DIY antler mounting questions

R

ryan robert

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BACK IN Newfoundland and lovin it!!!
Hey guys, im looking for some advice on mounting a set of moose antlers, ive got this years 10 point antlers and want to put them on a plaque, thats the easy part, ive been reading alot on taxidermy forums on how to but i cant really find any how to info, its all about other things, what im looking for is a how to read me type of thing. one of the antlers broke off from the very base when i shot this guy, it was a clean break and have plans to reattach, by drilling and epoxy. i want to have the classic look with a peice of leather stretched over and brass tacks holding it on

Any advice would be a great help, its something i want to do myself, instead of forking out a bunch of cabbage to the local taxidermist. I already had my bear rug done by the local guy, he is real good, but i want it to be my own project.
Thanks RR
 
Our local sport shop has little kits for about $25,comes with everything you need including mounting instructions.Maybe ask your local store about getting some in.
 
I inherited a set of Polled Shorthorn bull horns from my grandfather. Someone (who sleeps on the other side of the bed) kicked them accidently and broke one horn. The taxidermist was polite and didn't charge to glue it back on with 5-minute epoxy.

They are quite heavy. The only hardware are two big woodscrew head in the back of the plaque. The boss between the horns is velvet covered and quite hard. Maybe it is Bondo underneath ... ?
 
I made this backboard out of greyed out planks that I took off an old grain bin. You'd also be surprised as to the real nice wood that the floor boards off the old grain bin makes. Art work below the mount is courtesy of my wife...and she can cook too.

Maple Leaf: I have your avatar as a bumper sticker on my 1 ton truck...eh.

APr0051.jpg
 
How did you put that nice sheen on the skull? Is that Varathane or something more exotic? It looks great!!

John
 
I have did a few antler mounts from advice from an old timer

this is without full head and not sure if it would work with moose as I have never shot one :(

Cut straight down from the front of the ears then straight in from the top of the eyes. This gives you a nice piece of skull to work with.

Skin the skull and remove nasty chunks. Either boil or what I like to do is freeze then use a dremil and remove all matter untill you can see the fracture lins on the skull without boiling.

Go on the web and get a plaque template and make out of what ever wood you choose I like pine it is easy to router and cut.

Then make a plywood 1/4 " piece that you can attach your antlers too by drilling and screwing from the front(and oval works best for me). Cutoff the excess screw from the back of the plywood. Be very carefull on screw section and make sure you drill big enough pilot holes through the skull so you donnt crack it.

Now center your antlers and plywood on you plaque and make pilot holes from the backside of the plaque through the plywood. Make sure that the screws you pick for this will not hit the skull when installed.

Once the placement is decided take your antlers/plywood and fill in the gaps with paper and wrap it with chicken wire, tack it to the backside of the plywood so you have the shape you want to present. I normally just use plaster to go over the chicken wire after I have the shape but you can use bondo or fiber glass body filler also. once dry sand the shape to what you want and cover with felt or leather or just paint. Personnel preferance here.

Once happy with the results now using the pilot holes on the plaque and ply wood attach your atlers to the plaque and you are done :)

You may want to stain the plaque :)
 
Noel, Ryan: thnks for the compliments, my wife likes the plugs I put in for her.
jjohnwm: that is semi-gloss urethane.
maple leaf eh: there's plenty of room for trophies, lot's of wall space here.
 
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