Ive been doing taxidermy about 4 years. Now doing my first elk. Sent the hide off to Yost's. Iam now looking for any tips on mounting this critter. It is for my best client and will probably generate a lot of referals. I am sure there are a few curveballs compared to mounting whitetails. ANY info will be appreciated. It is a rather small bull, with a replacement cape.
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that if this is your first elk mount
that elk mounting is not that much different than mounting a deer head. It is just on a bigger scale. Some things to consider are to make sure the cape actually fits the mannikin, and to make sure the angle of the skull cap and antlers are at the correct angle so the cape doesn't pull away from the bases of the antlers. Use a good epoxy glue and brads. The main thing is to have plenty of good elk reference pictures. Good luck.
Why you ask? To check the antler clearance, so the antlers dont hit the wall.
when comes back from tannery before you order form, if is areal big bull make sure to make the antlers removable. will take quite a bit longer than a deer head.
All good points. I would add that you might want to flesh the tear ducts very thin and then remove most of the duct, leave enough to tuck into the THIN slot and then use a good adhesive (epoxy). Thin the burr skin extremely thin and epoxy and pin the skin. Thin the lips and epoxy into thin slot... get the drift here. As dwl points out I would highly recommend selling the guy an antler removal kit - you never know where this thing might go and if it will clear the doors to get there.
Oh, make sure you charge enough for the job - it will take allot longer than a deer and being bigger will just be more of a hassel handling (probably will need an assistant at times being you first one). I charge double what I get for a deer and then $75 for the antler removal kit.
Good luck, they are a beautiful animal and look great when mounted and are fun to mount.
I am in NM and elkk are my bread and butter. First to set the antlers I us a 1by screwed to the back and long enough to make sure. the horns won't hit the wall. When you get ready to put the hide around the horns mix up some black or brown Apoxi sculpt And put a good bead of it around the bur and when you get the first few stitch in it press the hide into the apoxi you will never have the hide seperate from thr bone. Good Luck