I just received an elk hide back from my taxidermist. I would like to know how to hang it on the wall.
It is an entire hide, with the hair on, and weighs 34 pounds.
A sample hide from this taxidermist had what I would describe as a plastic rope sewn into the edge, and that was used for hanging. My hide does not have this feature. The hair goes right up to the edge of the leather.
I have not had much luck finding hardware for doing this. Any advice would be appreciated.
Return to Gamehead Taxidermy Category Menu
......You plan on taking it off the wall frequently, I would suggest you just nail it up where you want it. Unless you have a solid wood wall, you will have to locate the studs and put hangers on the hide in the appropriate locations. It is easier just to take 8d finish nails and nail it to the studs. 8d finish nails have no heads(very small) so when you want to take the hide down just pull it off the nails, they will slide through the hide. Then just pull the nails out of the wall.
Well, I would like to avoid nailing it. I will probably take it off the wall occasionally. Know of any hardware I can use?
How about fastening (either gluing or stapling) the hide onto a piece(s) of Luan and then with a couple of hangers mount the Luan to the wall?
Good idea. I searched the internet for "Luan taxidermy" and ended up with another article from this board back in March. "Fat Back" proposed basically the same thing to someone hanging a deer cape and said he'd done it himself with success.
I will have to think a bit about how to handle my cape since it is wider than a standard 4' sheet, but this is an excellent idea. Thanks again.
You could use the luan and just make a 4-6 in. wide piece around the top and 2 sides and attach as JEM suggested, with some type of rings or hangers on it. This would make the whole thing a little lighter, as opposed to using the whole 4 x 8 sheet. Or hook in some hog rings or something similar, around the edges to hang it by.
Dan K
That's a good thought Dan. The hide weighs 34 pounds. Most of a sheet of plywood would add a lot to it. It is basically 5'x6', but very irregularly shaped as you might imagine.