I finally got my first bull ever. Also, I got it on the opening day of the CO. archery season. Its a medium 5x5. I definately want to get it mounted or do it myself, if possible. I couldnt afford the weight of the cape and skull so I sawed the top of the skull off. Ive been browsing at a european mount? I have some working knowledge with pelts but none whatsoever with antlers. Are there any decent kits out there that arent too expensive? My greatest concern is what i should do with the rack to prep it untill i get a kit that I am satisfied with. Thanks for any info. TT
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Look at tis, what you will spend on doing your elk, will go a long ways toward a professional job. Supplies will run $300. then you need some tools another $100, oh a book on mounting and a video so you wont screw it up anothe $100. so you save what $300. and screw up your first good elk. Dont want to be a nae sayer, but experiance goes a long ways, why not get a deerhead to practice on first, your going to put 30 hours into the elk, what is yor time worth verse the quality. Seeing as you ask about a kit, that say you know nothing about taxidermy. So maybe with the elk you are biting off a huge bite. There are additonal problems with elk verse deer, yes deer are easier, whitetails of muleys. Now a axis is a whole nuther ball game too.
Just a little linseed oil and turpentine maybe. As for a "kit". If you like the European style mount, look into buying the reproduction eklk skulls. Then saw your antlers off and bolt them on to the artificial skull and place on a nice plaque. The artificial skull eliminate any concern about bugs and they give a nice clean look to the display. Once the antlers are bolted on, take white Apoxie and fill the crack up under the burr to your likes. It'll look great.
WOW, talk about a quick mass response. Thanks for all your help. I dont really want to mount anything except the antlers. (maybe when I get a bigger bull) I got a link to a site that will set me up with a reproduced skull, plaque and all the fix'ns. This winter i am thinking about zipping a few yotes and I might try my hand at more labor intensive mounting. And if i have any questions I know where to go. Thanks again for all the responses. Extremely grateful TT of CO.
Way to go on the BULL! I`ll be going next season---after hunting 3
seasons in a row it`s hard to sit 2 out...doing a drop camp in the San juans..