Elk Mount & Lessons Learned

ronaldo · May 16, 2007

The elk I arrowed last fall had long swept back antlers. When the form for the semi sneak postion(my choice) arrived my taxidermist was concerned that the antlers might look too tipped forward in order to not have a wall interference problem. After saying go ahead and getting the finished product, I decided the antler angle to the head just didn't look natural enough for me. Using the pictures I took after the kill he matched the antler /head position. I will have to build a structure for mountng at the shoulders to offset the eight inches it now penetrates the plane of a wall. Even so, I'm much happier with the truer replication. Right now he's in the garage and a wall is not an issue, but it will be when I remodel my house with a higher ceiling to accomodate this elk. The pictures show the side and front views with antlers tipped forward and then made normal.

. There are probably other positions than semi-sneak(right) that would have been more accommodating, but I liked it enough to live with the consequences.

TripleK · May 16, 2007

Nice elk and a nice mount. I like the tipped back version much better too.

alwayzbhuntin · May 16, 2007

Good problem to have! Looks good with them further back.

?We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.? Aldo Leopold

Wantabee · May 17, 2007

Congrates, nice bull.
I have heard of this problem before. One fix if you are "remolding the house" you could build a pony wall or some type of ledger so the elk hung on it and the anlters went above, hope that made sence.
Just a thought.

AZStickman · May 17, 2007

That's one nice Bull...... It would look great as a pedestal mount too..... Terry

canhunter · May 19, 2007

Nice elk and good looking mount. I prefer the natural antler angle also, and all my mounts were in the exact position they were in when killed. We built a short pedestal/stub right out of the wall to mount directly onto. Not to get technical but we just strapped the inside with huricane staps at an angle with 2x4 bracing then faced entirely with 1/2 plywood then rocked it. Super strong and could just about hang anything on it. Just lay some decoration over the stub wall (old bridle and reins) if you don't like the plain wall and it blends great. I think this is what was mentioned before with the correct carpenters name. Very easy to do and your wall stud lay out either 16-24 will work without a bunch of extra stub wall.

bigbone · May 20, 2007

LAST EDITED ON May-20-07 AT 09:08AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-20-07 AT 09:07?AM (MST)

I just got my mount back and have same problem, they are detachable sheds but I need 5 inches on the back of the mount to clear the wall. I want to have something decorative probably in wood but as light weight as possible added to the back of the shoulder mount to get the 5 inches.

Any suggestions? just can't get him on the wall until I solve this problem.

^BIGBONE^

canhunter · May 20, 2007

Just build a box out of what ever kind of wood you want with any type of corner joint or angle. Screw it to to the plywood backing of the mount. Super easy to do. May not look as good as a stub wall, but by making a octogan or hexagon pattern instead of a rectangle it will look good.