Any taxidermists here?

[John Y Cannuck]

I'm thinking of doing a bare skull mount of the eight point I took this year with a crossbow.
Problem is that he shed both antlers before I got him loaded.

How do I re-attach?

The best method, and alternatives please.

 

[fogducker]

just to give you an idea try here

http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/12/antler.html

 

[Arctic]

Drill both the pedicules and antler, use all-thread and epoxy.

 

[Frontier Firearms]

Do you have any pictures of ware the antlers came off?

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I have not boiled the skull yet, basically, I've got a skull with dents.

 

[Noel]

Try drilling a hole as mentioned, then put a short dowel in the half already drilled. If the protruding end of the dowel is sharpened it should mark the mating half when you press the two together. It will be tricky to get the holes drilled one to the other in line.

Your going to boil it with the antlers separate?

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Your going to boil it with the antlers separate?

Yes, why do you ask?

 

[huntinstuff]

JohnnyY,
Dont boil it. Soak it for a day in Borax and water and clean it by hand. 1/4 cup Borax to 2 gallons of water. If you dont have Borax, use Tide. Same mix.

If you boil it, you run the chance of making it brittle and it will flake like a bugger when you drill holes to mount your antlers.

It's a lot more work, but you wont have problems later.

I just returned a skull and antlers to an owner today, or I would have taken a pic of it to show you how it turns out.........

The all-thread and epoxy is a very good method. gives you some play and hardens fast once you get it set up right. and if your epoxy overflows a bit, the burrs on the antler blend in and you will never notice it.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Ok, Borax it is. I've got a box in the back I use for ant bait.

 

[Noel]

JohnnyY,
Dont boil it. Soak it for a day in Borax and water and clean it by hand. 1/4 cup Borax to 2 gallons of water. If you dont have Borax, use Tide. Same mix.

If you boil it, you run the chance of making it brittle and it will flake like a bugger when you drill holes to mount your antlers.

It's a lot more work, but you wont have problems later.

I just returned a skull and antlers to an owner today, or I would have taken a pic of it to show you how it turns out.........

The all-thread and epoxy is a very good method. gives you some play and hardens fast once you get it set up right. and if your epoxy overflows a bit, the burrs on the antler blend in and you will never notice it.

Randy, how long to do a skull this way? Might have to try this next time. I might be down to eight or so hours with boiling but that is if I let it soak to loosen up the tissue in the sinuses for a week.

 

[PaulT]

Try these link, they have shed antlers kit especially for it.

http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/subcategory/172/

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9313_122_15584&products_id=101219

 

[Arctic]

Don't boil it, just bring the water up to the verge of boiling and keep it there, .....otherwise you can creat problems as described. When through, hit it with high pressure water.
~Arctic~

 

[PaulT]

Try these link, they have shed antlers kit especially for it.

http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/subcategory/172/

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9313_122_15584&products_id=101219

I've read wrong, my bad , you can use apoxy clay, it will do the job.

 

[huntinstuff]

I would soak it for about 24yrs. Rinse it and let it dry. Then scrape it to the bone.

IF you just have to boil, no more than 15 minutes.
If it still has eyes intact, take them out first before u boil.
Use a bent coathanger to remove the brains....

And if you have a compressor, man that works great. Blow it out.