Elk mounts and a scenario of mounting a cape of a different Bull?

[KP-Skagit]

Well said J.

Only particular I have is the cape needs to be representative of the original. I'm a mule deer guy. Mule deer have slight variances in appearance based on the region they came from. I can spot a WY or CO buck a mile away. I'm not gonna put an ID cape on a NV buck or the other way around. Not gonna put an early season cape on a rutted up late season buck either.

Fixing broken tines is another hot button topic. I always swore I'd never fix a tine. Leave em the way you killed em. But then I killed a buck who broke a big cheater. I had found the buck six days prior. Have almost 40 min of video and 50 or more pics through the phone scope. That whole week I hunted the buck with the back kickers. When I finally killed him he had broken his driver side off. Didn't even bat an eye. I had all the evidence in the world to return him to his exact glory and a weeks worth of history hunting the kicker buck. I'd still never fix a broken antler that was just broken when I killed them but sometimes there's exceptions to ones rules.

My didn't know the how big my biggest buck was until I got up to him (split second to make a shot, just knew he was legal). Absolutely destroyed him with a headshot.

Cape was a MT deer on a WA buck. Still bugs me a bit. Not sure if it was region or what. My buck had a big roman nose and a very grey face. Buck that lent me the cape had a pointy snout and a white face. Taxi got the cape I didn't have a say.

[Jpmiller]

For purely subjective non justifiable personal preference reasons I don't like the idea of putting a different cape on a mount. But when someone else has it done it doesnt really bother me unless it's being deliberately done to misrepresent the animal, like putting a rutted up mulie cape on a set of antlers from the early season.

I have commented to my dad though that the archery doe he had mounted in the 80s might look better with a new cape on it 

[fishngamereaper]

Elk capes are one thing.. only real difference is early or late season imo...

Deer are a totally different thing...I've had mounts done just because the cape is cool...I think deer mounts are more about the look of the cape for me and need to match the antlers to get on my wall...but I like the looks of Euro mounts for deer just as much so I'm good if I loose a cape...

[Karl Blanchard]

For purely subjective non justifiable personal preference reasons I don't like the idea of putting a different cape on a mount. But when someone else has it done it doesnt really bother me unless it's being deliberately done to misrepresent the animal, like putting a rutted up mulie cape on a set of antlers from the early season.

I have commented to my dad though that the archery doe he had mounted in the 80s might look better with a new cape on it 

I think as long as he doesn't add antlers he's safe from ridicule 

[dvolmer]

I have commented to my dad though that the archery doe he had mounted in the 80s might look better with a new cape on it 

. Now that is just funny!!!!  Love it!!!

[hunter399]

I've never had a head mount done,so no skin in the game.
Being primarily meat hunter on the poor end most my life.
Euro and plaque mounts are all I got.
I'd think if I didn't have the original ,it just slap it on the wall as a regular horn mount.
After reading the thread,and having no choice due to damage or other factors,I don't really see no harm in it.

But I just haven't had the right buck down yet to worry about it. And a poor boy to boot.

[Browndawg]

I know of a certain bar and grill in central Oregon that has a shoulder mount of a large elk on display.  When I commented to the bartender about how nice it was, he told me that it was actually a cow and the taxidermist put a matching set of sheds on it. I think that's a little strange, but its in a bar and not my house so whatever.

[Sundance]

I shot a cool mule deer in 2010, took it to a taxi and after 4 years of no communication got the skull cape and deposit back. Happy to get those back but cape was a loss. I’m going to do a pack board mount with it someday and buy a cape for the mount.

In 2012 I took a beautiful P&Y blacktail and had it mounted by a local taxi. Came back looking aweful so I had another taxi remount it with a stock cape, looks amazing.

If you’re on a backcountry hunt with warmer temps hair slippage can start fast. You either have to get it on ice and to a freezer or prep it out and salt the hide. If you’ve never hide prepped before that can be a daunting challenge to do right. I’ve stashed salt in my hunting spots for August bear since they are far back and weather is warm. Ideally I want to use the original cape, but sometimes circumstances can make it extremely difficult to remove the cape before spoilage and hair slip. I always prioritize the meat, so the cape and antlers comes out last, which could be 2-3 days after the kill in some situations.