Large bear trophy mounts

[cash_tx]

Saw this on Facebook, and thought some of you members might find it interesting.

BTW, can anyone tell me who "Gates" was? Just curious.

 

[Aaron N]

Elgin I would assume

Elgin Gates - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

While those bears are indeed huge, the pose doesn’t particularly appeal to me.

 

[Zambezi]

While those bears are indeed huge, the pose doesn’t particularly appeal to me.

I agree about the pose. The kid on the right looks like he's playing pocket billiards, the tall guy seems to be pointing his nether regions unnecessarily, the woman seems to be having her ear tickled by the polar bear, the tie guy must have cold hands because it looks like the other kid has just had a ghost walk over his grave. They could have done better.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Elgin I would assume

Elgin Gates - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Wow, "before his death in 1988, his trophy room was destroyed by fire". What a shame.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I was strictly speaking about the bear pose. Looks unnatural to me.

 

[Zambezi]

Yeah taxidermy has come a long way. Those large bears in a more natural attack pose or similar would be impressive.

 

[93marlin]

Not a fan of the "old style" taxidermy. Far, far from a natural look.....
I mean the bear!!

 

[Green Chile]

It's easy to harshly judge old photos/standards. The interesting thing about the older trophy hunters was how much time they had to commit to traveling to hunt. Nothing was easy. There was no internet for research...very few networking events...no cell phones...most correspondence was by mail...no performance clothing or great optics to make things more comfortable or successful...how they got all that done is pretty impressive. Just sheer grit.

 

[JimP]

I remember many years ago in the 60's that the Stockmans Casino in Elko, Nevada had a brown and a polar bear in a display case just like 2 of those. Then there was a fire that destroyed the mounts.

When they rebuilt they sourced two more. I remember looking at them in awe at how huge they were.

I believe it was then that I decided that I wanted one, but life got in the way.

 

[mark-hunter]

As a side note, interestingly as a reference wikipedia quotes former member of our forum, who was copying other peoples texts.

 

[Kouprey]

Saw this on Facebook, and thought some of you members might find it interesting.

BTW, can anyone tell me who "Gates" was? Just curious.

View attachment 568118

Yes, this is Elgin Gates (second from left) in his famous trophy room in Needles, California.
The other persons on this picture are the family of PH Jose Simoes from Mozambique (second from right).

Gates won the Weatherby Award in 1960 and wrote two hunting books about Africa and Asia. I don´t know much about his hunts in America but he had many record-class trophies in Boone & Crockett record books. Those bears must have been among them. He took one of the polar bears on a hunt in 1966 with Roy Weatherby.
Gates´ trophies were usually mounted by the Klineburgers of Seattle.

 

[R.M.C.]

I agree about the pose. The kid on the right looks like he's playing pocket billiards, the tall guy seems to be pointing his nether regions unnecessarily, the woman seems to be having her ear tickled by the polar bear, the tie guy must have cold hands because it looks like the other kid has just had a ghost walk over his grave. They could have done better.

Pocket billiards hahaha

 

[JimP]

Regarding how the family is standing, I would love to see some pictures of all of us at that age and what we were doing with our hands.

 

[cash_tx]

Regarding how the family is standing, I would love to see some pictures of all of us at that age and what we were doing with our hands.

I'm pretty sure the only game I was interested in chasing in those days was the two-legged variety. ;-)

 

[CoElkHunter]

I'm pretty sure the only game I was interested in chasing in those days was the two-legged variety. ;-)

Kangaroos? LOL

 

[LucasK]

There are a few other posts on here about Elgin Gates. His largest elephant tusks were also destroyed in the fire. They were supposed to have been the largest in America.

 

[Hunt anything]

I think he is the guy that at one time claimed the world record kudu and nyala out of Mozambique or it may have been a sable and nyala.

 

[Wheels]

As I recall, Gates was the Mercury Marine dealer for the west coast. A couple of different organizations have owned the trophies since his death. What remains is at the University of Nebraska. From my understanding most of the taxidermy is in poor condition and not worthy to be on display. Evidently the largest set of ivory is no longer part of the collection. 180 lbs taken on the Nile between Murchison Falls and Lake Albert. (The photo makes them look like telephone poles.) I tried to schedule a viewing while going through Nebraska. The 140 lb ivory is still there from my understanding.

If memory serves me correct, at one time Gates had the speed record for boats and also was a national champion in one of the shooting sports.

 

[Wheels]