Shoulder vs European

[Barnes]

Funny I just posted this question to the Sunday Q&A.

We have 10 shoulder mount whitetails right now with another on the way. I haven’t done one since I killed a 165 in 2016. Had a really cool 8 point with kickers that I should have probably done but I did a Euro instead.

I like mounts a lot I just don’t have a good spot for them right now. We should have a lake house or a farm cabin in the near future.

I have a mule deer shoulder, 29” walleye, bear and a turkey my younger son shot last spring. That maybe my favorite. It was over 30 lbs, 12.75” beard and 1-5/8 spurs. Those aren’t cheap but it’s pretty bad ass.

Beautiful gobbler!

 

[Andrew Wilson]

As much taxidermy as possible, I want my house to look like some kind of weird Victorian-era study full of curiosities. So, shoulder or even full mount everything.

 

[Chris M]

This is a great thread.

I shoulder mounted my first kill, almost like a right of passage. Given my age, I’m pretty sure that pre-dated the combustion engine.

Since then, I’m biased to euro mounts for space and simplicity. That said, I fall prey to great takes and awesome animals, such as the shoulder Cape Kudu on the wall, and a Greater Southern on the way, paired with a Nyala. The “slams” where you have to delineate by color also compelled me to do shoulders for Springbok, and similarly that then leads down the slippery path of unique takes, so add to the list of shoulder mounts a Golden Wilderbeast, and a Black Impala. Deer and elk and everything else from Africa has been euro. So in essence, I’m all over the fucking map, with wall space shrinking, euros and shoulders, not to mention flat skins, stacking up like cord wood. Is there an intervention service for this?

But here is the question, or scenario, to contemplate: @Tony Caggiano sets you up with a Narwal hunt, and at the moment you un-alive that bastard, your African taxidermist calls to confirm how you want to set up the Baboon you shot a few weeks earlier. Meanwhile, your walls are full and the narrative at home is you are out of control, and it’s trending to a problem. What do you do (select all that apply):

(A) you have them make the Narwal horn (it’s actually a tooth) in to a gentleman’s cane

(B) you have them euro the entire baboon skeleton, pinned at the joints, with one hand holding the severed head of said baboon, the other flipping off the audience

(C) you do a simple baboon skull with orange LED lights in the eye sockets and use it in the window at Halloween

(D) you make boots for you and your besties out of Narwal skin, which upon reflection would pair well with the gentleman’s cane

(E) you have them shoulder mount the Narwal coming out of the floor as if it’s rising from the sea, with the option of a wet floor pond, of course with bubbling jets and froth and a filtering set up behind the scenes, and then you have them place the baboon in full body mount, being skewered by the Narwal horn (did I mention this is actually a tooth?), with the Baboon depicted in absolute agony, fake blood at the point of penetration, and of course the Baboon flipping off the audience

(F) none of the above (this selection requires an alternative option being provided)

These are the first world problems that perplex mankind….what say you?

If I get to the point where I've taken enough baboons, C is definitely a serious option to consider.

In full disclosure, the narrative at home on taxidermy is "we are out of control and it's already problem" but that hasn't stopped the inflows to our taxidermist.

My baboon philosophy is that they should always be mounted full size in some action pose. I have a yellow baboon that I took last year in Zambia that is going to be mounted riding the hyena that I took on the same trip. I haven't decided what the baboon would be holding (spear, gun, flag etc) but now I'm thinking a Narwal tooth/horn like javelin would be a good look.

When is that Narwal hunt scheduled?

In all seriousness regarding the shoulder vs Euro mount space question, I've been doing more pedestals lately to use floor vs wall space and as someone else said, group like species together. Attached, a couple in process pedestals at our taxidermist.

 

[Tony Caggiano]

Shoulder mounts are awesome, euro mounts are awesome, flat skins are awesome. If you have the space and discretionary income, shoulder mounts are dope but I personally would only shoulder mount an animal that was significant in some way - not necessarily due to size but due to the quality of that particular hunt and the memories associated with it.

The only whitetail I've shoulder mounted is the first buck I killed and he was stud of an 8-point that I worked my ass off for and targeted specifically over a period of time.

I also have shoulder mounts of a kudu and a zebra. In process are shoulder mounts of a nilgai and an nyala. I have a ton of euros - some on plaques and some straight skulls and like both options for different reasons. Then I have flat skins of fallow deer, zebra, and springbok. My one taxidermy regret is not getting either a shoulder mount or at least the flat skin from my first African kill, which was a blue wildebeest. I have his skull on a plaque and it looks great, but their brindle coat is incredible and, if I had it to do over again, I would have gone shoulder or added the flat skin to the euro order.

You should kill another Blue Wildebeest and make yourself a brindle merkin.

 

[Colin Jones]

As much taxidermy as possible, I want my house to look like some kind of weird Victorian-era study full of curiosities. So, shoulder or even full mount everything.

I'm with you on this Andrew... Shoulder mount or don't shoot it.

 

[Charlie Benton]

You should kill another Blue Wildebeest and make yourself a brindle merkin.

Keep your fantasies off of my body, Tony.

 

[Jason Vincent]

This is a great thread.

I shoulder mounted my first kill, almost like a right of passage. Given my age, I’m pretty sure that pre-dated the combustion engine.

Since then, I’m biased to euro mounts for space and simplicity. That said, I fall prey to great takes and awesome animals, such as the shoulder Cape Kudu on the wall, and a Greater Southern on the way, paired with a Nyala. The “slams” where you have to delineate by color also compelled me to do shoulders for Springbok, and similarly that then leads down the slippery path of unique takes, so add to the list of shoulder mounts a Golden Wilderbeast, and a Black Impala. Deer and elk and everything else from Africa has been euro. So in essence, I’m all over the fucking map, with wall space shrinking, euros and shoulders, not to mention flat skins, stacking up like cord wood. Is there an intervention service for this?

But here is the question, or scenario, to contemplate: @Tony Caggiano sets you up with a Narwal hunt, and at the moment you un-alive that bastard, your African taxidermist calls to confirm how you want to set up the Baboon you shot a few weeks earlier. Meanwhile, your walls are full and the narrative at home is you are out of control, and it’s trending to a problem. What do you do (select all that apply):

(A) you have them make the Narwal horn (it’s actually a tooth) in to a gentleman’s cane

(B) you have them euro the entire baboon skeleton, pinned at the joints, with one hand holding the severed head of said baboon, the other flipping off the audience

(C) you do a simple baboon skull with orange LED lights in the eye sockets and use it in the window at Halloween

(D) you make boots for you and your besties out of Narwal skin, which upon reflection would pair well with the gentleman’s cane

(E) you have them shoulder mount the Narwal coming out of the floor as if it’s rising from the sea, with the option of a wet floor pond, of course with bubbling jets and froth and a filtering set up behind the scenes, and then you have them place the baboon in full body mount, being skewered by the Narwal horn (did I mention this is actually a tooth?), with the Baboon depicted in absolute agony, fake blood at the point of penetration, and of course the Baboon flipping off the audience

(F) none of the above (this selection requires an alternative option being provided)

These are the first world problems that perplex mankind….what say you?

New challenge unlocked.

 

[hbibicoffvii]

My wife prefers shoulder mounts so that’s pretty much all I do. Exception is the full body BC mountain goat. First Africa trip in 105 days, 17 hours, 11 min, and 13 seconds, so we’ll see what taxidermy comes from that.

 

[Chad Adams]

Or you could go another way ...

My Taxidermist Is Cooler Than Yours | Field Ethos

By Kyle Wright My taxidermist is cooler than your taxidermist. If that sounds like an odd flex, well, I…

fieldethos.com

 

[Chip Hunnicutt]

I’ll go euro if it’s not the biggest. Most of what I’ve got mounted are the giants or species I’ll never chase again.

Recently I’ve gone the other way on a few, doing full bodies.

 

[olsensoutdoors]

Lots to take away on this thread. With my house slowly looking like a mini Basspro and having a son getting to the age of taking trips with me I need to do more euros! Just about every animal I harvest ends up on the wall.

 

[Jake V]

I hunt private property I don’t own and the rule is, you shoot it, you shoulder mount it. Generally understood 4.5 year old minimum, with some do-not hit listers reserved until 5-6. Exception for cull bucks and does. This is even goes for parents and their kids. Good rule. Makes someone financially invested in what they choose to shoot. I love euro mounts and have some cool ones.

 

[Jake V]

This is a great thread.

I shoulder mounted my first kill, almost like a right of passage. Given my age, I’m pretty sure that pre-dated the combustion engine.

Since then, I’m biased to euro mounts for space and simplicity. That said, I fall prey to great takes and awesome animals, such as the shoulder Cape Kudu on the wall, and a Greater Southern on the way, paired with a Nyala. The “slams” where you have to delineate by color also compelled me to do shoulders for Springbok, and similarly that then leads down the slippery path of unique takes, so add to the list of shoulder mounts a Golden Wilderbeast, and a Black Impala. Deer and elk and everything else from Africa has been euro. So in essence, I’m all over the fucking map, with wall space shrinking, euros and shoulders, not to mention flat skins, stacking up like cord wood. Is there an intervention service for this?

But here is the question, or scenario, to contemplate: @Tony Caggiano sets you up with a Narwal hunt, and at the moment you un-alive that bastard, your African taxidermist calls to confirm how you want to set up the Baboon you shot a few weeks earlier. Meanwhile, your walls are full and the narrative at home is you are out of control, and it’s trending to a problem. What do you do (select all that apply):

(A) you have them make the Narwal horn (it’s actually a tooth) in to a gentleman’s cane

(B) you have them euro the entire baboon skeleton, pinned at the joints, with one hand holding the severed head of said baboon, the other flipping off the audience

(C) you do a simple baboon skull with orange LED lights in the eye sockets and use it in the window at Halloween

(D) you make boots for you and your besties out of Narwal skin, which upon reflection would pair well with the gentleman’s cane

(E) you have them shoulder mount the Narwal coming out of the floor as if it’s rising from the sea, with the option of a wet floor pond, of course with bubbling jets and froth and a filtering set up behind the scenes, and then you have them place the baboon in full body mount, being skewered by the Narwal horn (did I mention this is actually a tooth?), with the Baboon depicted in absolute agony, fake blood at the point of penetration, and of course the Baboon flipping off the audience

(F) none of the above (this selection requires an alternative option being provided)

These are the first world problems that perplex mankind….what say you?

Full body mount the narwal like it’s a dolphin jumping out of the water. Full body mount the baboon in western gear or Native American garb (depending who you want to appropriate) riding the narwhal like a rodeo horse, teeth revealed, screaming at the sky like a banshee with golden 6 shooters pointed skyward. Solid gold replica statue in your front yard is also acceptable. Maybe a lamp out of the horn or a baboon leg, like a Christmas Story. Firmly in Beverly Hillbilly, Pablo Escobar territory (or modern art) with any one of the options. Defund HOAs. As a bonus, you could enter it into Art Basel and sell it for an absurd amount of money.

 

[Jake V]

This is a great thread.

I shoulder mounted my first kill, almost like a right of passage. Given my age, I’m pretty sure that pre-dated the combustion engine.

Since then, I’m biased to euro mounts for space and simplicity. That said, I fall prey to great takes and awesome animals, such as the shoulder Cape Kudu on the wall, and a Greater Southern on the way, paired with a Nyala. The “slams” where you have to delineate by color also compelled me to do shoulders for Springbok, and similarly that then leads down the slippery path of unique takes, so add to the list of shoulder mounts a Golden Wilderbeast, and a Black Impala. Deer and elk and everything else from Africa has been euro. So in essence, I’m all over the fucking map, with wall space shrinking, euros and shoulders, not to mention flat skins, stacking up like cord wood. Is there an intervention service for this?

But here is the question, or scenario, to contemplate: @Tony Caggiano sets you up with a Narwal hunt, and at the moment you un-alive that bastard, your African taxidermist calls to confirm how you want to set up the Baboon you shot a few weeks earlier. Meanwhile, your walls are full and the narrative at home is you are out of control, and it’s trending to a problem. What do you do (select all that apply):

(A) you have them make the Narwal horn (it’s actually a tooth) in to a gentleman’s cane

(B) you have them euro the entire baboon skeleton, pinned at the joints, with one hand holding the severed head of said baboon, the other flipping off the audience

(C) you do a simple baboon skull with orange LED lights in the eye sockets and use it in the window at Halloween

(D) you make boots for you and your besties out of Narwal skin, which upon reflection would pair well with the gentleman’s cane

(E) you have them shoulder mount the Narwal coming out of the floor as if it’s rising from the sea, with the option of a wet floor pond, of course with bubbling jets and froth and a filtering set up behind the scenes, and then you have them place the baboon in full body mount, being skewered by the Narwal horn (did I mention this is actually a tooth?), with the Baboon depicted in absolute agony, fake blood at the point of penetration, and of course the Baboon flipping off the audience

(F) none of the above (this selection requires an alternative option being provided)

These are the first world problems that perplex mankind….what say you?

If you get two male baboons, you could do a brokeback mountain recreation and put it in your front yard. If you’re in California, I’m sure this will be well received and protected by some BS law.

 

[Godfather]

This is precisely the creative innovation we hoped to spark hy this thread @Jake V

Full body mount the narwal like it’s a dolphin jumping out of the water. Full body mount the baboon in western gear or Native American garb (depending who you want to appropriate) riding the narwhal like a rodeo horse, teeth revealed, screaming at the sky like a banshee with golden 6 shooters pointed skyward. Solid gold replica statue in your front yard is also acceptable. Maybe a lamp out of the horn or a baboon leg, like a Christmas Story. Firmly in Beverly Hillbilly, Pablo Escobar territory (or modern art) with any one of the options. Defund HOAs. As a bonus, you could enter it into Art Basel and sell it for an absurd amount of money.

 

[Godfather]

It’s a brilliant suggestion. For parts of Cali, definitely would be met with affinity. Behind my part of the red curtain, it be confiscated and later burned.

If you get two male baboons, you could do a brokeback mountain recreation and put it in your front yard. If you’re in California, I’m sure this will be well received and protected by some BS law.

 

[Jake V]

I’m thinking full body zebra, baboon holding Cape buffalo skull would be pretty sick.

 

[Godfather]

I’m thinking you fit in this community like a glove @Jake V

If I hit the lottery, I’d buy a sports franchise just so I could make that our mascot

I’m thinking full body zebra, baboon holding Cape buffalo skull would be pretty sick.

 

[Keith Wood]

I used to shoulder mount just about any new species but I filled up one house, moved to a bigger house, pretty well filled that house and have mounts in people’s offices who I no longer see or speak to. Mostly euros nowadays unless it’s a monster.

 

[keithafernandezjr]

Currently have my first buck and 4 ducks (Fulvous Whistler, Hooded Merg, Black Duck, Buffy) in my NYC apartment, much to my girlfriend's chagrin... Should be getting the Euro from my 10+ ft gator to add soon.

Realistically, I won't get any more waterfowl mounted until we have a house and I can put it in my office/basement/den. Hopefully less than 5 years. Right now, I'll shoulder mount any deer bigger than my current (~105" so not hard to beat) but the current would probably have to go in storage. Any new antlered/horned game will get shoulder mounted. Any black bear over 300lbs will get rugged. Furbearers and smaller bears get tanned and stored until I have enough for a big throw blanket. My gf actually wants a full body red fox mount, so I guess that's on the hit list now.

In an ideal world, I'd like a legit trophy room with at least one of every huntable species in North America