working on my 1st Elk head soon. I have plenty of experience on Whitetail deer. Any advice? The cape is coming back from the tannery next week
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if you've done plenty of deer, I don't think you'll have any problems with the elk. Just make sure you have good reference photos when you mount it.
I thouroughly enjoyed my first elk. Juts like a big deer, but oh so much easier. At least in my experience.
jj, Only thing I'd offer is use BIG screws in the skull cap as the whole mount is a good bit heavier. Also a heavy duty hanger of course.Enjoy, Aaron H.
Not sure how yours will be. I got mine from Jonas. Only did one, but mine came in two pieces. I had to reattach the neck. Because of the weight of the rack, it was recommended to me that I carve out a spot for a section 2x4 that would run up into the neck, and down into the shoulder area, and secure this to the wood already there. Dimple out the area pretty well, the use bodo and long screws to attach. It's been a while, but I think thats how I did it. I baught the ELK from John Belucci, and that was how he said to do it. Not hard, just a few more steps than I might have taken if I had not known.
Dave
while the process is similiar, elk have many features that differ from whitetails. Check out the tear duct, nostrils and nose pad to name a few of the obvious differences. Get some good reference and use it and you should have no problems.
Dave
if real big might want to make one side detachable so you can get in and out of door ways. for hanger I just cut a slot in back of form, remember if turned tou will need to compinsate were you put the slot it looks like a triangle when done. I use Four 4" Grabber screws to hold antlers on form and they work real well have mounted 400 class bulls using these also put bondo over skull cap just make sure antlers are solid. another thing test fit antlers on and make sure the back of them are not going to hit the wall some times I use a 1x4 on back of form to check this if it hits your going to need to alter. I would say that elk are harder than deer and more time consuming a lot more things you need to check and make sure of so you don't get your self in a pickle. just my opinion but think about it. Good luck DWL.