Well I can say my deer season has been very successful this year, all the hard work ive put into my hunting area has paid off. On opening morning of gun season all was quite at first then around 8:30 i hear quite the ruckus coming and here comes this buck chasing 2 does 30yards in front of me, and I said hey deer he stopped and i dropped him were he stood. Then 3 days later i shot a nice size doe. Im very blessed to have a successful season this year.
Thanks guys i dont think I did to bad for my first buck. I think im going to try to just do a european mount, has anyone on here ever done one? If so do you have any pointers or advice for me
DIY there is three ways I know of or have tried. 1 Skin the head and bury it for about 6 months. The bugs will clean it up for you, make sure to tie it down so coyotes dont get it and cover it so the sun doesn't bleach the rack. 2 Skin it then boil with a little soap in the pot, scrape what you can then repeat. Best to keep the water just at or below a boil. Bit of a smelly process and a little time consuming. 3 Skin then use a pressure washer to clean, this is the easiest way. Be a little careful with the small bones and getting too close with the nozzle. Just step on an antler to keep the head steady. Where rubber boots! Either way you go about it you will want to bleach the skull after. Best way to do that is with bleach made for hair salons. Just mix up a little bit and brush it on the skull, its a paste and sticks on there very well. This method allows you not to submerge in bleach and get the antlers bleached.
That is a really a nice buck. Personally I don't like the Euro mounts. If it is dollars holding you back from a head mount then I'd mount the antlers on a plaque. You can do the whole thing yourself and there are a thousand and some odd ways you can do it and also for cutting out a plaque. Here are a couple of ours.
Congrats on your first buck! A great buck at that. Good luck on the mount and please show us how your finished product turns out.
Im going to attempt the european mount next Saturday, i will be sure to take plenty of pictures along the way for you guys. I chose the European mount because i simply cant swing the $600 right now to have it shoulder mounted with having a baby due in December.
I I did my last one on the stove while it was still fresh. Sent the girls to town for a while. Got the water to a boil waited for the skin to lift then skined it.Everything just gets cooked off falls out.Don't overcook it bones will get brittle just enough to lift the skin.
I have made deals with a local taxidermist in the past. They are usually looking for large capes in good shape for clients who may have cut or shot up their deer and still want a shoulder mount. I cape out my deer as if I was doing a shoulder mount and take it to the taxidermist and get him to do me a European mount in exchange for the cape.
That is a great idea and I am definitely going to try that next time.... I just don't think the guys at my local car wash will feel the same way
