Traditional Shoulder Mount or European Mount

[Chris]

I started scouting an area within walking distance of my house back in June. I had seen a few does, but no bucks. I set my only trail cam in an area that looked like they were using to enter and and exit a little clear cut. Over the summer I was able to get five different bucks on my trail cam. I hunted the early muzzleloader season without any success. I made the 1 mile walk through the timber to the clear cut from my house approximately 17 times. On Thanksgiving Day I finally connected. On my 26th trip into this little spot I caught three bucks together. The one that I got was the smallest of the three, but he was my largest of the 17 blacktails that I have taken to date. THe other two were both nice 4 pts. He isn't a monster, but he is pretty heavy and has a 15 inch inside spread. He is the first blacktail that I have killed that has eyegards. He is a 3x3 with a small 1/2 inch fourth point on each side. I am going to have him mounted. I can't decide if I should spend $500 for a traditional shoulder mount, or if I should spend closer to $200 on a European mount. Those of you that have them, what are your opinions? Thanks

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

euro is more rustic and cool to me and you can DIY

[danderson]

I think you should do your own euro mount and save 200.00 dollars, its not that diffacult and will mean even more to you as a trophy.

[patton1]

Go with your gut.  I think you'll be happy either way.  If you go with a shoulder mount don't try to SAVE money.  I made that mistake with my 1st blacktail 3 years ago.  I went cheap and now I'm paying for it.....literally.  It's getting redone right now by a reputable taxidermist.  My wife was less than thrilled.  If you do the euro you will be paying less and you can always have it turned into a shoulder mount at a later time.  Nice buck by the way.  Congrats.

[buck man]

Go with your gut.  I think you'll be happy either way.  If you go with a shoulder mount don't try to SAVE money.  I made that mistake with my 1st blacktail 3 years ago.  I went cheap and now I'm paying for it.....literally.  It's getting redone right now by a reputable taxidermist.  My wife was less than thrilled.  If you do the euro you will be paying less andyou can always have it turned into a shoulder mount at a later time.  Nice buck by the way.  Congrats.

 

[HairTrigger]

IF YOU GO EURO YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THE SKULLHOOKER LOOKS LIKE IA NICE WAY TO DO YOU OWN EURO MOUNT AN IT NOT HARD TO DO THE EURO

[blackveltbowhunter]

Very nice buck congrats! I echo other replies and  if you go full shoulder, dont go cheap. Go with quality.

As far as which one to go with, only you can decide. For me alot of factors go into a decision for a full mount vs euro. Obviously antler size is a factor but not a huge one imo. The hunt itself,  how "pretty" the animal is, and antler configuration, all play a bigger part in my decision to mount or not.

[deerslyr]

Ive had smaller bucks shoulder mounted 

[carpsniperg2]

I love skulls and think they look very sharp. That being said if it's your biggest you might want to shoulder mount it.

[wsucowboy]

I love skulls and think the look very sharp. That being said if it's your biggest you might want to shoulder mount it.

[BLKBEARKLR]

go with what you think will look the best to you. with this being your 17th blacktail and it being the biggest one you got so far, should say a lot, Big mature blacktails are hard to come by.

Joe

[huntnnw]

thats not a decision left up to others... if ya would rather see a shoulder mount than do it

[Pathfinder101]

If it is the biggest you have killed, and you can afford it, then I would do a shoulder mount.  As was mentioned before, you can do your own euro mounts, so have the biggest one stuffed, and from here on (until you kill a bigger one) euro the rest of them.   

[sirmissalot]

Thats a pretty cool buck, I love massive deer and that buck has a lot of mass and cool character.

Blacktail shoulder mounts look really good to me, especially when they are shot in November. Beautiful and full dark hide, usually with a swollen neck. Being that its your 17th blacktail and your biggest so far I think I'd mount it, even if you get a bigger one some day, you'll never be disapointed you mounted him. Your persistance paid off, I know how that feeling of accomplishment I hunted my spot archery, muzzleloader then finally whacked one during rifle season (multiseason tag) its a great feeling and with a very respectable blacktail I say spend the money and have him shoulder mounted. My 

If you do decide to do a european and DIY, if you haven't done it before be careful and do a little research before you do it, its not as easy to do a qulity euro as some people make it seem.

[GoldTip]

Do whatever you think you'd like best.  Shoulder mounts are very nice, but they do take up more room.  Euro mounts are nice, but they leave you wishing the rest of the hide and face was there. I have multiple shoulder mounts of different animals and multiple euro mounts of different animals.  Just depended what I was feeling with that particular animal.