How to make an professional looking antler mount for a fraction of the cost

Want to display a rack on your wall? Too small for a head mount, but you're still proud about it and want to show it off but not pay over $100 to have someone else do it? Follow these steps to make a professional looking mount for less than $25 (and the satisfaction that you did it yourself). *Note* I will be adding pictures (hopefully) after the 2008 deer season.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Deer Antlers
• Saw or angle grinder
• Wood plaque
• Mounting Block
• 12"x12" Felt
• Rope/Cord
• Mache/Plaster
• A cauldron or pot you don't need to use for cooking anymore
• water
• Surgical knife/scalpel
• Steal brush
• Screws, nails and/or staples
• Powerdrill
• Drill Bits

1. This first step is probably the most gruesome part, but when it's over and done, it's easy from this point on.
   You'll need to make to cuts on the head to remove the antlers. Use a saw (see warnings below) and cut the skull plate until a little bit of skull and the antlers are removed.
2. You'll need to take a knife (or scalpel) and remove any flesh, hair, tissue, etc. that you can.
3. Let the plate sit for a few days to dry off and allow any extra tissue you couldn't remove to become hardened and easier to remove.
4. Take a steel wire brush and brush off any extra tissue. If there is still some left, get a pot of boiling water (do this outside on a grill, it will stink up your house if you do it inside). While holding the antlers, dip the skull portion into the boiling water. Hold for a while, and then remove and use the wire brush to remove any tissue. Repeat this step until the skull is cleaned off.
5. Make sure you've cut the skull portion of antlers so that they fit into the slot in the mounting block. Try to cut them to a perfect fit. However, if you don't have a perfect fit, that's okay, you can improvise and customize your mount in steps 6 through 9.
6. Drill two holes in the skull bone and screw two dry wall screws into the mounting block. This will secure the skull plate and antlers to the mounting block. If the screws stick out the back a little, they can be broken off or ground off.
7. Combine the mache with water and mix to a thick consistency. If you add too much water, it will cause the mache to sag.
8. Apply the mache over the exposed skull plate blending the mache onto the mounting block. Smooth it out and let dry.
9. If you didn't have a precise fit between the skull plate and the mounting block, you'll want to apply more mache in the previous step, and smooth it over to make it look natural. In some cases, you may need to apply the mache to the entire block in order to get a smooth, uniform, natural look.
10. Once the mache has dried for a few days, you'll be ready to cover the mounting block. Measure the distance between the antler burrs (at the base).
11. Take your felt square, and in the middle of the felt, place two quarters at the same distance apart as you measured on the skull.
    With a pen, trace the quarters to mark the spots.
12. Make lines from the upper corners to quarters (see picture - coming soon).
    Cut along line to the center of the quarter, then cut a circle where the quarter was located.
13. Position the felt over the mounting block. Additional cuts will be required in order to trim away unwanted material while you position the felt.
14. Pull the felt around the base until it's tight and staple or tack the felt into the mounting block (I typically use small fastening nails).
15. Glue or nail the rope around the base of the antler burr and the entire mount.
16. Drill two holes through the wood plaque and attach the now completed antler mount using two drywall screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy some mache from a taxidermy supplier (there many great ones online).
• Buy the felt and rope from a local fabric shop.
• Buy the wood panel from a hunting supply store. They have cheap kits for about $15. The wood panels in those kits are worth $10-$15, and the rest of the kit is worthless.
• Get creative with your mounts. The first one I made myself, I have the antler mount, the wood plaque had a spot for a picture, so I included a picture of myself and the deer, I kept the bullet casing and I mounted that on a brass plate that had the date, location and B&C measurement.
• Buy all of your supplies while the skull dries. While your skull is preparing for the mount, that is the time to buy your wood plaque, mache, mounting block, screws, nails, felt and rope/cord.
• When you saw the skull in order to remove the antlers. DO NOT use the saw you'd use to butcher because you will cut brain matter, and you don't want to risk contamination.
• If you boil the skull plate at all to remove tissue, do it outside or in a remote location because it will STINK.
• Be careful when using a scalpel. You will knick your thumb or hand at some point.