If money was not an issue, how many more mounts would you have hanging on your walls? I ask this because I am too the point these days that I can't hardly afford my taxidermist, his whitetails are now 600.00. My taxi does incredible work, but dang its getting so expensive;I have whitetail racks just laying around now. I have always mounted my bow kills until the last couple years. Finally I have never had any of my bulls mounted and have even gave away a couple trophy sized bear rugs due to the fact that I just couldnt justify spending that type of money those critters. But in the end if money wasn't an issue I would have at least 6 more whitetail mounts and 2 elk mounts, probaby at least 1 full body turkey maybe two, and a couple of my mule deer bucks of my dads done.. How about U guys, if money wasnt an issue, would your home or man-cave look more like a lodge? Mine would.
I have my second buck I had killed when I was 13ish (eight point w/ a rifle) and I have my ten point I shot with my bow two years ago, also two turkeys and a fox. If money wasn't an issue I would have my 9 point mounted I killed three years ago (rifle) and my first bow buck (a messed up 2X4), a couple more turkeys and a coyote rug/skin
I would probably have more mounts of other animals especially ducks. I think ducks look great but around here they are pretty expensive. I only have 3 ducks mounted but would love 8-10. Small game would be another...all kinds. I just like mounts. As for deer, I would probably only have maybe 1 or 2 more that I would have mounted.
I would still have the same number of mounts....not because I am loaded, but because i haven't killed a critter that I wanted to mount but couldn't afford. Makes it easier when you don't kill that many mountable critters either
I'd definitely have more bear rugs on the walls. Bear rugs are going for $1000.00 or so these days. My chocolate phase black bear I shot back In 2000 would've been a full mount If It wasn't for the price. I should've did It anyway though, dammit!!!!!!!
I have 3 done right now (2 bow 1 gun). None of them are anything remarkable in size, but at the time I was (and still am) extremely proud of them. My buck I got this year is getting done right now. My taxi isn't to bad on price (family discount doesn't hurt either). I pay $300 for a shoulder mount and you really can't beat it. I usually get them back around March so the wait isn't to bad either. If he ever quits doing it, I would have a hard time coming up with the extra money to get some mounts done in the future.
My world renowned taxi..charges $450. (or he did 2 years ago) That forced me to take a deal I 1st heard on the radio. A local Taxi was doing shoulder mounts for $250 but would do them for $200 cash paid in advance. My 2009 buck is back and yes it was for the $200 dollar price. You can definetly tell a difference between the $450 and the $200. But I could not have gotten it mounted for the $450 price..so it's a minor trade-off. If I were to get a dream buck ..I would splurge, but nice bucks that I wish to mount will go the bargain route. $200 on left $450 on right
I only have 1 mounted, mostly due to price. My taxi charges $460 and does great work, but thats alot of coin to me. I would probably have 3 bucks and 3 gobblers mounted if not for the cost.
The guy on the left would get my money before the guy on the right. The guy on the right spent more time on the nose and septum, but never painted the ears. If the guy on the left was asked to paint the nose and septum area a natural color it would be a better mount in my oppinion. If you ask him he will do it trust me, he is just doing what it takes to get people to pay. I know some taxidermists that do what their clients like not really what a deer looks like, I also know guys that will tell their clients I dont bulk up necks or really stretch a cape to make it look bigger than it is. You have to look at a guys work before you drop the deposit. Heres a couple of pics of what I beleive is a natural looking nose/ septum for our Jersey deer. After looking they are very bad pics
It certainly does come into play, doesn't it Troy? I scaled back this year because I had already given my taxidermist my wide 8 whitetail and the antelope... I would have liked to have done a full body mount on my black coyote we trapped this year, as well as another full body mount on that huge tom bobcat we got at the end... Instead, the coyote is now hanging on my wall as a tanned pelt (just got him back yesterday), and he looks really cool. I'm in the process of turning my cat into a big wall rug like a bearskin rug, so at least they'll be something different that most people don't see...
I shot a boatload of wood ducks years ago. I'm talking to a buddy, now, to see if he'll take me into one of his honey holes, this year. I want a wood duck drake and hen mounted in a bad way (for obvious reason). If money was no object, I'd also have a replica of the 40# cobia I caught on 10# test.......9 mi. offshore in a15' Key West....lol. I'd also get one of the 50# bull dolphin I caught, while throwing up....lol. Whitetails? The only one I regret not mounting is the 6-pointer I killed in 2008. I have a euro of him, and I still might get a shoulder mount done. I do regret that one. Good topic. I've found a guy, now, that does great work (I paid $460 for my 1st mount.....and $480 for the second). He's got my 2009 7-pointer...and I should get it back, next month. I won't shoot another buck, if he's not going on the wall. For $325.....I'll pay that. I hope to add a doe mount to the wall, next season.
As much as cost one of my biggest obstacles when deciding what to do with an animal is space... Only have so much 'man cave space' to hang things....
I have a good friend getting into taxidermy, He's done a couple bucks and they look really good for his first couple.. I think I am going to give him my bucks from here on out. He will be more than half the price of my current taxidermist. As for elk and other critters, I am gonna shop around I guess. I really want to kill an Idaho wolf now that we can hunt them and if I do, thats gonna be a full body mount.
I'm overboard on mounts...... but I dig it! So far, I've got 18 whitetail mounts and 26 plaques, a full mount turkey and a moose shoulder mount coming up. Not only do I like the mounts but it's sort of a practical joke on my son........ What's he going to do with them or where will he put them?
I have never mounted a deer. I just cannot bring myself to pay hundreds of dollars to mount a deer head. But if money were no object, I would have mounted the first buck I killed (3 point), the first buck I ever killed with my bow (7 point), my first 8 point buck with my bow, and this years 8 point buck which is my best to date. I would like to have my own little room one day, where I have things neatly displayed. Cool thread. I do have a smallmouth mount that has degraded a bit. It was my first 5 pound smallmouth caught on 6 pound test. It is still the best fight I have ever experienced with rod and reel. Caught him in the middle of a strong current when I was standing waist deep in the river. I am still surprised to this day that the 6 pound Berkley test held up after it had been cut up like crazy on the rocks during the fight.
My taxi charges $300 so that is what I budget every year. I have a room at my house and a cabin to fill. My cabin looks like a lodge and I can fit at least 6 more deer heads and maybe another elk size mount. I'm sure there will be a day tha I don't mount anymore animals or start to recycle the ones I have.
This year I had one whitetail mounted, one turkey full body gobbling on the roost, and a beard mount done (roughly $800). I don't drink, party, take lavish vacations etc etc, mounting my "trophies" is super important to me. To date I've got 6 whitetails, 2 ducks, two full body longbeards mounted. I'll add as many as I can each year, I can always pick up extra work to pay for my "habit". I've got a mother-in-law suite (1000 sq ft) to fill. edit* If I'd taken a piebald this year, I'd done a full body mount. I had already talked to my taxi about it.
I gotta say cost is a factor. but typically if I pull the arrow shaft on an animal usually I already have the money saved for his place on the wall.
If money were no object I would have 3 more shoulder mounts instead of euro's. I think I would also have a elk, red stag, and some big horn sheep too since money is no object and I could afford to go on those big expensive hunts.
Dang troy, my taxi charges almost half of yours and is a good one to I will only mount ones now that are p&y class
