How do you mount/preserve antlers?

I am by no means a newb at hunting, I've only drawn two tags in Nevadas lottery. The first was a muzzle loader hunt when I was an early teen. This year, I got a 5X6 buck. He was definately a larger buck, seeing as how we only saw one other, a forked horn. I hikes an hour before I was in a reasonable range with reasonable visibilty to fire a shot. Since it was my first deer kill, I definately had "buck fever". My first shot went through his shoulders. Knowing that I had probably ruined that meat, I had to put two more in the same area before he would stop moving! Where he dropped was definatley not the easiest spot to get to. It took roughly six hours from the time I dropped him to get him cut up and hauled off on the pack board.

Reason for the story is......I worked my ass off for my first deer. It is something for me to be proud of, and I am. It was also my grandpa's last year hunting big game so this hunting trip is going to hole a lot of value. I would like to remember it forever! I have already gotten this picture blown up and hung on my wall.



I plan on hanging the antlers above this picture. I would like to know how everyone else does it. Again, it's my first so......ya.

Do i need to do something with the skull cap to preserve it? I already ordered the Iron Buck Antler Mounting Kit.

 

Great buck. Take him to a taxidermist.

 

x2

 

I unfortunately only took the skull cap and meat. I had too leave everything else on the hill side.

 

not to worry you dont need to do anything to preserve the antlers. I belive with the iron buck kit you wont even use the scull cap so no trimming of the hide and fat it only uses the antlers. no mess no fuss!

 

You can get a hide from another buck and have your antlers mounted with that cape.

I do european mounts on my mediocre bucks and bulls and shoulder mounts on my trophies.

 

As long as my skull cap will be fine! That's all I needed to know. Thanks!

 

Nice buck and congrats, like posted above no need to do anything to the horns. As for the skull cap area, you can let it dry out naturally or use a product. I keep in in the garage for a couple of months hanging, once everything dries up you are good to go.
Just an idea when you mount it, use leather to wrap the skull cap itself, and use braided leather around the base of the horns (the space between skull cap and antler. Looks sharp, plus you can pick dark or light leather.
Again WAY TO GO!!!!!!

 

man , thats a great deer!

 

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Thanks for the input guys! I ended up ordering the iron buck kit. I think it came out pretty sweet. Twas real easy! If anyone can rotate this tho, I'd appreciate it!