Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: saylean on November 04, 2009, 11:49:18 AM

Title: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 04, 2009, 11:49:18 AM: Hey All,

I am looking for unique ideas for "just an antler" mount. Something other than a plaque or, perhaps a very unique plaque. I have been throwing around doing something with a few of my sheds, but have come up blank so far. ;)

I didnt cape the deer, although it is my biggest deer to date. I want to do something special with it, but not break the bank.

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: bow4elk on November 04, 2009, 11:57:42 AM: I like European mounts that are set off the wall at an angle, similar to the natural position of the animals head (as in nose out away from the wall). You can make or buy a nice wall plaque with a perpendicular center support for this. I also like Euro mounts hung with nothing else, just the skull against the wall. Looks especially good on darker painted walls with a professionally cleaned & whitened skull. Just some thoughts.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 04, 2009, 12:00:06 PM: any and all thoughts welcome. Thanks Bow. ;)
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: huntnphool on November 04, 2009, 12:01:58 PM: I am working on a few different state plaques so I can differentiate the euros and anyone will be able to tell what state they were from. I know you can buy similar ones but I want to do them out of better looking wood, I will post up a couple when they are done in case anyone else would like one done.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: jackelope on November 04, 2009, 12:03:27 PM: the skull is cut, right? a euro is out if i remember the pictures you posted.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: burrheadcountry on November 04, 2009, 12:05:05 PM: I used an old saw blade.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi251.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg291%2Fburrheadcountry%2F009-3.jpg&hash=34c38e617e61493e9b2b0f47863518d679562a5c)
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: bow4elk on November 04, 2009, 12:06:05 PM: I also like weather barn wood (cedar) or fence boards. If you can find a broken chunk that is naturally weathered, that can look real nice too. Maybe add some rusty barbed wire and/or a chunk of sagebrush to add some interest (or something local to the area you killed him).
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 04, 2009, 12:07:18 PM: Quote from: jackelope on November 04, 2009, 12:03:27 PM
the skull is cut, right? a euro is out if i remember the pictures you posted.

Correct Jack. I was figuring I would have to add a plaque style cover to it, but was diggin for ideas about the backing (I like the saw blade)...or perhaps some old wood from my dads old barn...or maybe from one of the burned out trees out by Mazama...
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: jackelope on November 04, 2009, 12:11:31 PM: I think cabelas makes a kit you can put the skull plate onto a reproduction skull with some bondo-type material to turn it back into a euro mount. never seen the end result of this kit, but it might work ok. i won't cut any more skulls because i really like the look of the euro mounts.

barn wood is always cool.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: jackelope on November 04, 2009, 12:13:16 PM: Charlie(bucklucky) emailed me pics of a bunch of plaque mounts that he does a while back...he might chime in here. they involved leather and stuff if i remember correctly.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: Buckmark on November 04, 2009, 12:13:39 PM: Maybe mount it to a smiley face plauqe, since your so glum about it.. :chuckle: :)
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 04, 2009, 12:16:47 PM: Quote from: Buckmark on November 04, 2009, 12:13:39 PM
Maybe mount it to a smiley face plauqe, since your so glum about it.. :chuckle: :)

:chuckle:

My GF was harrasing me about that too.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: Craig on November 04, 2009, 12:26:13 PM: Here is one I had done with last years Antelope. It's just a plaque with a place for a picture. I like how it turned out.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FIMG_4133.jpg&hash=652090841326046acc46cf3e328311a1f335846d)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FIMG_4136.jpg&hash=5b65178da8a6dc6924b9510bbbb3ebf96a66f9a5)
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on November 05, 2009, 02:15:18 PM: Here is one done from old barn wood, I love the way they look, if you do the form in a darker shade then braid a lighter leather around everything it really stands out...
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 05, 2009, 02:18:07 PM: Craig, Blackbear, good examples. Thanks for posting the pics, they look good.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: rasbo on November 05, 2009, 02:34:21 PM: cut yourself a burl,thats to your liking.....I found that spinner you were looking for,its in your eye :chuckle:
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 05, 2009, 03:04:01 PM: Quote from: jackelope on November 04, 2009, 12:11:31 PM
I think cabelas makes a kit you can put the skull plate onto a reproduction skull with some bondo-type material to turn it back into a euro mount. never seen the end result of this kit, but it might work ok. i won't cut any more skulls because i really like the look of the euro mounts.

barn wood is always cool.

they do make one jackelope its a mountain mikes recreation you can turn it back into a euro if you want i think it 40-50 also i don't lnow if this was said but there is a mount kit called iron buck looks intresting for sure
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: NWBREW on November 05, 2009, 04:07:55 PM: burrheadcountry...thats pretty cool. I like the old sawblade.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: tlbradford on November 05, 2009, 04:35:30 PM: If you drive through Wilson Creek, the third house from the far east of town, has a ceramic deer in the front yard. It has a set of horns from a buck I shot about 15 years ago. :chuckle: It is the closest thing I have to a full body mount.

I like the saw blade a lot.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: huntnphool on November 05, 2009, 04:39:16 PM: Here are a couple that were posted on here a while back.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 05, 2009, 04:46:32 PM: that camo skull is bad ass
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: grizzlygibbs on November 05, 2009, 05:58:07 PM: Van dykes taxidermy has a desk deer mount stand. It uses a standard leather wrap "form" and looks really cool.
http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/product/85000100/trophymate-desk-mount-kit
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: NWBREW on November 05, 2009, 07:43:00 PM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on November 05, 2009, 04:46:32 PM
that camo skull is bad ass

:yeah: Man I really like that. That will be my next skull mount.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: bow4elk on November 05, 2009, 08:16:53 PM: I do these with plaster, deerskin, and finish with rough grain leather trim. I bandsaw the plaque from oak or whatever wood I want, then use a belt sander to add the scallops. Stain it or oil it and it's done. Very quick and easy.

Next, I attach the skull cap to a scrap piece of plywood with sheetrock screws. Then mix up some plaster (or you could use bondo) and work it under the skull cap with a plastic knife, putty knife or chuck of scrap wood. Continue to smooth it over the top of the skull cap around the bases. As the plaster starts to harden I then work it into close to final shape. Let it dry up hard now. Later I come back with a lightly damp rag or sponge and smooth out the form I want and blend the center skull ridge right down the front of the plaster cap.

Once this is set up overnight, I remove it from the scrap plywood and get ready to apply the deerskin. I work out a pattern first and cut the hide to that shape, ensuring the seams are around back of the pedicles. Once I'm satisfied with the dry fit up, I apply contact cement to both the plaster and the deerskin. I carefully stretch it into place and as fast as you wrap it, it's done.

Next I will add leather accent trim under the antler bases, then attach the antlers to the wood plaque, being careful not to screw it on too tight. Then I trim out with leather around the perimeter using contact cement and keeping the seam behind one of the antler pedicles.

Done deal!
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 05, 2009, 10:06:12 PM: Quote from: rasbo on November 05, 2009, 02:34:21 PM
cut yourself a burl,thats to your liking.....I found that spinner you were looking for,its in your eye :chuckle:

lol...It was a fishing accident and Im a little sensitive about it if you dont mind... :chuckle: :IBCOOL:

Wow guys, some really great ideas on here. I appreciate all the input. I will post what I decide once its all done. That camo skull is sweet ass sweet. I am diggin bow4elks stuff too.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: huntnphool on November 05, 2009, 10:13:10 PM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on November 05, 2009, 04:46:32 PM
that camo skull is bad ass

I have spoken to the guys over at this place and they are pretty reasonable. Here are the patterns they use, I believe the one on that Skull is the "Praire Ghost".

http://www.hydro-dip.com/all_patterns.htm
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 05, 2009, 10:16:15 PM: thanks huntnphool i will have to look them up
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: huntnphool on November 05, 2009, 10:36:41 PM: Another nice thing about the hydro-dip is that if you have capped your skull in the past, you can purchase a skull replica with a notch for your cap, its called a convertable. You mount it and fill in the void (I will be using duraglass and bondo) smooth and scribe in the skull synostoses and its ready for dipping. With it being dipped it will hide any difference in color and minor imperfections in your work. This is a cool way to display those old capped racks. :twocents:

P.S. I got this one from Charlie and have no idea where he ordered it from. I will post a step by step how too with pics eventually and put it in the taxi area.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 06, 2009, 08:46:11 AM: Interesting Huntnphool. I didnt know you could even get something like that.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: stickslinger on November 19, 2009, 08:50:46 AM: they also make a reproduction skull that you just attatch the antlers to. and it won't prevent you form doing a shoulder mount later with a different cape. nice buck
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: Ballance1 on November 19, 2009, 09:01:49 AM: The Shed Taxidermy Studio
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: coop2424 on November 19, 2009, 09:33:49 AM: This is a reproduction skull that the horns were added like Huntnphool had said above. Probably should of used different paint so it was not to shinny but it looks pretty good.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi606.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt143%2Fcoop2424%2FIMG_1087.jpg&hash=a91a68bfb13c23d45301172f93735a7c6ca930f0)
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: HardCorpsHuntr on November 19, 2009, 09:39:27 AM: Maple burl.
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: saylean on November 19, 2009, 09:48:52 AM: A very suiting mount for the antlers HardCorps~

Thanks for the examples guys. ;)
Title: Re: Muley Antler Mount, looking for ideas...
Post by: bullchaser on November 19, 2009, 10:37:43 AM: Here is a set of replicas i did for a friend. I stained the horns made the plaque and mounted them. I am working on some "diffrent" styles IE. offset from the wall and table tops using mahogany when i finish i will post them.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi298.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm275%2Fmattandmelody%2F2008_0604January20080003.jpg&hash=5033a20386e784104a6f81f19f3a7f88e64cf4b3)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi298.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm275%2Fmattandmelody%2F2008_0604January20080002.jpg&hash=2b7c41055a952a654c2874f1ff3fa64483378973)