With deer hunting season over, it's time for the season-end tasks
to begin. These tasks involve the cleaning and oiling of guns and putting away our hunting clothes that have accumulated around the house all season. For hunters fortunate enough to get a buck, antler mounting is another welcome, post deer-season job. Often the size and/or appearance of a buck's rack may influence a hunter's decision as to whether or not to mount it. Those who don't wish to mount their racks may take different approaches. Options include key chains, lamps, or even use the deer antlers for rattling in a buck next season. The sole purpose of this article, however, is to share some mounting techniques and styles in order to give a custom mounted look to your deer rack or to help a first-timer with the basics.
Once you have acquired a set of antlers from the season's harvest,
the next step is to prepare the set for mounting. Whether you choose to remove the antlers or have the butcher do the chore is a matter of preference and does not affect the first step of the preparation process.
Begin by removing any left over hair or membrane that remains attached to the skull. A small, sharp knife is usually all it will take to achieve the desired results. A very important procedure is to let the base (skull) of the antlers soak for a few minutes in a pot of boiling water. This step kills bacteria and removes any residue that was not removed with your knife during the first step. After carefully removing the skull from the boiling water, scrub the skull lightly with bleach or a sanitizing liquid. This will kill the
remaining bacteria as we want our rack to be noticed for its appearance, not its smell. Take caution when scrubbing the base of the antlers, you do not want to get cleaning agent on the horns which will result in discoloration. When cleaned and completely dried, it is recommended that you brush a thin coat of varnish ever so lightly on the antlers. The purpose is to preserve the original color of the antlers, without the light coat of varnish, the color fades to a whitened tint.
background must now be chosen. This background can be found in a local department store's sporting goods section. A basic kit runs $10-$15. However, why not pocket that money instead and make your own with a more custom-made, artistic style. A simple twelve-inch by twelve-inch piece of wood or metal will serve as excellent mounting hardware. After selecting the mounting material, you can cut your background into a specific shape or design that is appealing to your taste or style. Whenever possible, it's always a good idea to practice on a scrap piece of wood or metal before performing the primary cut. If your mounting selection is wood, a thin coat of varnish may now be applied then finished with a light layer of glossy lacquer to give it a touch of shine.;)
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