You went to the expense and effort to hunt, tan, and preserve your trophy mount, so you want it to look its best for as long as possible.
If you follow these simple care tips you can extend the life of your taxidermy mount. Keep it clean, insect free, and in good shape, so you can enjoy it for years to come!
Hang It in the Right Place
Whether you bagged that once-in-a-lifetime whitetail, you’re getting ready to head out for a hunting trip with your family, or you have a teenager that has her camo game face on, a taxidermy mount is one of the best ways to preserve a hunt and make it visible to friends and family.
And, just like any other piece of art, a properly cared-for trophy mount will last for years to come.
To get the most out of your mount, it’s important to hang it in the right place. The wrong placement can damage your mount or even lead to it falling down.
The first step in changing your taxidermy mount is to determine where you want it placed on the wall. Ideally, it should be positioned so that it is not blocking other features in the room or cause the admirer to have to walk around to see the animal.
Once you have determined the ideal location, measure out the space that will be needed to hold the mount. This will include the area above and below the screw mount area.
Next, use a stud finder to locate a stud in the wall where you’ll be installing the mounting screw. A drywall screw that has been installed into the stud will allow the taxidermy mount to hang firmly and securely on the wall.
If you’re unsure where to hang your mount, consult with a professional taxidermist. They’ll be able to recommend the perfect position for your animal and provide tips on how to hang it safely.
When hanging a taxidermy mount, it’s also important to keep the animal out of reach of children or pets. This will help protect the mount from accidental scratches and breakage while also keeping your trophy safe from the elements.
Another way to hang your taxidermy mount is to hang it on a wooden display panel that’s designed to fit the size of your animal. This will allow you to customize the look of your trophy and make it more visually appealing.
Once you have hung your taxidermy mount, it’s time to start taking good care of it. These simple tips can help you keep your trophy looking fresh and new for many years to come.
Clean It Regularly
If you want your taxidermy mount to be a great conversation piece for years to come, you need to take care of it. After all, it took a lot of work for you to get it, and you don’t want the time and money you put into it to be wasted!
The key to keeping your mount looking like new is to clean it regularly. This is especially important if you live in a dusty area. If you want to keep the dust out of your trophy, you can use a feather duster or a hair dryer on a low setting.
Once you have the hang of it, cleaning your taxidermy mount isn’t that difficult? All you have to do is a few simple cleaning steps on your mount a couple of times a year.
* Dust the hair: This is a vital step to keep your mount looking sharp. When dust builds up in the fur of a trophy, it makes it look tired and worn out. It can also lead to a buildup of dirt that can make it easier for insects to hide and feed on the mount.
Using a soft bristle brush with soap and water to wipe down the mount can help with this. This will also remove any odors that may have built up over time.
If you don’t have a brush to use, you can try using a damp cloth with mild dish detergent on it. This should be enough to remove any dust that is on the animal’s fur, but if you do need to wash it more thoroughly, you can also get a sponge with some soap and water on it and gently wipe the entire mount down in the natural direction of the animals’ hair.
When you’re done, a good vacuum will remove any extra dirt that has built up on the mount. If you do need to use a vacuum, don’t forget to wipe down the head afterward with a dry cloth. You should also be careful not to press any hard suction against the mount, as this can damage it.
Keep It Moisture-Free
Taxidermy mounts are a great way to display trophy game animals. But they do require some special care and attention if you want them to last a long time.
One of the first things you should do when you hang your taxidermy mount is to make sure it is in a dry, cool space. This will help prevent any moisture issues that can happen due to extreme temperature changes or direct sunlight/UV light.
Aside from hanging your mount in a cool, controlled space, you should also make sure that the environment it is displayed or stored won’t have any negative effects on the animals in it. The heat from fireplaces and furnaces can be particularly harmful to a mounted animal hide because it will dry the skin out and shrink it.
Moisture from the air can also be a problem for taxidermy. If the humidity in a particular area is too high, it can cause mold to grow and mildew to develop.
In order to keep your mounted animal’s hide free from moisture, it is important to dust your mount frequently. This helps keep the hair from drying out and allows it to look more natural.
Another thing you can do to keep your mount dry is to use a product that is specifically designed to clean and protect your mount. It contains conditioners that prevent your mount from drying out as well as an insecticide to eliminate any insects that may be present on it.
Using a product like this is a great way to ensure your taxidermy will be in the best possible shape for years to come. It can be applied to most of the surfaces in your mount – including hair, feathers, antlers, horns, hooves, and paws – to help prevent insects from getting on them and to remove any dead bugs or pests that might be on it.
If you don’t have a product like this, you can try using a mild solution of water and vinegar to wash the mount down with twice a month. This will also remove any dirt that has accumulated on it during the year and will help to prevent any further mold from developing on it.
Don’t Touch It
Whether it’s a deer mount, moose mount, fish mount, or another animal mount that you have, it is important to care for it so that you can display it proudly and keep it looking its best. It is also important to prevent it from being damaged by insects or other issues.
Insect infestation is a big problem that can ruin any taxidermy mount, including those crafted by top-rated taxidermists or those that were professionally tanned and dry-preserved. The two main insects responsible for this are demisted/carpet beetles and moths.
These pests are common in food pantries, carpets, and closets that contain grain products such as a dog or cat foods. They eat wool and can cause hair loss in the mounted animal.
To prevent this, the mount should be kept in a room with a temperature that is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a very comfortable temperature for the animal and will allow it to stay nice and soft without getting too cold or hot.
It is also important to make sure that the humidity levels are low and that there is no dust present in the area. If there is a lot of dust, it can get trapped on the animal and cause it to become dirty.
When cleaning your mount, use a clean, soft cloth or feather duster and wipe it down frequently. Avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaning products as this can damage the mount and cause it to look bad.
Regular dusting can help keep your taxidermy mount from becoming dull and faded, so it is essential to do this. You can do this with a feather duster or a cotton swab lightly dampened in water and used to gently wipe down the fur or feathers of the mount.
Keeping your mount away from direct sunlight is also important. Over time, UV rays will discolor your mount and make it fade and crack.
If you want to keep your mount looking its best, it is best to store it in a safe, clean, and dark place. For example, you can keep it in a glass case that is sealed and away from moisture.
