Mounts
Contributors to this thread:Colorado
From: TheColoradoOutdoors
19-Aug-18
Alright so I am already dreaming big and dreaming about going to chase deer and elk with bear in two weeks. My question is, is it ok to take the hide off for a shoulder mount from taxidermist, freeze the hide until I save up enough money and then give it to the taxidermist. Or is the mount going to be trash because of that and not worth it.
From: altitude sick
19-Aug-18
Let the taxidermist turn the lips, ears, nose. Before freezing. Or even better have them send it off to be tanned properly then work out when you want it mounted. Most taxidermist will put it off as long as need be.
From: mikea20
20-Aug-18
Yes, you can freeze it. Most taxidermists freeze projects that they can't get to yet anyway. I've personally mounted several animals and freezing is normal and fine to do.
From: Jaquomo
20-Aug-18
I've frozen a number of them and the mounts later turned out great. But like altitude sick suggests, it will be better to get it tanned as soon as possible. That is fairly inexpensive. If you freeze it, be sure to fold it skin-to-skin before you roll it, and roll the lips-face in first to help prevent freezer burn of important parts.
From: SlipShot
20-Aug-18
Talk to your taxidermist to see if he will work with you. I took my bear in a couple years ago to have him prep it for so I could freeze it. After talking with the taxidermist, he took my bear and did the work. He allowed me to make payments when I could. It took me a year and half to pay it off and pick it up. He had the shoulder mount done in 9 months.
From: Longshot349
20-Aug-18
I've did Taxidermy for 35 years. The best advise in my opinion is; You can safely freeze a deer or elk skin for at least a year. After that, there can be freezer burn issues that make the skin difficult to work with. As mentioned above, roll the face inward for best protection from burn. If you're gonna put off mounting it for more than a year, I'd suggest having it tanned ( by a Pro) , then you can even hang it in the closet, freezer or wherever, almost indefinitely. I've mounted tanned skins after 5 years with great results. The only issue with storing a tanned skin, is to watch for bugs getting into it. That's why many people store even tanned skins in the freezer. Good luck.
From: TheColoradoOutdoors
20-Aug-18
Thanks! By any chance Longshot do you mount for other people? ;)
From: yooper89
20-Aug-18
Lou’s got great advice. I’ve lived my entire life by the code: skin to skin or it ain’t going in... the freezer.
From: Longshot349
20-Aug-18
No, I don't do public work anymore. I'm retired and only do a few special projects these days. But thanks for considering me. :)
From: TheColoradoOutdoors
20-Aug-18
Alright, anyone recommends any taxidermist that are pretty cheap but they still make good mounts.