How to Mount Deer Antlers
You've been deer hunting, and now you have the antlers to prove it. However, you don't want to mount the whole head and pay taxidermist fees. Instead, you've decided to just mount the antlers. Follow simple directions, and you can display those deer antlers in your den.
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Things You'll Need
- Paper and pencil
- Table saw, jigsaw and hand saw
- Router
- Sand paper
- Polyurethane
- Paintbrush
- Drill
- Screws
- Leather
- Tacks
- Foam padding
Instructions
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1
Cut the pattern for the mounting board from a piece of paper. You can make whatever design you wish, just be sure it's large enough to hold the deer antlers.
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2
Choose a board. Oak or another wood with a nice grain works well. Use the pattern to mark the board. Cut it with a table saw or jigsaw. Sand the edges straight or use a router.
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3
Cover the board with two coats of polyurethane. Let the board dry between coats for best results.
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4
Leave an oval skull plate intact, after cutting the antlers from the deer skull with a handsaw. Remove skin and membrane. Boil the skull plate in water for ten minutes to remove the remaining tissue.
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5
Drill two holes through the skull plate. Hold the antlers on the board to check their position. It's best to mount the antlers about a third of the way from the top. Drill two corresponding holes in the board.
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6
Mark a piece of leather large enough to cover the skull plate. Allow ½ inch extra all the way around it.
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7
Mount the antlers on the board with two screws. Stretch the leather over the skull plate. If necessary, add foam padding over skull plate to fill out the shape. Attach leather to board with tacks. Turn leather under the entire way around for a more finished look, if possible.
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