Last year was his first hunt. Had a few chances but didn't see much he could take. This year this lovely 8 point buck walked out 100 feet from us. One shot with a 20 gauge horndy SST. Perfect shot didn't hit any roasts and it fell another 50 feet from where he was hit.

Now my question is he wants a mount that is just the antlers with the leather between them. Is it best to send it away or can I do this?

I am a carpenter by trade and build staircases everyday. I have built a few poker tables and have worked with leather wraps for bumpers and arm rests. I do have lots of oak, maple, and poplar kicking around for a good mount backer.

Very proud of the boy for his first deer at 16, he ended the week with two nice bucks but the other was rutted out and had his antlers smashed all up. So bad we first thought he was hit by a car.

My oldest got two a doe and buck, middle boy got two bucks, and my youngest didn't get anything this year. He did get a button buck for his first deer last year at 13. My oldest and middle boys did some field dressing too. So so proud of my boys.

Cheers Don.

Hey Donno that is awesome!!!

This was my daughters 2nd year and she couldn't take the whole week off because of a busy school schedule and a nice 10 point walked right under her stand when she wasn't there. I was just as disappointed as she was.

I mount my own just like you are describing and I have no carpentry skills at all. cutting the skull on the right angle is the hardest part.

I have no idea how to post picks and I'm swamped at work this week so I don't have time to figure it out either.

If you give me an email or phone number I will text or email you some pics tonight that should give you a good idea. I got my buck from this year drying in my shop right now.

If you can build a staircase, an antler mount is a snap. The vertical cut behind the antlers is the most important so that the antlers mount flat and project forward. I did not watch these since I just screw the skull plates to a porch post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyhBU_5ih0c

and another without leather

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7cLwyGs0dw

or just google deer antler mount.

Thanks guys. Checked out the videos and got into a video tornado for hours on this. I feel I am an expert now.... Tee he he.

I do think this is something we can handle and will be fun for us. Thanks so much and I hope to up load some pictures of our progress.

Interesting note I thought this buck was an 8 point but he is a-symmetrical 7 point.

Cheers Don.

Congrats Dono, sounds like you had a great family hunt.

"I do think this is something we can handle and will be fun for us".
Congrats to you and your son. Glad you revised from I can do to we can do. Will give him good experience and make for a nice bonding time.
Keep up the good work and examples.
Oh almost forgot, if the boys and you are out setting in this weather you all have some true grit. If ya teach em young they don't know any better.

Here is the deer mount we did for Trevor's first deer. The plaque is 1" walnut just clear coated. The window is for a picture of Trevor and the deer with his name and date.

I think it worked out pretty good for our first try.

Cheers Don.

EDIT: Aaaa crap the picture is side ways...Oh well.

Very nice!

Dono, Good job, you mounting his first 7 pointer