My deer mount , opinions?

[Hackbow]

Brian,
 
my son just got one back from last year's gun season (or I'd post the picture here) and it is very similar to yours. He killed his at the peak of rut for this guy and his neck was freakishly large. I think your mount looks just fine. Each deer has it's own look and I'd sure be proud to have won a battle against that dude.

FWIW, I don't think any mount can match the dynamic beauty of a live deer. They all seem to lose a little luster for me with an eternal pose.

[Guru]

OK, Here's my opinion.....pix are tough to critique!

 Just a little backround,and not to brag at all,most folks don't even know I'm a taxidermist...but....I'm a two time National champion whitetail taxidermist(Highest scoring/best head in the country ), I've judged many shows,some big one's too...like I said,not bragging,just wanted to let Bigriver know that I kinda know what I'm talking about....

 From the pix....You sir have a fine looking mount!

 The guy earlier was absolutely right....that a Meder whitetail form. There isn't a whitetail that's alive today that you can't find a form for.They make them extremely big now! Back in the "old days", maybe.....

 The neck is typical for a big swelled neck form. When a deer turns it's head one way, sometimes the opposite side of the atlas vertebrae looks like it's sticking out too much.Especially on a big swelled neck deer. Some forms are a bit overdone,and this one might be a little.But not out of the realm of whats possible....

 The eyes look like they are done very well to reproduce the heavy eyed look of a mature buck....very nice!

 To me the ears look fine too....focused forward,but not too much....

 Skin and hair patterns all appear to be where they should be...

Like I said this is from the pix......

 He's a good lookin' dude!!

[bowhunterfrompast]

Bigriver looks good to me. Beautiful buck. I also think that it is hard to capture the real mccoy in any mount. Every deer is unique in it's own way.

Guru has the credentials and he gave it a    I'd be proud of him hanging on my wall.

[Bigriver]

Thanks for all the input. This deer is just really different, maybe I`m just not used to having big deer on my wall.

 Guru, that makes me feel better! Thanks.

My normal taxidermist is getting to the point where he wants to retire, so his prices reflect that. He was over $500.00 for a whitetail. He is an artist, but I just couldn`t justify it. I still have to pay for 2 caribou mounts this year.

 I checked out a lot of this guys work before I gave him my biggest deer. He has won numerous awards & competitions & seemed like a good guy to do business with.

[John3]

I like it... The only thing that really matters is that you do as well.

Congrats on a beautiful buck.


III

[Shawn Leonard]

I agree with Curt. He has mounted one of mine and it is much better than the others, they look real natural to me. I would say it is a nice job! Shawn