So this past autumn I took a buck off of my best friends uncles land. It was awesome to do so as my buddy has hunted there for like 20 years and never got a good one off of it. It was great to end the drought. The day I took the buck was only like my third time hunting there, but I have countless hours over the years helping him with stands, cameras, mineral pits, dragging deer, trimming lanes, mowing etc etc... So it was a great day beyond just tagging the animal with my history with the property. Anyhow, the buck I am speaking of had his left eye swollen shut and the swollen shut eye had a lot to do with how the hunt turned out, as it was a great hunt. The opinions I am looking for.... What I am in need of is, should I have this buck mounted with his eye shut like the day of our fatal encounter, or have it mounted open. I am leaning toward having it done shut, but am worried that it may look like a hack job mount with a buck winking at me. I have no doubt in my taxis skills as he is very good and has mounted a pile of deer for me with never a issue. But the thought of a mount looking like it is winking is warring on my though process. I have yet to pick the form for the mount, but I have a good idea of what I will pick.... Sorry this was so long for such a simple question, I just wanted to lay the ground work for you to form your opinion.
If the injury played a part in the hunt, or was a marking I was able to use to keep track of him through the years, it would get mounted in the condition he was killed in. I'd mount him eye swollen.
Here is a photo where you can see how swollen his left eye lid was. I don't think I have any photos with his eye still shut as upon recovery my buddy pulled the lid open to see If he had an eye underneath. Which he did and the actual eye looked undamaged. I didn't ask him.
I'd say go with the swollen shut eye. I personally like little things that shape a story and it's nice seeing something different in a mount. The winking wouldn't even cross my mind. If I saw that at a friends house, the first thing I'd ask would be what happened to his eye. It could turn into a nice conversation piece whenever family or friends come over.
Mount him with his eye shut/swollen. I had a buddy (he's gone now) that killed a big buck doggin' a doe with his 'member' out. He had the entire deer mounted - just the way he was when he shot him. He couldn't wait to show everybody that deer and tell the story of that day in the woods. Tell your story man... that's part of what hunting is about.
I also would think the buck was winking at me, but it would make for a cool story to leave it swollen. I am about 55/45 % leaning towards keeping both eyes open.
Leave it swollen as you killed it and if you have a picture of the buck on camera with the eye swollen shut you can mount it on a plaque below the mount.
Oh hell no, no way I would let anyone know I killed a one eyed buck. Would you put snot on the end of its nose if it had a cold, what would you do if it had an ear infection, hell why dont you just put a sign around its neck saying," TAKE ME REDNAR, I'M YOURS'' LOL! Great buck Scott.
I do a little taxidermy myself. I think its going to be pretty tough to get that to look right. Mounting one with a swollen eye is not something a guy does everyday. I would for sure talk to your taxidermist and see what he says if he can get that to look swollen. I don't think I could do it and get it to look right. Your guy may be better than me.
If you're confident your taxidermist can do it well I'd think going with the eye closed would be the way to go since it played a part in the hunt. Great buck!
