I am not sure if this is the right place but taxidermy seemed more about pictures. I just looked at my long awaited and not much looked at trophies from my Mozambique hunt. there are 7 skulls. I am trying to decide which are more "trophy" than the othere-ie which to get mounted first. I have been looking at SCI and Roland Ward scoring methods and am a little confused. I am a bit disappointed with the Buffs and everything seems to have shrank a bit. I think I have a great Nyala taping over 29". Reedbuck seems good 13+". Not sure about Bushbuck maybe 13-14" Suni 3 3/4". Warthog 11+". One buff 36+" 9-10" Boss the other smaller but with a better Boss. These are just rough length only measurements as I was just checking shipment for breakage. Looking at rough lengths that constitute decent trophies for each species.

They are all great trophies to me and had some great flashbacks to the hunt when I saw and handled the horns.

What are the differences between SCI methods and Roland ward? Length plus base? When they say score one horn it is just the longest one plus base? They mention tip width but how does that play with scoring one horn? (spiral and common horn)?

I downloaded the SCI sheets so when I go back I can get a better idea but RW somewhat confused me.

And info appreciated I have NA game down but this is all new and we were too busy hunting to score at camp but next time may do that. I do know that people seemed impressed with Nyala and Reedbuck and were decent Hog and Bushbuck

Thanks for any info!

I would mount those that appeal to you, rather than a points system.

I have shot many trophies that would score high,. but belong to younger animals.

While others that would not even get into the book, of older animals, look absolutely fantastic.

This is especially true of buffalo.

An old, battle scarred animal is the one I would mount.

I agree with Saeed, the best trophies are the ones that you have the fondest memories of.

I've got a 35"-36" buffalo on my wall that is the ultimate trophy for me! The memories of that hunt will be with me always.

If you want to include relative size as one criterion in your decision making as to what to mount and what not to mount, I suggest having your trophies officially SCI scored.

Then you can check the SCI record book and see where yours fit relative to those that have been submitted and at least make minimum score.

The SCI further classifies those that make minimum score into bronze, silver, and gold-medal categories and provide - if you want - the score needed to fit into each of the categories.

Roland-Ward scoring will also give you a measure to size-rank you trophies, but I'm not sure how easy it is to get the trophies Roland-Ward scored.

There a many SCI official scorers around and the SCI systems seems to be gaining dominance.

I agree with you all. As for the Buff I have only the cape off the bigger one and am waiting for the hides to come back so we want to make sure they are all good. I am trying to spread the cost out a bit as I would rather hunt than worry about mounting trophies. That is the biggest lesson I have learned. Yes they will all get mounted one way or another. Some Euro for sure-smaller Buff, reedbuck.....The suni was destined for a full body......

I am in AZ and the mounts are in Tucson so an SCI scorer can't be too far off.....

Of course the outfitter was an SCI scorer lesson learned

What to do - what to do!!!

1st off i have never had any head scored. Although a few were scored by at the taxidermist, as they thought they would make the record book. (by the way some of them would, i was told)

Now If it were me i would look at doing 1 or 2 mounts. I have only done a few from each safari and do the rest in euro mounts. and as you go on additional safaris you will add to your Prized collection.

I have wall and pedestal mounts. I always look where the trophy will fit in the house and some mounts are a difficult fit. so they become euro mounts.

Now this year will be different as i have been looking at doing a pedestal mount with 3 or 4 head on it. Rollers on the bottom to move it from one room to another room.

i could see you doing a Pedestal with the reedbuck - bushbuck - nyala with a CB skull angled on the base. I Should be a great piece.

Just looking at what you have, i think i would look at which ones were the best experience and put them to the top of the list.

The warthog is a tough call as you indicated it is nice however where do you hang it. Mine is in the hall very few people even notice it there. However after i added a few plaques of bushpig and wart hog tusk below it, now it is a conversation piece.

Your suni is a small piece and can be fitted any place you have an opening. It is tough to showcase by itself. so you have an orphan on your hands.

The better of the 2 CB could be done as a wall - pedestal mount - angled to one side and turned toward the room. this is a big piece and will need a good location to showcase it.

You will have to work with your taxidermist to make the mounts fit in your room. Tell them ceiling height and what you are looking at doing.

It really is a happy problem to have....

Personally love the challenge of working out just how each trophy should look to not only fit the trophy room but to display each trophy to its fullest . As too which order to mount them my suggestion is to work out which hunt/stalk was the most rewarding for you personally and start from there. Later on when completed and hanging in pride of place and asked by friends and family about the animal much more interesting to hear a passionate description of the stalk/ follow up / recovery etc than it is to hear " he is SCI noumber 337 in the book"

Enjoy working out your solution....

gunslinger55,

You shot a bunch of nice representative trophies and the nyala at 29" is excellent. What some of the guys are saying about the experience being more important than the score is certainly true but like you I want to know what I did and how it compares to other trophies of the same species. The best way to do that is to at least do a rough score which is pretty simple with Africa game and then see how it ranks in the record book. Basically with Roland Ward you just measure the length of the longest horn and for SCI you measure both horn lengths plus base and add then together. Google Roland Ward and it will give you minimums and maximums.

As for what to mount do the ones you really like. For me I'd at least shoulder mount the nyala, bushbuck, reedbuck and life size the suni. I'd euro mount the rest. Buffalo make a huge and expensive shoulder mount plus the buff euros look very nice. The warthog done as a euro with the tusks in place is another unique looking mount. This is just my personal opinion on what to do.

Mark

I don't think it is just the size, asthetics, or even the maturity of the animal, that should go into the equation. It is the hunt -- the experience; and your desire to look at that animal on your wall and remember it, not the animal, the hunt. I've got a few very average, if that, trophies mounted for a variety of reasons. But when I look at them, I remember why they are on the wall.

I have spent enough money on taxidermy from 3 safaris to pay for another safari.
When I go back I will only have the trophies that have the most importance to me mounted & the rest will be euro mounted or just have a photo on the wall.
I simply do not have the space & would rather spend my cash on something else.
But this is your choice to make & I don't see a wrong one.

The European mounts work real well in combo with few stuffed heads
They also fit real well in most of ordinary trophy/living rooms like mine.
It compliments wood floors and old, antique furniture...

I was fortunate enough to stay in an old house in Africa that shall remain nameless where there were some incredible old, and I mean old, trophies, all of which were European mounts. It was a very nice effect.

OK good ideas all. I am going to wait for the hides to get back from tannery and see which are in good shape. I only brought one CB cape and I don't think I brought the reedbuck cape. I have room but a CB mount would be big as this Bull was very big bodied. And I can do 2 shoulders for one Buff shoulder. And If I arrow another Big Elk this fall....................