What size is a BIG rooster?

[waxworm09]

I am the guy that posted the question about what is a good size rooster to get mounted. The reason im starting another topic is because I went out this afternoon, and I shot a rooster that was 2 pounds 15 ounces, 24" tail, and 1/2 inch spurs. The bird I shot 3 weeks ago was 2 pounds 14 ounces, 24" tail, and 1/2 inch spurs. The only difference is that the one I shot today, I pulled out a tail feather and it measured 24" from the pin to the tip, the pin was 2 inches long, so I am thinking the first one I shot had about a 26" tail, because I measured it still on the bird. I still have the one from 3 weeks ago in the freezer waiting to bring it it to the taxidermist, but since I just shot one almost as big, is that really a big bird, or am I just very lucky so far to get 2 birds this size? I have only shot around 25 roosters in the few years that I have been hunting, so I really dont know alot about the size of a nice rooster.Just trying to decide if I should still get the bird in the freezer mounted. I do have pics of both birds on my phone, with tape measure and all, and I can post them on here if I can figure out how to do it. The one thing I do know, im sure glad I picked up the lab/shorthair mix that was in the local paper this past July for free! My first hunting dog, and she is excellent, to think someone didnt want her!

[muc33]

I want to stress to you one thing. No matter what any pro or novice in here says, a trophy only matters if it's a trophy to you. If you feel good about it, who or why would anyone else's opinion matter. I am serious about this on all aspects. Some may say they will only mount a bird with 28 inch tail, some may have a 3/4 inch spur standard. But their standard doesn't effect your bird, or your decision to mount it or not. If that bird means something to you or the situation in which you got it means something to you that you want to capture in a mount. DO IT!!! It doesn't matter one bit what anyone in here thinks, as long as you are ok with it and feel good about it! I think you have a fine sounding bird, make your decision, and don't let a faceless name in here make you think it's not good enough because, you wouldn't ask if you didn't think it was good enough for you. If it makes you proud, make it wall candy for all your neighbors, guests and family!!! Great job on the nice birds! You found them, you flushed them, you shot them, congrats!

[Jameson]

Same answer as before...

[R. Miller]

I agree with Mucc. I trophy only matters if it's a trophy to you. I never really worry about weighing birds, and I've shot a lot of roosters and I don't even think I've shot a bird with more than a 24" tail. Anytime you kill one that has sharper 1/2" spurs or more, that's usually a bird that's made it a season or two before getting harvested. Any of these would be worthy of mounting. This year on opener my brother shot one with 3/4" spurs, and I don't think the tail was more that 22" long. Obviously there's bigger ones out there but they're rare. Maybe you should just mount both of those flushing together? That'd be sweet. Sounds like you got a couple dandies.

As far as if you're lucky getting two birds that size...again, most of my mature birds seem to have a tail length between 21" and 23" so you you got a couple nice ones. I'm ramblin now but yea if that first one is in good condition go ahead and put in on the wall.

[waxworm09]

Thanks for the advice! as far as the first bird, I think I will still get it mounted, but the one from today, he is cleaned up and in my fridge for dinner tomorrow. I agree with you guys on the trophy thing, one of the main reasons I want to mount the first one is because we got him in the middle of a section, all grassland where I usually deer hunt.no one ever goes out there, so I brought my dog out there the week before deer hunting, and it was the only bird we chased up in the area. She chased him for about 5 minutes before he flushed, and it was only her 3rd rooster. Her first year hunting, so I thought it would make a good mount, mostly as a memory of her years from now.

[R. Miller]

She chased him for about 5 minutes before he flushed, and it was only her 3rd rooster. Her first year hunting, so I thought it would make a good mount, mostly as a memory of her years from now.

This is even more reason to mount that one...great story. Make sure and share a picture of the finished product!

[pureinsanity]

Mount it if you feel its a trophy. When you mount a bird they are put on a pre made form. So the side of a bird does NOT matter. If its is one you see as a trophy or has a story behind it, go for it!

[reddog]

The quality of the hunt, trumps the dead bird. You got both.... go for it.