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Which option works for you?
Before you even head off on a hunt, be it a quick trip into the hills, the annual pilgrimage during the roar, or a once in a life time trip, it is worth doing your homework!
When it comes to how you best want your prize trophy preserved, there are a number of things to think about... Where do you want to display it? Are you able to get the skin into a freezer in time? What time of the year is it? What is your budget? The list goes on.
Below are descriptions of the four main type of trophy mounts. I have included the key considerations you should be thinking about in each case, as well as laying out what is included in the price you pay and additional extras you might like to consider. If you don't find what you are looking for here, check out the FAQs or get in contact. I am happy to talk you through the option that could suit you best.
Shoulder Mount
The shoulder mount is the most common way of mounting an animal. The mount includes the head, neck and shoulders of the animal.
This type of mount suits most rooms. However, do make sure the mount will have enough space in the area you plan to display it.
When you bring your deer to us, you will be asked to make some decisions that you may not have considered. You need to decide on the pose, the turn, and the design of your deer mount.
The first decision to make is the pose, or the attitude of the deer. The most common poses are the upright, a tall and majestic pose; the semi-upright, which is a little more relaxed; the semi-sneak, which is a very natural-looking pose; and, the full sneak, like you would see a buck when he’s chasing a doe. Remember, if you choose an upright or semi-upright pose, make sure there is enough room on top for the antlers to clear the ceiling.
The second thing you need to decide on is if the animal is looking straight, left or right. When we talk about left or right turn it is always from the animals point of view.
Turning the head can make the mount fit the display area better. It can also be used to showcase the better side of the trophy or some unique features of the antlers.
Now that you’ve chosen the pose and the turn of your deer, you need to decide how you’d like to display it in your home. You can hang it on the wall in a traditional flat back manner, or you can go a step further, and have us attach it to a wooden display panel to compliment the décor in your home.
When a basic shoulder mount is chosen the price includes: fleshing and tanning the hide, standard form, standard eyes, mount assembled and finishing.
Pedestal Mounts
There are many choices available for your mount beyond the flat back of the shoulder mount. For more decorative designs, you can choose a pedestal floor mounted manikin, which is made for 360-degree viewing. It has a concave back, so we can use a variety of options when decorating it. For example: bark, artificial stone, leather, or fabric. This option is for more spacious areas.
If you like the dramatic effect of the pedestal mount, but you still want to hang it on the wall, then the wall pedestal is the best of both worlds. It still has a concave area for decorating, but also includes a flat back to attach to the wall. It also has a greater shoulder area for displaying more of your deer.
When a basic pedestal mount is chosen the price includes: fleshing and tanning the hide, form, form attachment to base, standard eyes, mount assembled and finishing, leather or animals own hide for curve finishing.
Bases are sold separately. The design will need to be selected before any work is done on the form.
Full / Half Size Mounts
The full body and half body mount is usually reserved for special, once in a lifetime trophy animals.
Depending on the species they take up quite a bit of space. When measuring up available space you will need to consider the size of the animal and the base the mount is placed on.
Some recent innovations in taxidermy and habitat have opened up a whole new way to display your hunting trophies. Think about warmth, texture, and color. Consider a display that shows appreciation for the animal, and tells part of the story of the hunt.
Talk to us about incorporating a scenery which allows you to replicate the natural environment where your hunt occurred.
All full and half sized mounts are priced on a case by case basis.
Euro Mounts
A skull mount or as many refer to as a European mount is perfect for the sportsman who loves hunting. It doesn't cost as much as shoulder mounts, it takes up less room, and it doesn't take too long to get back the mount. These three factors, along with the creativity that has been shown with skull mounts is why they are still popular with many people.
For the serious hunter who consistently harvests a trophy each year, it's easy to see that displaying them in a tasteful manner can become costly. Plus, the space that full shoulder mounts take up is a lot more compared to skull mounts.
Another reason skull mounts are popular is how quickly the turnaround is. When having a shoulder mount done, it usually takes several months of preparation before it is finished. When having a skull mount done, it can be as soon as a few days until the mount is complete.
The last reason I think the European skull mounts are still popular is because of the endless options of displaying the trophy.
There are many options for how to display skull mounts. They can be displayed by simply laying them on top of kitchen cabinets or shelves for decoration, placed on bar tables in man caves as a conversation piece or on many different natural bases such as old fence posts, driftwood, and handmade wooden plaques. Being a hunter is more than just harvesting an animal; it is about respect for the creature, making memories, showing gratitude that you were fortunate enough to bring home a trophy and having something to show for all the hours spent hunting that can be kept for years to come.
When ordering a European mount the service you receive is: cleaning and whitening of the skull.
Plaques, wall mounts and scoring of antlers can be ordered separately.
