Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Is taxidermy worth it

When i get old will i refret spending so much money on taxidermy? Taxidermy makes a nice man cave, but is it worth that dough? Are pictures enough? I know this varies from person to person, im just curious

When I get old and can't hunt any more, every trophy on the wall will hold memories.

I like my small trophy collection but honestly I wish I took more pictures, kept a album and maybe a small journal.

Edit: Forgot to add, its nice to have the animal down glory shot but I wish I took more pictures of the scenery, camp and my hunting friends.

I wouldn't give a nickel for a mounted head of any sort. I have a house full of mounted heads that I wouldn't sell at any price. Those came by years of hunting and hard work, yes the Taxidermy is worth it...

Taxidermy yes, if cash is tight do a euro mount or horns / antlers on a plaque. Lot's of photos especially in today's digital is a grand idea as well.

Well said shrapnel.

Talking out loud.... I don't know. I've gotten rid of all but one bear rug, an antelope, my biggest blacktail, etc. Don't want to spend too much time patting yourself on the back for a job well done 25 years ago. Although I still have a record book archery mule deer that is very special. The rest, not so much. More photos of camp and friends in an album, more euro mounts in the future probably. Or throw the horns in the pile in the shed.

Thanks for the responses. And how much could u save from doing a euro mount?

I never refretted spending money on taxidermy.

You can do a euro mount yourself and I think they're cool. YMMV.

without a doubt it's worth it..

If it has some special meaning to you mount it. If it's just to make your man cave look cool then no it's not worth it.

There are times that I go into my office, where the critters reside, with a martini and just sit and recall. Sometimes I'll even have an appropriately memorable rifle in hand. No regrets here.

I haven't regretted any of mine. I have more euros than mounts, but something that I've started doing is putting a picture of the animal with the mount. I've got a deer that grandpa was with me when I took it, so he's in the picture with me. I've got a moose that all of my friends that were involved are in the picture. It makes those memories that much more special. Euros are cool and it's a fun post season project BUT good taxidermy work is art to me.

Me either. In fact, I don't even know how to refret.

Sorry, I just had to laugh at these two together.

To me it is well worth it.

If I ever get a really nice whitetail, I may have it mounted. In the meantime, I've a bunch of nice basket rack antlers sitting on the shelves of a big wall unit where I can take them in hand and admire the unique qualities of each one. I do hope to have one nice bearskin to cover my old bones someday. Tanned hides are cool.

Once you figger out how to fret, it's a snap.

My "horns" are stuck in the trusses in the shed, or somewhere in dad's garage. If I ever get a bear I will give the hide to a friend who does taxidermy, for his use. I don't want heads on my wall, or the bill. The meat and thrill are all I am after. I guess that could change with a truly big buck, but I doubt it. I do enjoy looking at nice mounts, but trophies don't interest me. However if you like them than they are worth it.

I didn't even know you played the gee-tar.