How should I cut the skull on a whitetail buck so I can mount just the antlers? Is this enough info to get an answer?

Thanks.

Actually, that's a good question. Over the years that I was in the taxidermy business, I've many that were cut incorrectly.

Here's the link to a photo that should show how the cut is made. Note that these cuts are different than for a shoulder mount!!! They are for an antler mount.

http://www.jerrystringer.net/deerskull.jpg

The important cut is the one behind the antlers. The cut should run parallel to the back of the main beams as they come out of the skull. When mounted on a plaque, this allows the antlers to be upright rather than drooping forward.

Good luck!

JDS

Perfect. Just what I was needing. I was going to cut through the eye and deal with it from there but this will save a lot of cutting later.

Just to let you know that sometimes, when you cut like the photo shows, the small skull plate that is left will separate in the middle - right along the suture line where the two bones connect. Even though this occasionally happens, to me it's worth it because there is less bone to clean. In fact, with these cuts on a fresh skull, you can use a knife to scrape away all meat, tissue, and stuff and have it clean in about 10 minutes. Then stick it in a small bowl of 20 mule team borax for a few minutes and sit it out to dry for an hour or so. Then it's ready to mount! Very time saving when you have several to do.

If the skull does come apart, not to worry. You will need to screw the skull plate to a small, teardrop shape of board anyway (I use 3/8" birch plywood) to give a base to shape the plaster over the skull - and to give a method to mount it to a plaque. If it's in two pieces, use screws to hold it very loosely in place on the small board and then take a glob of catalyzed Bondo (like used in auto body repair) and smear it between the two bone pieces and fill up the brain cavity area (should take an amount about 1/4 - 1/3 of a cola can). Hold it in place for about 5 minutes until the Bondo hardens and then tighten the screws. It will NEVER come apart.

Good luck!

JDS