Antlers ?

[Ranger_Compact]

Hello, All. I do not exactly know where to place this topic, but I have some questions about deer antlers. I would have LOVED to get my first deer mounted, or even just one with the skull (boiled or however that works). I should have been more outspoken about it at the time I guess, but I didn't want to bother anyone I was hunting with about questions regarding it. So here I am a few years later. My dad has the antlers, and they are attached to the top/front of the skull. Is that weird? I don't know, I haven't seen anything like that before-so I can't say much for it I guess. It's not like he has it on display in my parent's home, he has it out in the garage. Anyways, I'm moving back to Camp Pendleton, California in the next couple of weeks when my husband gets home from deployment. I am wondering what my options are for taking it with. I would like it to have a more "finished" look. I have seen those things at Cabela's and Fleet Farm, where it kind of looks like a mounting plaque that you would attach antlers to somehow? How do you do that? I don't mean to sound so horribly clueless, so sorry for all the silly questions! Anyways, I don't want to do anything very fancy, because it's not a good looking rack by any means. There were tines broken off, some not grown--it isn't much of a pretty sight, just special as it was my first buck. Here is a picture of the buck, I don't have any pictures taken of the antlers alone, as my dad is hanging hats on it : P Another question for you Dads/Moms....how would you feel about your child who is the only other hunter in the family taking their first buck's antlers cross country back to their own home? I wonder this, because my dad is beyond proud. He keeps an 8X10 picture of me with my first buck taped to the toolbox of his truck. Whenever we go anywhere, at some point he brings his friends to his truck to show them my buck that I got. It just doesn't seem to wear out. Would I absolutely break his heart for taking them back? Would it not be worth it? Or would he be proud that they mean a lot to me too? I'm just kind of lost as to what to do there. Any insight would be great.

[''HILLBILLY'']

WELL AS FAR AS HOW TO DISPLAY THEM, ONE OPTION ; THEY MAKE ARTIFITIAL SKULLS TO PUT ANTLERS ON BUT I WOULD LET A TAXIDERMIST DO IT. YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND THE REAL ONES AND I THINK SKULL MOUNTS ARE AWSOME. I HAD THE LAST DEER I KILLED SKULLMOUNTED AND IT TURNED OUT GREAT.

[6 Pt. Piney]

WELL I THINK PAT IS RIGHT I HAD MY FIRST MOUNTED THIS YEAR YOU SEE ME STANDING NEXT TO IT IN MY PICTURE IT IS NOT A REAL BIG BUCK BUT A PRISE FOR ME

[4Pointer]

AS FOR MOUNTING ,THERE ARE LOADS OF KIT'S OUT THERE.
PAT HIT IT ON THE HEAD..
AS FOR DAD,,ONLY MY TWO CENTS,,,THAT FIRST BUCK IS ALWAY'S SPECIAL .. YOU COULD GET DADS TO HELP YA MOUNT IT AND WAIT TILL THE DAY YOUR HEADING HOME AND GIVE IT TO HIM FROM HIS LITTLE GIRL..
I KNOW THAT WOULD BE THE BEST GIFT AND IT WOULD BE IN THE HOUSE .
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TOO THINK ABOUT,,
FIRST DEER,,DO I KEEP THE HORN'S OR DO I GIVE THEM TO DAD
AND ONLY HAVE A PICTURE OF IT...
YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE..THERE NO WRONG IN THIS ONE..

[jwj4856]

I am a taxidermis in Louisiana and like was said earlier, they do make artificial skulls to put your antlers on and they look great, just like a real european skull mount, you can also find a taxidermist that will get you a spare cape to mount your antlers and have a real shoulder mount. Contact a couple taxidermists in your area and talk to them and get their advise and prices and then you can decide what you want to do.