I'm moving from northern Wisconsin to the Kentucky/Tennessee area. While we have found three communities in each state that interest us, having not lived there, we'd rather rent than buy a home until we find out if we really like the area.

So we're going to rent a home for the first three to six months.

My wife is adament that we are NOT hanging any of the mounts in a rental home and they'll have to go into storage.

I am worried about insect/rodent damage of the mounts and hides while being stored. Is there anything that I can do to keep mice and bugs from chewing/damaging the mounts while they're stored?

Thanks

Make sure the storage is climate controlled as nothing ruins mounts quicker than extreme heat and humidity.

Cedar blocks will help with insect control, I prefer them over moth balls because of the smell. I wouldn't think you would have rodent problems if you have the mounts in a clean storage facility.

You may want to check your local sporting good stores and see if they would be interested in displaying them for the short term. It would be a clean and safe environment for them.

Thank you Mary, I didn't think of talking to a sport shop.

Just something to think about here...
If you do take it to a sport shop, will there be other mounts hanging near yours or in the building with them ??
I have had clients and I myself have LOST mounts do to Bug infestation in SPORTING GOODS STORES, (Some big name stores btw) from other pieces that were done by very poorly qualified so called Taxidermists that DP or used inferior methods and were infested with bugs.
Bug infestation can occur in any mount when brought into proximinty of infested mounts.
Please think about what it long and hard before you commit to that scenrio.
It was just an experience some of us had to pass along to you.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, Dennis.

We have had mounts in several Sportsman's Warehouses and Dick's Sporting Good Stores for many years. The managers have been very educated and particular about the mounts they allow in the store and we go in often to clean and examine our mounts. We have also been fortunate to have specific areas for our mounts only throughout the stores. We have never had a problem with dermestids in the past 10 years. The quality of Dry Preserved mounts is very inferior to what these shops want on display (that's how it is here anyways) so you won't find any DP mounts in the establishments we display.

I would however recommend having a contract on each piece and in that contract make sure you are the only person who can remove the mounts from the store, if you do go this route.

Best of luck to you with the storing of your mounts, whichever way you go that works best for you.