layin on the smackdown

Best birthday wishes to both you guys!!! New - it'll be hard to top Matts cake, but either way, happy B day !!!

I'll answer with 100% fact since i have been on both sides of the fence at one time or another... Ive paid between 325 and 375 since the beginning of my archery career (12 years). The oldest mount i have cost the most at $375 over 10 years ago and it looks like crap. My most recent mount (that i didn't do myself) cost $325 and looks outstanding...I attended Taxidermy school in August of this year with a very well known taxidermist, Locie Murphy, as my instructor (he does work for a few RT prostaffers ) and has won a train load of awards...After attending this school, I charge $350 for now, and once i feel i have the experience and clientel to raise my price, i will do so...You all have to remember, it takes a very good taxidermist about 14 hours of labor to complete a shoulder mount, and the attention to detail will be significant when you see the final product. Eyes alone are task that need to be perfect, then the ears (depending on how you do them - the bondo method is superior to any other), and the mouth....Just fleshing the facial areas is hard to do without messing up...It took me 30 + hours to complete my first shoulder mount, but with time will come speed....and i have a major issue with attention to detail, which is what will seperate a mediocre taxidermist from a great taxidermist. Locie charges $600, but he has the credentials, skill and ability to do so... So, since i have invested over $1700 into me learning this trade, i will only pay what i need to buy in order to complete a mount...I wouldn't pay a nickel over $400 for a white tail shoulder mount - ever.

My bad....I didn't recognize you on there. Sorry, which hunt were you on - i have no problems re-watching these things!!! Great DVD's all the way around, so thank you, and well done! Dan

So i have been shooting my Ted Nugent Gold Tip arrows for over 5 years and have had great success with them...Anyhow, I just introduced my other borther in law to archery, and he went out and bought a new bow and some arrows...The shop he went to had his draw weight set at 80 lbs and he is shooting arrows that say 5575 or something close to that....So my other brother in law said that those arrows are too weak to shoot with an 80 lb draw, and that the number on the shaft represented the ideal weight to be used in terms of draw weight (55 lbs - 75 lbs)...Is that true? I always thought that number was a representation of the diameter and/ or spine... What do those numbers really mean or represent? Thanks, Dan

LMAO!!!!!! Thats just awesome!!! HAppy Birthday Matt! Hope its a great one! Dan

The Entire Realtree Staff!!!! My inlaws bought my brother in law the Monster Bucks 18 Volume 1 and me the Monster Bucks 18 Volume 2 DVD for a stocking stuffer...We watched them both, and i must say, they both are of superior quality!!! Actually, ive already watched mine twice... Just wanted to let you all know your efforts are appreciated, and these are some quality DVD's for anyone interested... The only sad part....I didn't see any of the common pro staffers who frequent the forums on there... Regardless, great DVD's all the way around! Thanks again, Dan

I pass on passing ... Actually, this year, October 28th to be exact, i had a doe come running by, tail up, and checking behind her. I thought for sure it was a buck chasing her, but couldn't figure out why her tail was up...about 15 seconds after she went by, i saw the yote, who chose to give up on its pursuit of the doe, and bedded down 33 yds from my stand...I watched this yote for 2 1/2 hours, and in that time i videoed a 2.5 yr old 8 walk within 12 yds of it, and then a fork horn walk within 20 yds of it - neither of the two bucks had any idea that yote was even there...To its demise, it got out of bed to chase a squirrel, that it missed anyway, and made an attempt to go directly back to its bed....Too bad for her, she provided a tiny window that i was able to slip my GT Nuge 5575 right through her lungs and heart and dropped her in her tracks... if there's any opportunity at drilling a yote, you can bet im gonna try and take it.

Thanks Kyle...you nailed what i was referring to. Thats all i was trying to say, I was by no means bashing Mikes efforts or harvest....I was simply saying what kyle pointed out. i didnt mean to ruffle anyones feathers here, next time i'll try and use a different approach. Again, Congrats to you mike on your harvest! Dan

Congrats Patrick!!! I'll be honest, that part of maryland sure looks a lot like IL... Well done fellas!

Great Pics! Great looking dog, and i'll agree with the above....a little facial hair and you'd morph into one of the Robertson boys ... Looks like a great day, congrats, and again, nice photos. dan

indeed... Well put Mike...:beer: Merry Christmas to all...Looking forward to sharing the new year with you all. Dan

no, absolutely not...I have never seen anything like that before, ever! That is wild! And that last pic, he sure looks pissed off, like he's about to throw down with the camera...Great pics, and story...I hope you can get a chance at that deer in the future. I wonder if his antlers have fused together again this year??? Pretty interesting... dan

Thats a mature deer Ethan...he's a 4.5 year old that you need to dust for sure...His body says his age and his antlers tell you his genetics are that of a inferior source. He's a great 6 pointer, he's mature, and i hope you can get a whack at him. Good luck! dan

If you don't mind answering....What area of the state were/are you hunting?

I'd say mike has it nailed down pretty good... I had 2 immediate thoughts that went through my head when i saw those pics.....1.) What a nice buck! 2.) 155ish I agree with the latter half in that he is a little bigger than mid to upper 140's. Im gonna guess he goes 153...its a ballpark figure, but my guesses are generally a little less than what they end up scoring...and for your sake, i hope im short again! Either way, thats a dandy of a white tail, and congratulations!!! dan

How about this snow for Southern IL boys!!! Holy Crap! Again Congrats Frank on the buck....Its always fun playing, so thanks for sharing...i seem to consistently be short on my guesses by 5-10 inches; don't know why, but i guess its better to guess less than more (it leaves more room for ground expansion, and less room for ground shrinkage :toot:). Merry Christmas all and good luck! Dan

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! I am still in the chase. I got an absolute giant on my camera about 2 weeks ago, the bad thing is, all the bucks we are getting on camera are all nocternal...This time of year is great, if you have a good food source, which is what i am missing...However, the guys on the north border of the ground i hunt still have a big food plot of standing corn and standing beans (which is about 50 yds north of our north property line). i am going to pull a fast one on these deer, since the property i hunt has a ton of bedding areas and CRP...I am going out tomorrow and putting my climber on the north end of the property between the CRP and my neighbors to the norths' food plot...Its the only standing crops left in the county, and if i know anything, its that these deer are definitely utilizing their food plots and most likely coming from our bedding areas...I still have 2 either sex archery tags, and 3 antlerless firearm tags...something is going to eat dirt, its just gonna take a little more effort and thought on my end. Ive still been at it hard, just unlucky i guess... Good luck team! Dan

all red x's...???

Congrats on your buck...There is no easy way for me to put this, but i think you need to find a different taxidermist...sure the price is good, and the turn around even better, but in my opinion, the final product looks like a 10 year old did it....JMO... Again, congrats on your deer!

You have some sweet pics there Dan....I don't know how to judge deer in WV, but it sure looks like there is some potential without a doubt! The second pic and last pic are sweet....The second pic, that buck looks like he has some serious bed head going on across his entire body - or he just took his hoof out of a toaster....The last pic with the buck and turkeys is just awesome, they are like 6 yds apart...

ATTA BOY CHRIS!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on the deer!!! Keep after em bud, i love hearing this stuff!!!!! OUTSTANDING!!!!!

oooooppppsss.... forgot to guess... 122 5/8 man its tough with pics....:helpsmilie:

Wow Frank!!! Was that on public ground or private? Anyhow, im in Marion county now, and its great to see some positive results for some hard earned work! Ive hunted my rear end off this year, including today, and don't have wallhanger on the ground... I really think the rut was late this year, real late, so do you think he was still out cruising, or there may have been a hot doe in the area? After seeing a spotted fawn on October 30th, i have a suspicion that there are still does to be bred around this region... Anyhow, congrats!!!!

Dude....If you are going to try sniping squirrels at 40 yds with a bow, you need to use a blunt tip or a rage 2 blade....either one will comatose a squirrel, but the blunt tip is large and packs a punch...However, if you are going to continue to do this, you need to practice on shooting acorns at 40 yds first....and if you cant hit an acorn consistentlly at that range, you need to put the bow away, and get the .22 i have heard a few story's regarding squirrels running off with arrows....shoot with confidence, shoot to kill, and shoot to eat...dont just shoot to see if you can hit some animal becuse you may find it challenging. Thats what the range is for. Seriously, shooting squirrels with a bow at 40 yds...???...

you can order all kinds of catalogues from McKenzie, Joe Coombs, and some other taxidermy books and they will send them to you free of charge...And when you do start getting into the wildlife art in the magazines, there are plenty of options that are not expensive at all. The habitat stands and ped's are a little pricey, but extra habitat additions aren't too bad.