Out of space for trophies advice/suggestions?

[Charles de Ribeau]

A number of years ago, my wife and I worked out a deal (no, not **that** kind of deal ). At her suggestion, we added a room to our house to be my man-cave/trophy room. The other part of the deal is that all taxidermy and other animal parts stay in the trophy room - no overflow. I'm not complaining; it still seems like a good deal to me.

I never saw it coming, but here is my problem. Over the years, I've been wonderfully successful in taking some awesome (at least to me) trophies. Now my trophy room is full. OK, I could squeeze in a couple of European mounts of tiny antelope, but that's about it. Now what? Hunt long enough and every hunter will eventually have the same problem.

I am absolutely not ready to stop hunting. However, I don't see the point in hunting trophy animals when I can't display them. A couple of years ago, I burned a lot of points to shoot a cow Shiras moose. I could have drawn a bull tag, but I already have a monster Alaska/Yukon that would dwarf even the biggest Shiras and I don't have a place to display one if I got it. However, there are plenty of guys who would be thrilled to shoot a Shiras bull. Therefore, I went for a cow. That's just me.

Now what? Are cull hunts the answer? I did a little of that at the end of my last safari and it just didn't feel that challenging or satisfying. So, what is the answer? I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice.

 

[BRICKBURN]

A second floor addition... It's the only way to ensure your wife is happy. It is for her after all.

 

[Shootist43]

Give her your current trophy room for "her crafts" and talk to Drillbit. I think you know that there aren't too many options here. Possibly displaying your animals elsewhere with a plaque showing your name and a date.

 

[BnC 04]

I was in your same shoes a few years ago.

First fix was to buy the boss a larger house with a dedicated trophy room for me. That filled up quickly.

2nd fix- Reassess the need for the 5th bedroom...not needed...now overflow of trophy room

Latest project is to successfully repo her wine/sitting room although I'm getting a bit of pushback on this plan of mine..not sure why

I've found over the years that a simple picture is for me anyway just as important to jog one's memory of the hunt, animal and trip. They don't take up a lot of space either. Could do euro mounts too and cut down overall footprint within the house.

 

[TXhunter65]

Addition to the addition!

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

A second floor addition... It's the only way to ensure your wife is happy. It is for her after all.
View attachment 266330

Covenants don't allow a second story.

 

[sestoppelman]

Ah those pesky covenants!

 

[Von S.]

Charles,

Though not always the best solution, I have always believed that a good plan today is better than a great plan tomorrow.

So with that in mind, let me ask," Are you particularly fond of your present wife"?

 

[BigSteve57]

My wife told me she needs a bigger house as we're almost out of wall space for mounts. Ya know this hunting hobby can get expensive.

 

[gillettehunter]

I started doing some more of the european style to save $$ as well as space. Next would be to give up some of your lesser trophies. Next is to go for a basement if the covenants won't allow going up! Good luck.
Bruce

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

@BRICKBURN : Wayne, I am assuming with your wife blessing this project, you won't end up in "the outter office" (see red curcle, below)

 

[johnnyblues]

I’m in the same boat, so I bought a bigger house in Georgia. Problem solved.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Rent a warehouse space. Put in a bar, big screen TV, a Lazy Boy and couch. Port-a-poty in the corner. Open the fridge and grab a beer.

 

[JakeH]

Sounds like you either need a new house or a new wife.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Do what this guy did.........went into the taxidermy business

http://www.conroetaxidermy.com/Taxidermy/conroe1/build.html

 

[CAustin]

Addition to the addition!

Now your talking!

 

[BigSteve57]

Sounds like you either need a new house or a new wife.

Ya could do both right?

 

[JakeH]

Ya could do both right?

In all likelihood, a new wife is going to necessitate a new house anyway!

 

[JimP]

Sounds like you either need a new house or a new wife.

A new house is way cheaper.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I think I am done with trophy mounts. I'm sorta kinda in the same boat......wife doesn't want them in certain areas of the house (and I'm fine with that; it's our home, not the Smithsonian). My mounts are in my (small) home office and the basement......so they don't get seen much by strangers. I have no friends that hunt, to speak of, so they are not 'admired' by anyone who would appreciate them. They are just sitting there......collecting dust. I look at them and reminicse about the hunts I took them on, but I can do the same thing with a photo graph. I'm thinking from now on I will take a good photo, and place it on a plaque, and that will be my "trophy'......takes up less room, too. I look at the heads and think of other hunts I might have been able to go one if I had saved that money instead of having the head mounted.
A while back, I did some soul searching.....why do I hunt? Is it to get the biggest rack and set of horns to brag on, or is it for other reasons? I started out hunting for meat; antlers were just gravy and a means of identifying a legal target. Nowadays, antlers (esp. white tail deer antlers) seem to be the most important reason. For me, it is the hunt itself (and all those intangible things that go with it......such as the sights and smells that go with it) that is important. But modern media says that unless I am consistantly chasing and shooting Boone and Crockett bucks, I'm not much of a hunter. I've decided that from now on most of my big game hunts will be antlerless hunts, where ever possible. I have a few heads I would like to put on the wall: a nice symmetrical whitetail (8 points or better), a cape buffalo.....but that's about it. As for the heads I have now, I think I will give some to my daughter so she can sell them and use the money to help fix her puppies broken leg (emergency vet bills are expensive......and a teacher's salary needs a little compensation). Someone else can enjoy them......maybe more so......than me. I have a few mounts that are special and I will keep: My first dogs first retrieve (wood duck), my last dog's first retrieve (drake mallard), the trophies from my first African trip, my first mule deer buck, etc. but from here on I am done with mounts unless there is some "extra special" reason to have them mounted.
Anyway.....that's my view from my side of the river.......your results may vary. Everyone have a great weekend.