What is a good size rooster to get mounted?

[waxworm09]

I was out this afternoon and got a big rooster and was considering doing a mount. We have only been pheasant hunting for 5 years but im pretty sure its by far the biggest we have ever got. He weighed 2.6 pounds, the spurs are 1/2 inch in length, and the tail feathers are 24 inches in length, and he is very colorful. Is that a huge rooster, or are there plenty of bigger ones out there? Thanks

[waxworm09]

I weighed it again with a better scale and the actual weight is 2 pounds 14 ounces, and the overall length from the beak to the tip of the tail is 3 feet 1 inch. Is that a huge rooster or not? should i mount it or eat it?

[Jameson]

IMO any rooster with big spurs is good enough size for mounting. By big spurs I mean those that aren't a little more than nubs like you find on 1/2 year olds.

[Transporter]

If you are looking to mount a huge bird, eat it, there are plenty of bigger out there. If you are looking for a beautiful mount, then it may be the one, your decision.

[R. Miller]

I agree with Jameson, anything with nice spurs should be a good size bird. The 24" tail definitely tells me it's a big bird. I've shot plenty that I've thought about mounting, usually settle on a good picture. I'm not trying to mount my biggest bird ever. Sure it has to be an older bird but I like to look at the memory of the harvest as a factor. Nice point or flush from your favorite feather finder. Shot at a favorite cover, perfect looking bird not full of shot, etc.

[jigging-matt]

It sounds like a nice bird to mount. Mount the bird that you want to mount. When I go my pheasant it was a big bird, with real good work by the dog to get the bird. The story made getting the mount done even better. It is not always the biggest that gets mounted, sometimes the story or the unusual helps to make your decision.

[Powerstroke]

None of the tail feathers I have are over 20" so I would say you got a nice bird there, especially if it has actual spurs.

If its nice enough to you, mount it.

[Cheetah]

What waxworm described sounds like a heck of a bird to me. I've never seen one with spurs like that. My best pheasant had tail feathers around 22-23", of which I saved a few for display, but I don't recall any really long or sharp spurs on it.

One of these days I hope to shoot another decent pheasant where I can mount the tail similar to a turkey tail and display it that way. A pheasant cape is also nice to look at and might be a do it yourself project. I don't have any desire to have a full bird mount.

[RangerJack]

The biggest tail feathers I've had were 28", and the bird wasn't mounted. I regret it! So, I would go ahead and mount it!

[ikona]

Congrats on the bird, the biggest tail feather that I have shot is 20 I would say u have a thophy.

[muc33]

A trophy only has to be a trophy in your eyes, who cares what others think, if you want to mount it. MOUNT IT! Sounds like a nice bird!

[pureinsanity]

For me, the bird would have to have a great story behind it! Id also prefer my dog catches the birds. Happens a lot for him on windy or stormy days. Also the bird would need at least a 24.5" - 26" tail.

[slimngrizzly]

Any bird with a tail over 23" is a trophy! Big spurs is even better! If its a good story and the bird is in good condition then mount it!

FYI... as a taxidermist I will tell you that when people mount a bird becuse of its size..... a mount will never really reflect that. The mount will dry to however large the form is. I wouldn't mount a bird because its weight. Do it because its nice colored, in good condition, and brings back a good memory. To me it sounds like you have that!

Good job!

[CodyDawg]

How do you know the tail feathers are 24" if they are still in the bird? If you can measure a true 24", that is a big bird, mount it.

I have documented over 1,000 wild rooster kills. 3 were over 25" and none hit 26". I have noted with curiosity every long tail contest I can find. The biggest feather I have ever seen was late in the season at the Mitchell SD Cabelas (if they dont come up with a long feather, who would??) and it was 27" and I personally measured it. So I dont believe anything over 24"....maybe 25" without it laying on a tape. Many, many guys out there talk about 30" tail, etc but somehow they cant come up with a picture. If you have one on a tape that is over 26", I would love to see it!

[pureinsanity]

better get to googling. I have seen and been witness to rooster tail contests with over 26" tails in MN....

[CodyDawg]

show me the pic. I just googled a bunch and not a wild ringneck showed up.

As I said, I saw a 27 and I am not saying they dont exist....well maybe the 30"+....but before I believe them, I wanna see them. Some people think they have seen Bigfoot too. Or a personal favorite, the "I shot a deer at 700 yards" crowd.

The recent contest in west central MN didnt have one at even 24". Believe me, if someone has a picture of one over 27", I would LOVE to see it. I like long tails and that would really be cool.

[brittman]

My brother has a 26 mounted and that measurement is taken from the mount itself. Suppose if you added the pin ?

The quality of the work is more important than the size of the bird. If there is a special reason to mount it - do it, but make sure you find a taxidermist that does good work on pheasants.

[RangerJack]

I have a friend that has a 29" NoDak bird mounted from years back. I can't really get into his house to take a picture, especially since his kids are all moved out now. The bird looks unreal!

The big tail feathers can be found, but they aren't common.

[pureinsanity]

I don't have a picture, its from "Official PF Rooster tail contests"