Is this Axis even worthy of a mount? I've had some say no, as if I should just leave it in the field to rot and feed the yotes. You know who you are.

I retired a few years ago after working for over 40 years. I tested the waters on a few budget hunts to see if it was something I wanted to do. Should I travel? Did that in the military, Korea, Germany, 1st Gulf War in the middle east.. Got a [censored] of medals. So, no more travel. So we buy a boat and fish Texoma, Roberts, Lewisville. Still not there.
So we take on hunting. Dove, ducks then deer. The deer hooked me. Between the Mrs and I we've taken probably taken 10 in the past 4 years. Whitetail, Blackbuck, Fallow, Axis, Stag. Still a work in progress. Post something out here and some of the members think its funny, talk behind you. As a War Vet, you should be ashamed. You know who you are Hog Fart and a few others. That's what retirement is about. Doing what you want to do. There is nothing better than having a spouse by your side being a partner. Some of you bitter critics will never get this.

It's sad when fellow Texans feel the way they do toward another.

It's hard to do, but ignore them. You can't win against a pig in the mud!
As far as your axis, It's ok. It's not as good as your other trophies, it's a representative Axis buck. One Idea is to have it European mounted. There is always a 'nitch' where a full mount won't fit. Then, you have the fun of finding a better one. capt david

It looks like a very good Axis to me. If you want it mounted then get it mounted. You and your wife and family are the ones that will see it. The memories it brings back are what counts. Not what some A H tells you.

First of all, thanks for your service to our great country. Secondly, I wouldn't give a ratsazzz what anyone thinks of what I'm doing, as it sounds like it brings your and your wife lots of happiness and quality time together. I say more power to you. I 2nd the rec for a euro mount on that very nice axis buck? Congrats to you both.

You have served our country, and for that, I owe you a debt that I cannot repay. All I can do is thank you, and respect you for your service.

I do not, however, agree with your one-sided review of what went down. You're playing the victim card, and you're using your medals to do it.

One guy asked if you paid 8K to hunt 2 axis. Rude? Maybe, but it wasn't an attack. You, however, blew up, posted about how much money you had (multiple times) and basically called anyone that didn't want to throw their money around in the exact same way, and I quote, "poor trash hunters". People are gonna react to that.

You're letting this place get to you and you're taking this way too far. It's a dead deer that your having trouble getting back from the taxidermist. Hunting isn't how much stuff you shoot and put on your wall, it's the experiences that you've obviously enjoyed with your family.

I`d mount them all ! those are some trophies in my eyes !!!!

After a couple of dozen hunts for exotics in Texas, and four safaris in Africa, I recommend getting European mounts.

They take up less wall space and the cost savings will allow to take more hunts; the memories are the real trophies.

Thank you for your service.

George

First of all thank you and your wife for your life long service to this country.

I either scull cap or Euro mount any of my deer species, I only display the ones that I want to tell the story of. The others are stacked in the rafters of my garage and I swap them out in the house from time to time so my guest get to hear different tells about the day I killed that animal. I only have two shoulder mounts, one is an Axis about the size of the one you shot but in velvet and a nice 11 point south Texas deer. I get personal satisfaction looking at my Euro and skull cap mounts just the same as my shoulder mounts. They are my trophies to enjoy and I could care less the opinions of others.

A true hunter would know this and appreciate your trophy for you, knowing it had a special meaning and story for you.

Sure have it mounted, but use another taxi service. And don't post about it at 2:00am please.

I have around 40 mounts in my collection. I like variety, so what they score has nothing to do with my decision to mount them. I do measure them and I am aware of what the different medal rankings are before I decide to pull the trigger. For me, it's a reminder of the trip. Everything that's involved in it, from the research on where to go and learning about the animal, to traveling to get there, and what happens while I'm out hunting. Each mount is the ultimate souvenir to a great memory. I've only shot one whitetail in my life, and it's a nice 140 ten point. Not a trophy to some, but a great memory to me. I don't know if I will ever shoot another whitetail, I'm a lot more interested in hunting something that I've never hunted before to add to my collection. I've even shot smaller animals because I felt that they would look better on the wall. My bison is just such an animal. Beautiful cape, but there where some other bulls with longer horns. An inch makes a huge difference, but he's still huge, and he's still amazing on the wall!!!

European mount, tan hide. Enjoy hunting for a bigger one😊👍.

Nice Axis, and it would make a nice shoulder mount. I personally would rather do a skull mount on my deer.

As for me "Thank you for your service to our Country". Mounting it is YOUR choice. If you like it DO IT. But I will tell you NOT to waste the BEST WILD ANIMAL MEAT IN THE GAME WORLD. It by far beats anything wild that I have ever eaten.

Thank you for your service to our country.

They deleted all of the dramatic posts already so I can't comment on those.

I am pretty much a 100% meat hunter, so I don't care a whole lot about antlers because they don't taste very good . Mounts are for preserving memories of the hunt. It is your choice to pay a taxidermist or not.

Axis Deer is my favorite protein source. I could easily subsist on axis and sandhill crane for the rest of my life.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Agree with all the above. Sounds like you are living a great life, with a great family. God surely has looked after you !

Thank you for the compliment. You're right, I did blow up. It was the way it was asked. It implied I'm an idiot for paying too much. Defend him if you wish. Then the names, Troll, Quick Money, the guy's talking out his a$$ , I need to see a W2, on and on. I've been a member for like five years and have a whole 39 posts and have been hunting the whole time. Why don't all the other new hunters post? Why should they open themselves up to the wolves? No, I'm not playing victim, you're wrong there. I'm merely putting a face on the posts I submit. I rarely see it here. It's all anonymous. Some lack the fortitude to do the same. How often do you post your pics with your posts? I'm surprised no one said " I need to see a DD-214". Everyone here is welcome to stop by our house and I'll show it to you. I have no intention of litigating my Taxidermist. I like these guys. Just asked of other's experiences as my patience isn't the best. I can look out my upstairs window and see their shop. The mounts are important as its a showing of respect for the animals we took in the field. I don't care how big they are because someone always has one bigger. They are ours and the experience was ours, regardless of their size.

Why would anyone care what some random person posts on the ‘net?

100% agreed!!!! Most post are random anyway. OP has some nice trophy's to be treated as such. What he paid is irrelevant as long as he got what he wanted out of it. Enjoy the hunt and the meat and carry on. Don't worry about what someone thinks or says here or anywhere online. The net is a fickle world and all the world enjoys others misery.....

Strange how things work out sometimes. Picked them up today. Truly appreciate the positive comments. What is it some say? The power of social media or something like that? Anyway, looking for an Elk or Stag this next Fall.

Looks good to me!!!

Very nice.

First, thank you for your service and sacrifice for me and this country. All your animals are beautiful. There's no reason to not mount any of them should you choose to. I'd ignore anyone who says otherwise....else you'll give them what they desire most....a response. The trophy is in the experience and the memory not the inches.

x2!