I need to find someone who would be considered an "authority" who can tell me what the value of a deer head would be. Does anyone know where I might be able to find such a person?
The reason for the request is a very long story, but the short of it is that I killed a deer back in November of 2004 that was the biggest deer I had ever killed. (still is) I carried it to a taxidermist to have it mounted. Now, a year and a half later (and 6 months after he claimed to have finished it), it turns out that not only has he not finished it, but he CLAIMS the antlers to have been stolen out of his shop. (nobody else's apparently - just mine. And not the cape, just the antlers...) Funny thing is, he refused to file a police report, so the sheriff's office told me there was nothing they could do - I had to just sue him in civil court. So I went to court and picked an arbitrary value for the deer head. How do set a value, though, on a "one of a kind" thing? The judge didn't like my answer, however, and said he would like to hear testimony from an "expert in the field" on the value of the deer head. Does anyone know who might be able to value such a thing?
On another note, I was also wondering, is it possible to create a replica of the deer antlers based on pictures, some very rough measurements, and the official boone and crocket score? Just wondering since it's looking more and more like I will never see the originals again... :(
If anyone could help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm pretty frustrated at this point because all I really want is my deer antlers back and not feeling too hopeful.
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I don't really know of any "expert" on the value. But with a little research you could find out how much it would cost you to have a replica made, how much a hunt would cost to harvest a B&C deer of similar scoring. Hunts in Texas run about $2000 - $5000 depending on the size of the deer, and they could run more. Check with Antler Artistry, I think they have a link above. Hope it helps
If you have a picture. You could print some that sell on ebay of similar size.They sell a lot of antlers there for comparison.
Ken, what you have stated is very disturbing. The law should take a way his business. please contact the NTA. on this issue. or call me at 770 513 9384
Oh, I have plenty of pictures. And the deer isn't really huge by B&C standards, but I live in Southeast VA, so for the area, it's a heck of a deer. (a once in a lifetime type deer) It actually grossed about 147 when it was scored, but only netted around 129 after all the deductions. That score really doesn't do it justice, though. It's a pretty unique head, between the split back tines and the hole in one of the main beams. I have pictures up at this link, so if anyone on this forum happens to see the antlers come through their shop, please let me know:
http://www.long2002.com/hunting/2004/deer/index.html
As for the law taking away his business, they just gave it to him to start with! Unfortunately, I didn't know taxidermists are supposed to be licensed and (of course) never bothered to check. When he took in the head, he was in NC and apparently not licensed there. (I found this out recently from the NC Game commission) He (the taxidermist) moved to VA and the VA Game folks caught him back in January or February operating without a license and he had to pay some fines and stuff to get licensed. For the person who asked me to contact them, I'll drop you an e-mail at the address it shows on here. I really don't think they'll do anything with him, though.
The only thing I can find on someone being able to value antlers when searching the internet is someone named Larry Huffman, but I haven't seen any way to get in touch with such a person.
Thanks for the help. Getting the price of one of those "guaranteed" hunts might be a good idea for getting a value to tell the judge that this is what it would cost to get another one of this size - operating off the gross score, of course.
Sorry to hear about losing your deer. A replica of your antlers can be made from pictures and measurements of the antlers. Tom Sexton of Amana, Ia. is the man for the job. He has reproduced Iowa's bow record non-typ. which was stolen from the young man who harvested it, by using many photo's and the official measurements. The results are simply amazing. He does all of my antler repair and I always have fun in trying to have clients see if they can find the repairs, which they never can. A job of this size probably won't be cheap, but if anyone can pull it off, he is the guy.
I would place an est cash value of 250 on the rack 300 for the rack and cape. The cost of hunting and killing a deer like this, That is the replacement cost would be close to 5,000 $ us dollars.
Price. I you look at ebay you will find many racks like this. Many of the racks have not been scored but due to the size and mass will bring some where in the $200 price range. A good cape will cost $50. on average. A better cape would cost $200.00 or more.
The price of this rack and head can not measured in dollars. However if you paid to kill a buck like this, expect to pay from $2,000 to $5,000 dollars
I looked at the photos. For the average, honest hunter,
I mean someone that doesn't pay 5k to be 'put on' a deer
in some high fenced game ranch that is a once in a lifetime buck.
In otherwords, an irreplaceble loss.
Here in Texas where we take or football and deer hunting serious
I would have the Attny. General's office up that scumbag's a*#.
He sold that deer and the scumbag who bought him
is gonna be showing him off and bragging to his buddies
and people are going to talk. So your deer may resurface.
You say he still has the cape? Then he didn't sell him as a
mount and someone is going to have mount him, maybe thru
these postings he'll be recocnized.
Good Luck.
For a value, you might check with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Austin, Texas. I know that when they catch a poacher the court often orders that restitution be paid to the state and the fees are based on the score of the deer.
Good luck!
Jerry S.
That really sucks that this mount was lost. I can almost feel your pain. I have never in my life hunted on a ranch and do not ever plan on it. I alway hunt private land here in Michigan and if a buck of a life time ever steps out in front of any hard core hunter, that buck is damn near priceless to that individual hunter. I had the pleasure of taking the largest buck of my life during the 2005 bow hunting season. Which isn't huge but is a 10 point that gross scored 136" Pope and Young, net was 124 7/8" Bummer. 1/8" from making Pope and Young. But there isn't any amount of money that I would sell this mount for. I have been hunting for about 15 years for a buck like this and it finally happened. Some people never have the chance for a deer like this. This taxidermist should be held responsible for his actions. If is was lost or stolen it should be his pain not yours. It was in his shop. I myself am getting into taxidermy and would hope to be held responsible if I were this careless. I am sure there are many here, both hunters and taxidermist, that would feel close to the same.
Thanks everyone.
For the person who suggested Tom Sexton from IA, do you have any contact information? I'm sure it won't be cheap...but then again, if I can get an estimate prior to my next court date, I can always carry that in to court with me too.
And yes, he still had the cape. Actually, *I* have the cape now. I naturally demanded that back from him when I saw him later (he didn't even bother to show up for the court case), so at least I'll have that if the antlers ever surface. (or even if I get someone to make a replica of the antlers, I would at least have the cape for the mount) I should probably get another taxidermist to check that out. He had it in the freezer. I asked him if it had been tanned yet and he claimed all that was left to be done was the "final process" - whatever that means.
As for the criminal side of things, I have talked to a friend of mine who is the number 2 guy in the sheriff's office. He spoke with the Commonwealth's Attoney about it and he said there really wasn't enough to go on to go after him. As far as the state is concerned, it's a civil matter. Now, if someone could prove the antlers were sold, that would be another matter. And as long as this guy won't file a police report that it was stolen, the sheriff's office can't even investigate the thing.
At this point, I don't know what else to do. I figure since whoever has the antlers doesn't have the cape, they probably can't do anything with it until deer season comes in anyway. So, I'm gonna try to get a lot of flyers printed up and visit every taxidermist shop I can find in southeast VA and northeast NC. Not sure what else to do. In the mean time, if I can get a decent amount of money out of this taxidermist, maybe I can run some ads with a reward or something. Or at least get enough to pay for replica antlers to be made... Like I've said many times in the past month - I don't WANT the money. I just want my antlers back.
Thanks again to everyone.
-Ken
Ken ,If you go to the "for sale " forum on this site there is capes for sale every day ! Whoever has the rack doesn't have top wait till deer season !
Look under the new posts on the Deer Forum, "There was
a similar case..."I posted it under new posts by accident.