Article: Butte hunter and outfitter Jack Atcheson Jr. Donation - What to do with them ole' mount(s).

[JMG]

Interesting article in the Billings Gazette: Jack Atcheson Jr. Article.

Good read. I found this quote “I'm 70 years old now, and I don't have any kids that want my stuffed heads like a lot of hunters find,” he said.

I wonder how many other hunters are discovering this ... their wife or children are stuck with a bunch of mounts that do not have the same "hunt down memory lane". Something to consider before you shell out that money for a mount.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Wondering myself about the fate of my 3 bull elk shoulder mounts and my 3 whitetail deer mounts. I turn 73 in July so I ponder their future. None of my kids are even remotely interested.

 

[MNElkNut]

See if the local school outdoors teacher has any interest in them. I know that our high school teacher who teaches outdoors, wildlife, conservation management, etc is always after mounts for the kids to see and learn from.

 

[Laelkhunter]

New Orleans public schools would probably use them for target practice. I was thinking about the Cabela's? Maybe they would take them.

 

[rogerthat]

They are going to all end up as dog chews. I’m good with that. They are just my memories. I got two boys. I plan to write the stories down but it’s okay if the boys feed them to their dogs. Twenty years and the technology advances i see coming, I doubt anyone will even be able to relate to how we hunt now.

 

[thomas89]

Before antler prices went crazy, I had the thought to put it in my will that I wanted the heads each replaced as close to the locations they were killed as possible.

Now I'll just make sure people know to saw the antlers off and find one of those mobile antler buyers and snag a few extra bucks.

I only shoot dinks so not gonna get rich but even those little chihuahuas deserve antler chews!

 

[SaskHunter]

I have it in my will that my kids and their future kids have first dibs, whatever's left goes to local Wildlife Orgs.

I really don't care what happens to them after I die, I just want to make sure my kids and potential future grandkids get what they want, if they want any, otherwise IDGAF what happens to them but would rather they go to orgs.

 

[Addicting]

Kept what we kids wanted and the rest just went into the farm auction. They sold pretty well.

 

[Steiny77]

Sheesh, my poor kids are going to have to deal with a building full of that stuff.
Guess I really don't care what they do with it.

 

[Southern Elk]

I only do European mounts. I’m not a huge fan of taxidermy. I hope that my kids will at least hang them in the shop or garage.

 

[2rocky]

In 1989, Hugh Codding donated the original, extensive inventory from his own museum to establish the Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum at Petaluma High School. The Codding family further supported the museum by assisting with the acquisition of a new facility, helping convert a 9,000-square-foot former bus garage into the current educational site.



As for me, I bought my Grandparents home. All Grandpa's antlers were out on the Dog Kennel when i got the place in 2014. Pretty rough shape, although my father did put Grandpas last buck on a plaque in his office. Dad put most of his out on the side of the Garage out in the weather except a hog euro, a couple Mule deer Euros, and an elk Euro.

My ultimate goal is to have a Family Hunting/Camping Cabin where the mounts are an integral part of the decor and the feel of the place. Either on the home ranch or somewhere else. The taxidermy "collection" can go with the building. Right now it's not too overwhelming.

Shoulder Mounts
Tule Elk 6x6 broken (235)
RM elk 6x6 (350)
Blacktail (102)
(soon) Trashy heavy 5x4 mule deer

Euro's
2 antelope
1 coyote
1 140 inch mule deer
1 broken up 5x5 elk (280)

Antler plaques
1- 140 inch mule deer
3- 6 point elk (260-280)

Rafter racks - skull capped and faded
1 6x6 Elk (295)
1 whitetail 8 pt (130)
2 Blacktail forky's (75 & 90)

Hides (in a box because GF doesn't like them)
Elk Hide - Hair on
Blacktail deer hide - Hair on
Coyote hide