Euro vs shoulder

[friendswoodmatt]

Rt now I am thinking of following:
1st I have a room that is 26'X46'x13' eave and I am going to africa for the first time --
Currently I am a low fence ranch and as such all the Axis and Whitetail I kill are Euro mounted included the 161 I killed this year (WT 9 pt ) .
I am booked for Africa next year and have several animals on the list -- Spiral Slam, Buff and a Sable,Zebra, Giraffe and a couple other plans gamer
I was thinking about Euro-ing everything but the buff, sable and kudu -- this would be shoulder mount and in the case of 2 either buff and sable or sabe and kudu would be pedestal with Buff being shoulder for fireplace -- here is a pic of fire place and on either side would be pedestal then above doors would be other euro mounts- it could be all shoulder-- but to be honest I really like euros and pics and skins ,
On other side above cabinets things considered are cougar laying above most and 1/2 aoudad coming out of wall like he is on a cliff above fridge
What say you???

 

[BRICKBURN]

Great plan. I'd suggest some actual measurements of the spaces and the intended mounts, just to make sure.

 

[Tra3]

Nice space! I too am a euro mount fan. It is amazing how much space a shoulder mount takes. You might try getting some plastic tubing and putting up a couple approx size boxes on to the wall to get a concept of size.

Pro tip: you are going to need more than one 12 pack of bud light on the counter to do this job, the picture suggests a reload is near.

 

[Red Leg]

The "spiral slam" and a buffalo on one hunt? Educate me on what is meant by the spiral slam. I have one acquaintance who, after many years of hunting and enormous expense, has taken representatives of all African's spiral horned antelope (the Lord Derby Eland and Mountain Nyala would be particularly tricky on a single hunt.) So, I am clearly missing something. What is a spiral slam?

But, back to your question. A Euro of large antlers or horns over the fireplace and TV would be impressive (elk or kudu). A cape buffalo works well on a pedestal and it can be shifted as new things are acquired. Above the TV, I am afraid a buffalo shoulder mount would be very much out of proportion. I mix euro's and traditional taxidermy, and I can usually do two for one (euro to shoulder mount) on most African game, and as much as three to one on antlered game. I should note that I am pretty much out of space now, and unless it is world class, the "trophy" will be in the photo/journals I build following each adventure. But I digress. Like me, you have lots of window space, which is great for a comfortable, attractive room - it is also, unfortunately, lousy for hanging dead animals and art (another of my passions). Euros above the windows can work - just watch the relative proportions. The one wall would be fine for a couple of shoulder mounts - maybe set them diagonally with a bit of Africana (shield, art, etc.).

Good luck with the project - it is like playing a room-sized jigsaw puzzle.

 

[Red Leg]

Nice space! I too am a euro mount fan. It is amazing how much space a shoulder mount takes. You might try getting some plastic tubing and putting up a couple approx size boxes on to the wall to get a concept of size.

Pro tip: you are going to need more than one 12 pack of bud light on the counter to do this job, the picture suggests a reload is near.

A good single malt takes up a lot less room.

 

[Cam Moon]

Honestly, I'm not sure you'll have room for some of your ideas. A shouldered buff is HUGE! You said a cougar above the cabinets? Tight I'd say. 1/2 Aoudad above the fridge?? How high are your walls? How much room do you have above your fridge? Hell, I'm even concerned about some of your Euro's above the doors! LOL Another concern is the pedestals on either side of the fireplace, depending on how much direct sunlight they'd get in front of those windows. I would take the suggestions of others and do some measurements, do the box trick.... Definitely get another case or two of beer! .... .and enjoy prepping for your trip! You'll know more once you know what you actually have, and I'm sure you'll have a lot of different ideas between now and when you're back from your hunt!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Spiral slam is eland, kudu, nyala and bushbuck. It took me two hunts (17 hunting days) to accomplish. YMMV.

A room that is 26x46 is huge, consider some pedestal mounts. A 13 ft ceiling is high, but big elk and kudu will be tight. With the antler/horn tips against a 13 ft ceiling, the lowest point of the mount can be as low as 8 ft.

Your TV over the fireplace might need relocating as it's a perfect spot for a grand mount.

One other thing to consider: shoulder mounts stick out from the wall more than you think. A big eland might stick out 4 to 5 feet.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

The plan is good, and heavy on euros will save space for future hunts.
Ultimately having the animals in hand really decides the layout.

 

[Red Leg]

Spiral slam is eland, kudu, nyala and bushbuck. It took me two hunts (17 hunting days) to accomplish. YMMV.

A room that is 26x46 is huge, consider some pedestal mounts. A 13 ft ceiling is high, but big elk and kudu will be tight. With the antler/horn tips against a 13 ft ceiling, the lowest point of the mount can be as low as 8 ft.

Your TV over the fireplace might need relocating as it's a perfect spot for a grand mount.

One other thing to consider: shoulder mounts stick out from the wall more than you think. A big eland might stick out 4 to 5 feet.

As I say, I know a person who has completed the African spiral horns that can be hunted and two or three other people who are pursuing them. Currently, most agree that there are 19 spiral horns (I think 15 or 16 can be currently hunted). For instance there are technically five different eland and eight different bushbuck. And this basic "slam" doesn't even include all the primary representative species such as bongo (2), sitatunga (6), and the mountain nyala which is not a nyala at all.

The earlier 19th century classification listed 9 spiral horns. For instance, there were just two eland (giant and common) and only two kudu (greater and lesser). Was just curious why these four would be called a slam.

 

[BRICKBURN]

My money says the Spiral Slam being referred to is the RSA Spiral Slam. Kudu Eland Bushbuck Nyala

 

[Philip Glass]

Good idea. I like a mix of shoulder mounts and euros.

 

[Red Leg]

My money says the Spiral Slam being referred to is the RSA Spiral Slam. Kudu Eland Bushbuck Nyala

That must be the case. Just prowled around and saw several South African operators offering such a “slam”. Was new to me. I know for a lot of (wealthy) African hunters, pursuing all the spiral horns is a decades long effort and many consider it the ultimate game animal challenge. When one of them would refer to a spiral slam, that is what he would mean.

 

[cls]

I believe l have heard the term Limpopo spiral horn slam which included the greater kudu, nyala, Limpopo bushbuck and the eland.

 

[chonk34]

I just like shoulder mounts so much more than euro mounts, but that is a matter of taste. Although the horns on these animals are all different, they have such varied faces and I think their markings are worthy of being displayed. Euro mounts would likely save a lot of room, though, as others have noted. All of my taxidermy is still in process, so I don't have any practical knowledge as far as display advice goes.

 

[buck wild]

You're not being creative enough I could get lots of mounts in your space. For SH mounts go full sneak pose and you can get more above the window space. Go with cluster pedestal mounts for your larger stuff.

 

[friendswoodmatt]

Ceiling to peak is actually -- 22 ish feet
the doors in the pic are 8' tall and 6' wide (french doors) each door itself is 3'
to the edge of wall is 12'9ish (eave height)
and above the kitchen cabinets I have like 6- 8'
its a 6/12 pitch with the room being 26' wide so from eave of 12'9 it goes up to almost 23'
As far as all of the glass--its all low E if that makes a diff. It is supposed to anyway
pic was taken rt after we first moved some stuff in. it look Diff now

 

[friendswoodmatt]

Oh and yes it is the SA Spiral Salm -- and no--I dont think I would pony up the dinero to do hunt a lord derby.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Was just curious why these four would be called a slam.

My guess is that it is simply a marketing phrase: Slam, Super Slam, Ultra Slam, etc. It beats some of the alternatives:

 

[Cam Moon]

Sounds like you have more space than I thought. I'm sure things will come together once it's all hunted and home!

 

[Bill DeHaan]

FW' -
That's some really nice space you have there. Very nice workmanship and materials - very appealing to my tastes!

Regarding the question of euro vs head/shoulder mounts.....
AH is a great resource and filled with so many great, experienced, helpful folks. One of the many areas I've really learned valuable insight to is the area of trophy rooms (I will be building a new home this summer with a dedicated trophy room.) There is a thread on the AH Trophy Rooms forum (something about Not Enough Space) that influenced me to consider changing my taxidermy strategy as I plan for my first safari in June. That thread proved to me that there was a clear and non-random pattern among hunters. Over our lives we usually shoot multiple specimens of the same specie. Therefore, we usually shoot our best animals later in life, with exceptions for sure. This has been my pattern, my buddies' patterns, and the same for many of those at AH. I'm 60 now, and taking my first safari in June. My trophy room is about to get a good bit larger, but knowing I have quite a few North American trophies already on the walls, the likelihood of more than one safari in my lifetime has me planning more euro mounts from this first one than originally expected.

My plan is to do head/shoulder on those that are truly special; eg special due to size/character, because I am not likely to shoot another, or because of some special circumstance (e.g. the 'effin croc' that ate my hunting partner - kidding!) . Those heads that are typical/representative, first-of, or otherwise not so special are prime candidates for euro/hide mounts. That way if/when I shoot a better/special animal, I can get it h/s mounted and moving the euro to abasement shelf/closet becomes a simpler problem..... and less of a burden on my family when I'm gone.

Maybe the best argument is that the savings in taxidermy costs will fund the front end of my next safari!!