How to Preserve Antique Deer Heads
Mounted deer heads are an excellent reminder of a successful hunt, but antique mounts can pose a maintenance and preservation problem. To keep deer heads and other trophies looking good requires more than having them mounted by a professional taxidermist and carefully installed on your wall. Mounts can quickly begin to show deterioration and look worn without continual care. Proper preservation requires monitoring and control of humidity, light, and pests, along with careful handling and cleaning. Basic care will keep mounts looking good for decades.
Things You'll Need
- Hygrometer
- Humidifier and dehumidifier
- Freezer
- Latex gloves
- Disposable particle filter masks
Instructions
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Control Environment
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Watch humidity closely. This is the most active agent in mount deterioration. High relative humidity (over 65 percent RH) can lead to mold growth, and low humidity (less than 30 perhent RH) can cause cracking and make mounts brittle. Use a hygrometer (humidity monitor) to monitor levels.
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Maintain proper humidity levels seasonally with humidifier and dehumidifier units.
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Limit light exposure. After humidity, UV light is the next most harmful agent to mounts. Direct sunlight and fluorescent lights will discolor fur in just a few months.
Control Pests
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Inspect regularly for pests. Preventative maintenance is the most effective way of keeping pests out of mounts. There are several species of moths and beetles that will severely damage mounts.
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Keep the area around the mount clean and free of debris to deter pests.
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Freeze mounts if a pest infestation is found. Freezing is an effective method for ridding mounts of pests without using harmful pesticides. Encapsulate mount in two layers of polyethylene bags, and remove as much air as possible. Place in freezer for two weeks. Thaw slowly, then freeze for another week.
Handling and Cleaning
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Handle with care, and handle as little as possible to prevent hair loss.
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Use latex gloves and a particle filter mask when handling antique mounts. Arsenic was a popular pesticide used on mounts up to the early 1990s, and safety is paramount.
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Vacuum at low power to remove unwanted dust and debris using a soft brush. Brush in the direction of hair growth and toward the vacuum cleaner's nozzle.
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Tips & Warnings
Deer mounts are particularly vulnerable to hair loss, so handle/vacuum as little as possible.
If arsenic is suspected, seek professional advice from a licensed taxidermist or museum conservator.
Do not store mounts in attic or basement.
Do not store or display mounts near water pipes or household radiators.
Because of possible arsenic in older mounts, keep children and pets away.
