Montana 2024 elk trophies arrived (7x7 & 6x6)

[375 Ruger Fan]

A few weeks ago, I sent my taxidermist in Montana an email saying if he hadn't started on my elk, it was okay to push it back in the queue a few months. I told him I would be in Namibia all of July and didn't want him to ship it while I was away. Rich Bradberry with Wildlife Artistry (https://wildlifeartistrymt.com ) in Livingston, MT, emailed me back saying he was actually finishing up my elk and was planning to ship in a few days. Rich sent me the ABF trucking tracking number and it made it here in 6 days. My hunt was early November 2024, so about 8 months turnaround on the elk. Very impressive!

Picked it up this morning at the ABF warehouse, about 15 minutes from where I live. I had to drive home slow. Got a lot of looks and thumbs up from people passing me.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

This is the link to my 2024 hunt

Thread 'USA: Rifle Elk Hunt With Rising Son Outfitters In Montana November 2024'

Nov 9, 2024

I just got home last night and will start a new hunt report on another incredible elk hunt with Rising Son Outfitters in Montana.

A view from elk camp


This hunt included an old hunting buddy that had hunted with me numerous times. Also along were two of my sons in law. Iggy had hunted with me in 2020 and taken a nice 280-ish bull on opening day. For my other son in law, Steve, this would be his first hunt out west.

• 375 Ruger Fan
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Hunting reports USA & Canada

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[Bullthrower338]

Sweet!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Forgot to mention, the 7x7 shoulder mount is mine and the 6x6 euro belongs to my son-in-law. Shipping them together saved a few dollars. I already have a 6x7 on the wall and wasn't planning on mounting another elk trophy. But how can you not mount a 7x7! Both are in the 330-340 inch range, and are two of my most memorable hunts.

 

[MontanaPat]

Nice, send some pics when you get him up. That was a quick turn around.

 

[Firebird]

Can’t wait to see a pic after they make it to the wall

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Nice, send some pics when you get him up. That was a quick turn around.

Can’t wait to see a pic after they make it to the wall

Probably not going up on the wall until August. I learned my lesson the hard way with getting on a tall ladder, right before my Zambia hunt a couple years ago. Fell off, fractured a couple vertebrae and had to delay the Zambia hunt and cancel a Montana archery elk hunt. I am currently about 10 days away from heading to Namibia, so no major projects until after that.

I will likely rent a scissor lift and move around several animals to make everything fit and look nice. Stay tuned for details.

My current plan is to put the new elk where the red deer is located. Then I need to figure out where to put the red deer. One option is above the moose, which means removing the moose first. The other option is to put the red deer where the turkey is and move the turkey elsewhere. The African animals on the wall with the turkey are going to be moved to the opposite wall, where the zebra is located. Clearing a spot for the mountain lion I should have around the end of the year.

 

[Red Leg]

Probably not going up on the wall until August. I learned my lesson the hard way with getting on a tall ladder, right before my Zambia hunt a couple years ago. Fell off, fractured a couple vertebrae and had to delay the Zambia hunt and cancel a Montana archery elk hunt. I am currently about 10 days away from heading to Namibia, so no major projects until after that.

I will likely rent a scissor lift and move around several animals to make everything fit and look nice. Stay tuned for details.

My current plan is to put the new elk where the red deer is located. Then I need to figure out where to put the red deer. One option is above the moose, which means removing the moose first. The other option is to put the red deer where the turkey is and move the turkey elsewhere. The African animals on the wall with the turkey are going to be moved to the opposite wall, where the zebra is located. Clearing a spot for the mountain lion I should have around the end of the year.

View attachment 693759

Whether a new trophy or painting it is everything left go right - everything right go left, inside go outside and outside go inside. Now stop. Pick the most dramatic for top center and everything else will work.

 

[Firebird]

Move The red stag toward the moose and put the new elk centered between the red stag and the corner?
I am extremely jealous of your vaulted ceiling

 

[Fatback]

Great looking display. 100% get the lift. Moving large pieces of taxidermy up that high can be a real challange and the lift really helps.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I agree. Moose top center. New elk where the Red Stag is. Red Stag center bottom.

The two elk are close in size so being opposite sides is a nice balance.

A lift is smart safety insurance. I have fallen hanging mounts too.


I had my first AK moose mount centered exactly as yours is on a similar space. I moved that moose to a friends pub. And moved the second euro moose onto the tall rock fireplace. I stupidly used ladders and or scaffolding

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Whether a new trophy or painting it is everything left go right - everything right go left, inside go outside and outside go inside. Now stop. Pick the most dramatic for top center and everything else will work.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Rented a scissors lift for the weekend and utilized some free labor from the neighborhood.

Step 1: Removed the antelope and dall sheep.
Step 2: Removed the red deer
Step 3: Placed the new 7x7 elk where the red deer was
Step 4: Removed the mule deer
Step 5: Removed the moose
Step 6: Placed the red deer in the new location, above the moose
Step 7: Placed the moose
Step 8: Placed the mule deer, antelope and dall sheep.

A lot of people suggested to put the moose up high. I thought about it, but liked how the red deer is looking down. Also, I don't think the organizational capability was on hand to handle putting the moose up high. It is a beast to handle! I like how it turned out. The new elk is noticeably larger bodied than the 6x7 on the right. I think I am done with this wall!

 

[Fatback]

Looks awesome. A moose mount is a big piece of taxidermy for sure. I hope to never have to move mine.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Looks great. And proportional