I agree with "depends on the deer". I would never add antler to make one better. Thats stupid.

I did fix a broken horn blackbuck my daughter shot. Taxi did a great job molding and matching it.

What if the buck was bigger the year before? He grew bigger antlers, at some point. Would it be okay to “fix” his rack to be the same size as the year before?

If I have a pic of the buck before a break, I will repair, as long as it's a brow tine. Otherwise, I won't shoot a buck with broken beam or other tines. The way I feel is, they grew it originally, fix it back to what it was.

Depends on the circumstances at the time. Only had one repaired and no regrets.

If we're talkin' 'bout deer horns, that're missin', then they're broke plumb off.


However, if one were concerned about a fully grown and now missing portion of antler on a cervid, then the antler is unequivocally broken.

tisk. tisk.

This is my thought process as well.

I have exactly one deer mounted. It is a decent 8 pt with a 19 inch spread that was taken in Potter County Pa back when it was hard to get a decent buck there. This buck was a fighter with cuts and puncture marks on his face and neck. He also had several broken tines. I was hunting with a navy buddy on his family land and I had the deer done in memory of him and his family.

I had him done as he hit the ground to honor his fighting spirit. I have killed a lot of bigger bucks but for me it isnt the size that determines if it is a trophy and to me this one was special.

I also leave them as I found them. Adds character. Bucks fight. The evidence is kinda cool.

2023 season I passed the biggest buck I have ever had the opportunity to harvest due to a completely broke off g2. My uncles place and we had a picture of the deer completely intact on Tuesday, i left on Wednesday, hunted Thursday morning and passed the deer on the first sit due to the broken tine. Deer was pushing 170 intact and would have still been my largest deer. Not sure if i regret it or not, didnt see the deer this season.

this question reminds me of the people who buy a car and put new rims and tires on it...some do it for every car they own, some just the most expensive and some think it is a foolish waste to do such a thing

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and who cares what one does with their mount. the option is available to anyone who wishes

For me personally I’m not fixing it I want to remember, how it was when the harvest was made.

Depends how beat up they are and how I feel about them. Like this old cull buck... fighting son of a gun was pretty busted up and I thought he would be better remembered in his regal glory.....