Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Taxidermy question

I'm getting a whitetail shoulder mount done. He has a drop tine and an extra point on his right side. I was thinking of having him done with a slight turn to the left to show off the drop tine but the taxidermist suggested that a slight turn to the right would show him off better because people tend to look more at the inside antler. I've done almost all of my previous mounts straight so would be interested in what you think and see any mounts you have done.
Here is the buck.

That's a fine looking buck. I'm not sure but most taxidermists have told me that a slight turn looks more natural. Whatever you choose, I hope it turns out great.

What did you shoot him with? You know we're all gun nuts

All of mine have some type of turn and agree with you on the left turn - semi-sneak/left turn is how I'd roll (with offset ears positioned back).

Since I started using this hanging system, it sure takes a lot of head-scratching on turns/positions - you can make about anything work and aren't bound to a specific turn for a specific area on a wall.

https://fullrangesystems.com/products/single-system-1


Nice buck!

I also agree with the left turn. Thats a great Buck. I would stick that Drop tine out there. People wont be looking at that inside antler when they see that Drop tine.

As I mentioned when you first posted your deer, he is unique and beautiful. I would hire an exceptional Taxidermist/Artist and tell him to do a great job.

You will pay more, but in the end, if you have to look at it every day and because he is so unique, it's nice to look at a beautiful mount compared to an average Taxidermist's work.

Here is one of my Whitetails done by a Pro, very subtle and natural.

In Tucson I worked for a taxidermist while I was going to school a long time ago. He looks like a nice old buck felled with a clean shot. Congratulations! Some questions to consider: Where he will hang has the most bearing on left, right or straight on. How high on the wall. What shape will the cape be in after tanning as in bald spots, ear damage, loss of hair from dragging, bullet holes, old scars. I like to try and go with what I remember him looking like when I found him. Head up ears forward or head down ears back sneaking out. Texas heart shots should be forgotten. What state is he from?

A soft left turn.

Which ever you choose it should look awesome.

I'd try to show off the drop tine though.

Nice buck!

Alert and slight turn left

I like a turn and or a wall pedestal with a turn. Another important thing is ear placement. My guys avoid the straight out look. We call it " following the beams".

Use any of those with mounts with a plaque on the back?

Thanks for the input! I was lucky enough to take that deer in the panhandle of Texas near Dalhart. Used my wife's Kimber Super America that I had rebarreled to 6.5 Creed. 1 factory Hornady 143 ELD-X through the boiler room did the trick at about 55 yards.
You can't see it in the pic but he also has a little fishtail point on the right side which I think is another reason to put that side forward in a slight left turn.

I’m in a similar dilemma. I have never been much of a taxidermy person, have one other animal mounted, and this fall ended up with two at the shop to be mounted.

My buck was an easy choice, he’ll be a left turn semi sneak to oppose my other mulie that’s mounted in a right turn semi sneak and they’ll flank the mantle of our future living room similar to pics I remember BobinNH posting of his monsters.

My wife’s buck on the other hand we’re undecided on. He has a notched right ear which is cool but his cape is pretty poor. He’d rubbed the hair off a good bit of his brisket and has a tennisball sized bald spot on the back of his neck. The bald spot on the back of his neck was from the 4 extra “brows” that grew off the rear of both bases. Those points off the rear are cool too but nearly impossible to display on the wall. We haven’t really been able to come up with any good ideas other than a pedestal, which is out of the question due to space concerns.

Full sneak with a slight turn to the left.

That

Id probably go left turn, but it'd also depend on where you're placing it in the house.

I had a similar situation with a red stag. It had unique drop tines on his right antler, so I had the head turned somewhat left to show that unique antler.

I don’t think people tend to look at the ‘inside antler’, but have never really thought about it. I certainly do not regret having the left facing pose of this particular mount.

No sir, have not. But the plaque could likely be removed to do so? 🤷🏼‍♂️

Thanks! And I am sure it could, but not sure I want to do that to the two I have with the plaque. My first buck that my dad had mounted for me and his best. Sentimental thing with those two...

I'm a semisneak guy, not a real fan of alert poses

Great buck!

I'm coming around on full sneaks, buddys daughter killed a nice buck on my property but hide was tore apart from fighting so a full sneak with a slight turn is what the taxidermist used in order to use less cape. Looked wonderful and nice change to what you may already have hanging on the wall. Would really show off that drop.

Maybe get the double system and they could be coupled? Have done that with a few.
I guess it depends on the size of the plaque – hanging system is a great space-saver too.


https://fullrangesystems.com/collections/shop/products/double-system

Blacktailer - buck on left is a semi-sneak, left turn (hanging on the full range double system).

Left turn

If a buck I kill has something unique I always make that beam the one on the front side of the mount. Have one with a big split ear and did a hard turn so you could see it. Great deer no matter which way you choose to go. The biggest thing for me is taking it to a real taxidermist. I won’t take a deer to a guy that doesn’t send the hide to a tannery. Have one mount that I’ve never been happy with from the moment I picked it up. Still not sure what made me think saving 100 or so dollars was a good idea.

Those look really cool 😎.

Great thread with lots of first hand info on presentation. Stuff I would never have thought about until you gents pointed it out. Myself I never had the pesos for a full mount or a taxidermist so a couple of skull cap mounts is all I can claim. The only thing I can offer is that I’ve seen lots of terrible work so I do qualify as somebody who knows what they don’t want, if ever. My late Brother had a nice Jackalope.

Rick

Definitely a left turn of your preference, put that drop tine on display

That double system looks awesome! I have a couple I might do that with, even with different species of deer. Thanks for the suggestion!

Here is a left turn for a similar buck, I have no regrets.
I think these were both semi-uprights, but they came from two different taxidermists with slightly different forms.

crc1514 - nice bucks!

The one on the left sure looks to have all the makings of a Sunflower State buck??

Yes, both are Kansas rifle bucks. The one on the left was the first deer I ever shot, on my very first deer hunt in 1996. His G2s are as long as he is wide, 12.5”. The buck on right is from 2010.

SKane, That double system is really cool. Thanks for posting. I think I might order one. I have a couple that would look good together.

Left turn, semi sneak pose.

Do a search for “the intimidator” by McKenzie. It’s an offset semi sneak left turn p/n is ASH17B