taxidermist.