first deer this year

[longshot44]

I got my first deer this year ... finally!

My hunting buddies are telling me I should get the hide tanned and the head mounted because it is my first. I don't think the head is impressive enough to do, but have been wondering about trying the tanning myself. I'll try pretty much anything once ....

My next step is to do an internet search, but just thought I'd ask for any advice that you might have on whether or not it is something that I am absolutely insane for even contemplating .....

thanks!!!!

[vixenmaster]

Congrats on yer deer. Should be some directions somewhere to google up fer tanning the hide's

[wabi]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are some products available for tanning, but alum is all I have ever used.
A lot of work is involved if you want the hide to be soft.
I can't remember the exact amounts to mix, but just a water/alum mixture to soak the hide in for a week or so will preserve it. Be sure to get all the meat & fat off of it (flesh it very well) and let it soak while moving it around and stirring the solution twice a day for at least a week. If you are just using it for display you can just let it dry then, but it will be "stiff as a board".

[gerald strine]

Way to go long shot what did you get? Do tell the story we like details.
You can do a European skull mount as a less costly option for your trophy I like them and do my own.

[one shot scott]

Congrats! I did a euro mount on my first ever deer.

[longshot44]

Thanks all. I got a decent sized buck with a little itty bitty 4 point "rack". If 4 point constitutes a rack .... I was up in WMU 49 with my hunting party this week. We pretty much just dog, but the other guys were too tired (I hunt with old farts .... who have imparted great wisdom to me) to stay out past 4pm, so I sat near our camp and saw the deer coming towards me around 5:50pm .... I thought it was another doe at first, and didn't see the antlers until it was about 60 yards away. So, I picked my lane and waited until he got there (35 yards broadside) .... he didn't stop, but I hit him in the lungs (woohoo!).

It was harvested with my late fathers British 303 .... which kinda makes it special too.

I may try the euro mount. There seems to be lots of instructions available on the net for tanning .... and all of them are a little different

Next on the list .... to get one with my Phoenix.

[georgiaboy]

Congrats on your buck!!!
I had a 303 when I was a teenager...heaviest dang gun I ever toted in the woods!!
Good hunting!!!

[frisky]

Congrats We need pictures

[Sandman]

Congrats

[secret]

Congrats!!!!! Good shot!

[sumner4991]

Congrats!!

[j.krug]

Congrats on yer first deer and real nice doing it with your fathers rifle.
Must've been real special!

[lscha]

A deer doesn't have to be impressive points to be special enough to mount. Does included.
Congratulations!!!

[longshot44]

I forgot my camera (duh!), but one of my buddies took some pics .... I'll post when I get them.

My hunting buddies gave me one of their doe skins to practise on, which I scraped today .... it is now soaking in a salt/alum mixture in the garage. Tomorrow night I'll scrape the buck skin, salt it and put it in the freezer and wait to see how the doe turns out. I thought long and hard about it, and it will be so much more special if I've done it myself .... even if it ends up being a huge dog chew toy, but hopefully I learn from the doe and it turns out a bit better than that.

As far as the mount .... I cut the cap off the head and will be drying it .... as for mounting it, we will see how it turns out.