Mounting Elk sheds on plaque

[Dakota Hills]

This is the old way. Won't be using any store bought skull cap or pedicles. Will just use materials around the shop to build antler supports.
Start with Bondo,fiberglass resin,fiberglass chop,cooking spray,soda cans and all thread and 3/8 lag bolts 6 " long. The size of the sheds will determine the diameter of the cans or molds to be used.Will also use an Elk or Caribou shield,a piece of felt about 15"x 20"and a wooden plaque 11"x17".


Spray cans with cooking spray. Not sure if you need this step,,but I do it!
Mix 25 percent resin 75 percent bondo and a small amount of each of the hardeners and a little fiberglass chop into your cans.
Set them at an angle and allow time to set up.

Peel off the cans.

Test fit to antler bases and drill two holes in each base mount about an inch apart.
Mark and drill antler base as well.

[Dakota Hills]

Re-enforce the shield with 1" pine board,and mount the base mounts to the shield with more bondo. Test fit to antlers to get angle right. May require some work at the grinder to get them close.


Mix some plaster of paris to overlay the shield and base mounts.

[Dakota Hills]

Sand smooth and paint a dark line below antler base to hide imperfections on finished product.
Then install the felt. Staple on back side. Use your favorite rope and hot glue a strand around,,just below
the antler bases.

[Dakota Hills]

Attach to wooden panel,,, install a hanger on the back and hang on the wall.
 

I hope this may help some of the newer people out ,,,,,,, or it may be so much work,,they will want nothing to do with it!!
;-)

[RICK P]

Thanks

[brn2hunt]

Looks Good!

[BigBear_410]

Hey kim, that turned out really cool. Might have to give it a try with some of the sheds i got.

Thanks

[April Payne]

Very neat! I have never seen antlers mounted with the top half of a mannequin head. But then again, I'm still a beginner.

[Dakota Hills]

Thanks April!  That's actually a shield designed for that. VanDyke carries them and I'm sure other places do as well. They make them for several different skull sizes. This one is for a Caribou,,as I couldn't find one for Elk.  I do lots of deer antlers on them.