I have a client who wants to keep a mount (elk) in his screened in porch in Indiana. He can protect it from direct sun and rain but wants to spray something on it to protect it from the bugs. Has anyone used anything successfully for this? Also what will the humidity do to his mount? Thanks to all responses.
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If he does, encourage him. This is a sure fire way to lose your mount prematurely. Climatic changes will make the hair brittle regardless of what method of preservation was used. As for bugs, there are only topical applications today and they are extremely temporary. Mount Shield is one of them, but since it's out in the open, I'm not sure if I wouldn't tell him to use regular flea spray for dogs (the kind you spray on the animal). It's a lot cheaper and the ultimate conclusion of this story is that in 4 or 5 years he's going to want you to get a replacement cape and remount it anyway.
I have one of my elk outside on the carport, (no room inside). I don't recommend it but this elk is almost 17 years old, and has been outside for over 10. It is faded but my inside stuff that old is also. It was mounted with dry preserve and has never had a bug in it and you can not pull the hair out with a pair of pliers. I would simply tell your customer to spray the mount a few times each summer with some type of bug spray and hope for the best.