Question for Taxidermist

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

Thanks for the advice guy's. It's very helpful. I'll probably go with a shoulder mount unless I screw up the cape some how. On that note are there any tips for storing the cape for a couple days without a refrigerator or freezer in early October temperatures?

After you skin the cape away from the rest of the neck and shoulders the best tactic is the thing cool. Unless you have someone that can skin the face off the skull or you are very proficient at it your really running a risk with the cape spoiling without access to a freezer or fridge unless it gets extremely cold at night. You can always check with meat cutting shops or even a local taxidermist that may charge you minimal feel to cape the moose off the skull. One option, if youre near a cold stream or lake is to get the cape cool after harvest and then wrap the head and cape in a few contractor style (thicker than your average garbage bag) bags and put it in a cold stream. Make sure it doesn't come in (cape and head) doesn't come in contact with the water and make sure its cooled down before wrapping it up in the bag before immersion. DO NOT salt the cape, it won't do you any good without the skin completely coming off the skull and the lips, eyes, ears, and nose being 'turned'. Hope this gave you some options.

A pedestal CAN be converted but it would really take some labor and potentially $$  in doing so as both style of mounts work completely differently as to where their mounting hardware is and how it is affixed to its mounting structure. A better option would be to initially make your mount a wall-mount and then mount it like a pedestal such as using the bracket on the backside to mount to a tree or rock on the pedestal base. A true pedestal mount has two large all thread screws at the bottom of the brisket area that mount into a hard base, thus making it hard to convert to a wall mount. Hope that makes sense.
Good luck on the hunt!!

[lewy]

Moose euros are pretty sweet looking

[grundy53]

Thanks for the advice guy's. It's very helpful. I'll probably go with a shoulder mount unless I screw up the cape some how. On that note are there any tips for storing the cape for a couple days without a refrigerator or freezer in early October temperatures?

After you skin the cape away from the rest of the neck and shoulders the best tactic is the thing cool. Unless you have someone that can skin the face off the skull or you are very proficient at it your really running a risk with the cape spoiling without access to a freezer or fridge unless it gets extremely cold at night. You can always check with meat cutting shops or even a local taxidermist that may charge you minimal feel to cape the moose off the skull. One option, if youre near a cold stream or lake is to get the cape cool after harvest and then wrap the head and cape in a few contractor style (thicker than your average garbage bag) bags and put it in a cold stream. Make sure it doesn't come in (cape and head) doesn't come in contact with the water and make sure its cooled down before wrapping it up in the bag before immersion. DO NOT salt the cape, it won't do you any good without the skin completely coming off the skull and the lips, eyes, ears, and nose being 'turned'. Hope this gave you some options.

A pedestal CAN be converted but it would really take some labor and potentially $$  in doing so as both style of mounts work completely differently as to where their mounting hardware is and how it is affixed to its mounting structure. A better option would be to initially make your mount a wall-mount and then mount it like a pedestal such as using the bracket on the backside to mount to a tree or rock on the pedestal base. A true pedestal mount has two large all thread screws at the bottom of the brisket area that mount into a hard base, thus making it hard to convert to a wall mount. Hope that makes sense.
Good luck on the hunt!!

Thank you very much! Looks like I have some more planning to do.

[daydreamn]

Joel is pretty much right on with his advise only I would suggest that if you are interested in storing your cape for use later, Don't get it tanned. True, A wet tanned cape properly done, could last up to seven or eight years in the freezer but a cape that has been properly fleshed, turned and salted then dried will last almost indefinitely. It can then at any time be rehydrated and tanned for use when your ready to do your mount.  Best of luck with your hunt.   

[jackelope]

@BlackRiverTaxidermy  what if his mount started life as a wall pedestal style mount? Would that make things easier down the road if he decided he wanted to do a normal pedestal?

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

@BlackRiverTaxidermy  what if his mount started life as a wall pedestal style mount? Would that make things easier down the road if he decided he wanted to do a normal pedestal?

It would, however they don’t sell forms as a wall pedestal for moose. It would be something that would have to be completely customized and depending on the size of the antlers may have some challenges with clearance for a wall pedestal moose. I’m working on a wall pedestal elk mount right now and there are challenges.

[jackelope]

Makes sense and didn't think about the size challenges. Thanks.

[daydreamn]

@BlackRiverTaxidermy  what if his mount started life as a wall pedestal style mount? Would that make things easier down the road if he decided he wanted to do a normal pedestal?

It would, however they don’t sell forms as a wall pedestal for moose. It would be something that would have to be completely customized and depending on the size of the antlers may have some challenges with clearance for a wall pedestal moose. I’m working on a wall pedestal elk mount right now and there are challenges.

   Yes they do!

[BULLBLASTER]

@BlackRiverTaxidermy  what if his mount started life as a wall pedestal style mount? Would that make things easier down the road if he decided he wanted to do a normal pedestal?

It would, however they don’t sell forms as a wall pedestal for moose. It would be something that would have to be completely customized and depending on the size of the antlers may have some challenges with clearance for a wall pedestal moose. I’m working on a wall pedestal elk mount right now and there are challenges.

   Yes they do!

My bull is a wall ped