What’s the plan for your taxidermy after you die?

[BreechFace]

Make your will very clear, like mine is. I shall be quartered, put in game bags, and backpacked into the wilderness to my favorite spots (or points as far away as I can find on a map in my dying days). My mounts must be returned to where they were harvested, regardless of land ownership changing.

My friends should try to die before me; this endeavor will build character in the next generation.

This is the way.

 

[Charlie-NY]

My buddy found a large custom home for sale in a rural area of PA. When the owner took him around the house to see what was offered, he finds the home FILLED with trophy game animals and fish. Some of the animals were full live mounts including several bears. The biggest bull elk I have ever seen was mounted over the fireplace. When my buddy inquired about all the mounts; the old guy asks if he likes them. After a brief discussion, the seller tells my buddy if you will maintain the mounts (literally in every room and hallway) that he will leave them all in the house at no additional cost. The house also had a hidden gunroom which was really cool.

My buddy bought the house but doesn't actually live there.

 

[Mr. October]

Fwiw, the last time I was in a nearby Cabelas, they had essentially no mounts except what was on their 'mountain'. Bass Pro must have eliminated them, so not sure that's a viable option for old mounts anymore.

Now I have to pay attention the next time I go. But I think you are right.

 

[Jimmy]

If anyone wants to leave mule deer mounts to someone who will appreciate them, I'll take em!

 

[Boarmaster]

I’m giving all mine to my cousins son. That is if he wants it.

 

[steveokanevo]

I will inherit several deer heads when my dad passes. I don't have room for my own mounts much less his at this point. I really don't want to hang them in the shop but that's all I got. I would hope that my kids keep some of my rarer mounts but the whitetail heads I expect will be gifted to hardware stores or restaurants.

Could will them to a Non-profit for auction I guess.

 

[Orlando]

Depressing to think about. But in just a few generations, no one will remember any of us. Most if not all family photos will probably go to the burn pile. Not likely any of our hunting life's work will survive either. It does make me feel better to think my great-grandpa's 1890 Winchester will likely still be in the hands of a family member...

 

[AZ8]

The ancient hunters had it already figured out.

Etch your trophys on rock walls and your success will be enjoyed for generations!

 

[IDbrushswimmer]

Even at the ripe age of 33, it all means a heck of a lot less to me than it used to. I’ve got a few heads I consider “special” (wife’s first buck she took with me, etc). The rest have just become a pile in the woodshop downstairs. Maybe by the time I croak all the kids can sell them for dog chews and buy themselves dinner with the proceeds

 

[Cowbell]

Next time you're in DC, if you haven't already, set up a meal at Old Ebbitt Grill. One of the coolest places in town - huge collection of TR's old mounts, including a walrus.

Probably my favorite place in DC. A staple

 

[fatbacks]

I assume taxidermy is pretty flammable so maybe just pile it all on my body and a wooden raft, then give me a good ole Viking funeral and watch everything burn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MallardSX2]

This thread reminds me of why I use the CHEAPEST and fastest taxidermist that I can use.

Guys paying $1200 for a deer mount only to throw it in a dumpster in 25 years lol

I’m happy to be only paying $450….lol

I don’t care if it’s not top tier. It’s going in the trash bin.

 

[rodney482]

They only mean something to me. Sell them, donate them, fam can keep them if they choose.. Honestly dont care

 

[30338]

Heard bighorn ram horns make nice revolver grips. Be better than selling them lol. I guess they can chop the other stuff up for dog chews.

 

[JayAdel]

I have only kept a few of my own, first elk, cougar, deer, ect.

I dont expect my family to keep them, but what I do is keep a little diary of my hunts and who was there. I hope that sticks around after I am gone.

 

[Tradchef]

I don’t get into the taxidermy. They are cool but I think it’s a huge waste of money and they look terrible after time passes. I do euro mounts but this season I was like my walls are filling up and this is stupid really. I focus on the meat and always have so I never cared if I shot a 160 or a spike. They all taste good. But I think in the end dog chews or hike em back out to the mountains and let someone find them as dead heads or something. No attachent whatsoever. I have the hunt memories and that’s what matters to me. However I hunt solo so those also go with me

 

[RockAndSage]

and they look terrible after time passes.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[offthebeatenpath]

I have a bunch of euro mounts, and I'm honestly running out of decent space for them. There's two euro elk in the living room, two in the shop, and one more I haven't even put up yet from 3 years ago. My wife and kiddos like having them around, and I like telling the stories and telling others that don't hunt about the memory and the stories that get reinforced by the mounts being seen and talked about. They're the physical presence of a memory, and if you weren't there when it happened, it won't mean much to you.

I intend to keep a few around for as long as I can, but eventually I'll let the four of my kids pick from them if they want any and tell them to sell the antlers and split the cash of what's left. I'll ask them to do something memorable with the cash, but I won't have control over it.

When we go to antique stores back home in WI, I'll wander around looking for old mounts and skull plaques. It's pretty cool to see how far back some of them go and wonder what the story was. Some of them are inscribed, some it's just a date.

The conversation does remind me of my grandfather's antique woodworking tool collection that he had amassed over decades of garage and estate sales. He ultimately realized that he could have just as much fun selling it off as he did collecting it, instead of leaving it to grandma to deal with. I have a few of his tools that now decorate my office as a reminder of him, but I didn't need 500 hand planes. Harder to do with the mounts, as the market just isn't there, but could certainly be done with a gun collection. I'd rather sell one to another hunter or collector and see his eyes light up, than leave it in a safe and wonder what will become of it after I'm gone.

 

[OverInfinite]

This may come off wrong but- maybe take your kids hunting more?

My parents dont have a ton of mounts, maybe 9 or 10. All Euro. When they pass, I'll be putting them in my shop. I was there for at least 7 of them, and the memory means just as much to me as it does my mom or dad who pulled the trigger. especially the ones like my dads once in a lifetime oryx hunt, my moms first archery deer, my moms rifle bull tag that took her 10 years to draw... I was small when most of those happened, but I still remember them and cherish the lessons I learned from those hunts.

I've been lucky enough that my daughter was with me and my wife for a couple javelina hunts and deer tags, and when someone shows interest in those skulls, she is STOKED to tell them the story. I've killed plenty of javelinas, and have only a couple heads to show, but the ones I cleaned up- share a particular memory.

 

[offthebeatenpath]

This may come off wrong but- maybe take your kids hunting more?

My parents don't have a ton of mounts, maybe 9 or 10. All Euro. When they pass, I'll be putting them in my shop. I was there for at least 7 of them, and the memory means just as much to me as it does my mom or dad who pulled the trigger. especially the ones like my dads once in a lifetime oryx hunt, my moms first archery deer, my moms rifle bull tag that took her 10 years to draw... I was small when most of those happened, but I still remember them and cherish the lessons I learned from those hunts.

I've been lucky enough that my daughter was with me and my wife for a couple javelina hunts and deer tags, and when someone shows interest in those skulls, she is STOKED to tell them the story. I've killed plenty of javelinas, and have only a couple heads to show, but the ones I cleaned up- share a particular memory.

It almost came off wrong.... but I hear what you're getting at.

I'll take your point and own it. Early on, I spent a lot of time hunting without my kids. Public land elk hunting in SW Montana isn't exactly conducive to taking kids along, but that's still just an excuse. Most of my elk were killed alone, and those aren't the best memories. The best hunts are the ones that are shared, no matter how big the animal. I can't look at the only bull I've ever taken with my bow and say to anyone, "remember that one?!" It was a fantastic experience, but still hollow because it wasn't shared with anyone.

My oldest daughter has the biggest whitetail in the house, and my second daughter shot her first bull this year. It was amazing. I'd much rather keep her 5 point bull and toss the bulls I've killed solo. If we only had space for one, there'd be no question.

I like having four kids, but it's tough to take them all on their own hunts. Next year, all four of them will be able to carry a gun. That sounds a little chaotic, but they'll each get their turn.
It's taken me time to come to these realizations, but I'm there. This year was one of my favorite years of hunting to date, and I never pulled the trigger.

Back to the topic at hand, whether it's a euro or skin mount, an old winchester, a rocking chair or a dining room table, our kids are only going to want to keep them if they shared in the memories that were made with it. Seldom does a 'collection' of anything mean as much to that person's family as it does to the collector. Sometimes it goes the other way and it's just a representation of time and money not spent with family.