Mossy Oak Forum / Trophy Room / General Taxidermy

We need to liven up this section.

Toxic — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:47:49 GMT

He guy's and gal's anybody out there doing there own tanning and mounting ? love to share what I know if it can help you out.

Gettin Into Taxidermy

bowhunter0708 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:30:33 GMT

Does anyone know of any good websites where I can get some instruction to taxidermy this squirrel my kid shot with his pellet gun?

Tanned hides ... care

billnsarah — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:49:04 GMT

Hello all , never really thought about it till the other day while I was dusting some mounts . Is there anything special I can do to care for the hair on my mounts ?? Also , how about the tanned side of hides , should they be reconditioned or treated with anything ?? Any help will do , thanx , Bill

Tried to mount a gobbler

TRKYHTR — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:08:47 GMT

I haven't tried to mount a gobbler in 20 years so I kept my last CA gobbler of this season because it was in good shape. It still has a couple weeks to dry. What do you think.

TRKYHTR

Hen Decoy

TRKYHTR — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:46:14 GMT

Here is a few pics of some hen decoys that I have mounted myself. I am not a taxidermist. Just do it as a hobby.

TRKYHTR

Here is one of them in use.

Moose Euro

NoDak_Hunter — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:18:22 GMT

Here is my moose euro I did myself this summer.

No boiling involved!

storing a mount

muzzy2 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:36:26 GMT

I live in Northern Ohio, and I am moving to South Carolina in 3 weeks. I have a shoulder mount that I have to put in storage, as the family member I am moving in with will not allow me to hang in their house. What can I do to insure that my mount wont get destroyed by bugs or heat and humidity? I dont know anyone down there yet, so I cant give it to anyone to keep for me. Any suggestions?

08 SC Velvet

gobble — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:41:24 GMT

took the ol' lady out deer hunting the first time last season,.. brought along good luck i reckon' lol

here's a few of a velvet 8 i got last season

I've also got a whitetail/calico in velvet , non typical like crazy,, with white velvet... gotta get the cam back up 'n runnin

Ants?

NoDak_Hunter — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:27:34 GMT

I've heard of this being done before, don't know if it's true though. Put the fleshy skull close to a fire ant hill, and leave it for a while, and the ants will pick the flesh off the skull. Anyone ever tried it?

South Carolina

Zeke — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:57:10 GMT

Velvet

My EUROPEAN 9 Pointer

BowBo — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:44:01 GMT

First skinned the skull out.....

Then started up the witch's brew....

Then got it bleached/peroxided....

Then mounted it up on the plaque....

delete

abbie — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:18:35 GMT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sneak Peek

TheRomer — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:54:20 GMT

I got the plaque done for my 08 turkey

and i couldnt wait to see what it was going to look like so i put it all together to see

I still have to wait to it all dries up before puting it on for good but i think its going to turn out good.

watch ya all think?

Boiling the Boar Head

Hilltophunter — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:41:41 GMT

Man o Man I started working on the boar skull yesterday. The smell got so bad I had buzzards flying over head. It took a while but it came pretty clean. Now its off to the peroxide bath..

Javelina skulls and arrowheads from Texas

ADjam5 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:54:17 GMT

My son and I got back a few weeks ago from a West Texas Ranch.
These are some of the Javelina skulls and arrow heads we found in the 40,000 acre ranch.
The skulls will get cleaned up a bit and whitened with peroxide and go up to the hunting house.
The arrow heads are already in a case being cherished.
We felt a sense of hunting in the right place... when you find Indian arrow heads.
Thought I'd share the pics.

MY TURKEY FAN MOUNT

BowBo — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:27:40 GMT

Here is my Jake, mounted up on one of those awesome plaques that TheRomer made........ and I think it turned out GREAT!!!

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Romer once again, for an awesome job on this beautiful plaque! Thanks a million buddy!

I went with a couple of the flight feathers out to the sides, as you can see.... I thought it added a nice touch.

And here is where I decided to hang it.... right next to the fireplace!

And here is the picture of us two in the field right after DOUBLE KILLing our birds... hanging under my mount.

Finished COYOTE Mount

BowBo — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:35:27 GMT

This is a coyote that my taxidermist (Whitetail's Haven ~ Milan In.) just finished up. I thought I would share it with you guys because I think it looks awesome............ like it is ALIVE!!

These pics really excite me......... because I want to get me a yote mounted as well.

I got it all finished

TheRomer — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:18:49 GMT

i didnt bleach it to much i wanted to somewhat keep the natural look to it.

And this is its home.

Standing Euro Mount Plaque

TheRomer — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:35:11 GMT

got it done today

now i just need to get the head done

tell me what yall think

Whitetail Euro Mounts

WhitetailFanatic — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:54:31 GMT

I've had a few to practice on. I dont have the bleaching down yet but im learning fast.

Mink mounts

Hilltophunter — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:24:00 GMT

I have a mink I am thinking of having mounted but really not sure on ideas. If any of you all have time or idea I would really be interested in seeing them. I may just have a little something for the person who helps me decide on a design.

A few of my mounts updated 1/31/08

Hilltophunter — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:56:30 GMT

HOW MANY PEOPLE?

BowBo — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:35:07 GMT

How many people are doing (or having done) a European mount on any of their animals taken this past hunting season?

I'm not doing one this season. I'm doing a skull cap on my small Urban zone buck, and of course I'm having my big 9 pointer shoulder mounted.

But I'm curious to hear of whom might be doing one this year..... let's hear what you're having done!!

I'm pretty sure that Romer is doing a Euro on his 10 pointer he got with his Drenalin. And hopefully he will provide us with some pics as he's doing it!

And INBowhunter was working on one too, wonder how his is coming along?!?

Oh yeah, there is a "HOW TO" topic in this same forum on doing your own Euro mount, if anyone was interested.

Bull euro mount

pabowhunter — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:52:45 GMT

Just finished up the euro mount on my bull from this year. It's just like doing a whitetail but you need a bigger pot to cook it in. Anyone in for some bull soup!

Here is the finished thing. I still need to dig out the ladder to hang it.

Here's a close up of the the velvet point that was a result of the injury. It was attached by skin so after cleaning everything up I glued it back on with silicone. I figured it was there when I shot him so I might as well put it on the mount. I got it pretty close to the original position using pictures for reference. It doesn't look to bad stuck on there. Glued the ivories back in the same way.

--> HELP PLEASE ~ UPDATE!

BowBo — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:48:03 GMT

Can you guys post some pics of your favorite Whitetail poses, for a shoulder mount?

I'm kinda thinking about a FULL SNEAK mount, but I also think it might stick out too far over the mantle in front of the fireplace.... may be in the way somewhat.

So I am looking for some suggestions, and would like to look at some different, and maybe unique poses for a great mount.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated........... THANK YOU!

Bear mount

pabowhunter — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:48:10 GMT

Anyone see any cool bear mounts lately, full, half or anything inbetween? I'm looking for ideas. I would like it to be wall mount. I may end up going with a rug but considering other options.

--> WILD BOAR.... RUG???

BowBo — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:31:29 GMT

I have 2 boar hogs shoulder mounted, and 1 that I European mounted myself............ but would have NEVER thought about a HAWG RUG!

I actually think it's kinda cool. What do you think?

Finally got my OTTER back!

MadJack — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:38:47 GMT

Last year when I started trapping otter, prices took a bad tumble after I had caught two big ones so I decided to get the mounted. Here is the first one, the other is still there for now.

METALLIZED SKULL MOUNTS

BowBo — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:55:17 GMT

These are SOOOO KEWL!!

I should send off one of my Boar skulls to have done like this!

Here is their main website: www.skulltaxidermy.com

I LOVE that BRONZE look!!!

South Carolina

Zeke — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:26:15 GMT

Wood Duck

Ark ducks

Zeke — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:24:38 GMT

These are the first ducks I've shot in Ark.I went witha friend of mine and he just started to get in taxidermy as a side job and this is his first mount.

The Very Talented Mr. Romer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NY911Bowhunter — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:21:11 GMT

I got home yesterday and there was a HUGE box on my doorstep....

A box from The Romer!

Inside wrapped tightly in bubble wrap and packed with a bazillion foam peanuts was the most beautiful wooden turkey plaque, for my fan!

Beautiful does not begin to describe the work here..... the craftsmanship, coloring, sealing, the picture - just everything perfect. Store bought models pale in comparison!

In fact, once Drew got home I told him to go downstairs and see what I got....

His reaction was, in a whispering voice, "Oooooooooooooooooooo..........that is awesome!"

Great Job Mike - many, many, many, many thanks!

HardLuck is complete

Hilltophunter — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:50:23 GMT

I have some new pics here somewhere

HOW TO~* EUROPEAN MOUNT *~HOW TO

BowBo — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:47:52 GMT

EUROPEAN SKULL MOUNT PROCESS

>Skin the skull clean removing all the skin, hair, meat, and eyes. You can try getting some of the brain matter out before boiling, but not necessary.

>ANIMALS WITH ANTLERS ~ Wrap the antler bases and up the antler for a couple inches with Electrical tape. If you have bark and stuff on the bases and want to keep it there, then just put some plastic wrap on the antlers before taping them down. Taping prevents the water and/or bleach from messing them up/changing their color!

>Simmer skull at a SLOW boil (not rapid boil, it will make thin skull sections too brittle and it can crack the skull and make the teeth fall out) for a couple hours with alot of Dawn dishwashing liquid. The Dawn helps remove the meat and keeps grease from cooking back into the bone. Pick skull clean of meat etc. Use a metal coat hanger to tear up the brain matter and use a water hose to force the brain pieces out of the skull........... Start with more fresh water and Dawn and simmer again until you have skull completely clean.

The "bleaching" part can and has been done many different ways. All I know is that I have done 3 different skulls now and all have turned out pretty good (no complaints at all with any). And this is how I've done mine........

~Pour a big bottle of regular household Peroxide into whatever you'll be soaking the skull in,
~Now pour in a cup of bleach into the pot/pan (it will fizz a little while pouring but doesn't hurt anything),
~Fill remainder of pot/pan with water (enough to cover skull up to antler base)
~Let the skull soak over night (apprx 12hrs),
~Then soak skull in WATER ONLY over night (apprx 12hrs),
~Then if you're not happy with whiteness of skull, start with fresh peroxide/bleach/water, only soaking it up to 6hrs at a time until desired whiteness is achieved.
~REMEMBER to soak skull in WATER ONLY inbetween each bleaching process! This ensures no bleach residue is left on/in the bone!

This is MY simple, easy, cheap, and very effective way of doing a nice Euro mount.

Key things:
*Don't over boil it, and use lots of Dishwashing liquid! I like Dawn the best for keeping the skull from having a greasy feeling afterwards.
*Don't over-do the bleach! That can make it way too chalky looking.
*Soak with water ONLY, after each bleaching process! If you don't, the skull can turn back to a yellow-ish color over time.

It's an easy way to make something unique for saving a lifetime...... and it's really fun doing it, and quite satisfying once you have it displayed.