For want of a better term, can one go to Africa and bring back skull mounts of the trophies taken?? Again, I don't know the correct term but you see quite a lot of European mounts with only the horns/antlers and a portion of the skull. I don't really object to full mounts but lack the room or space to display them.
Just a thought.
Regards,

Absolutely! I have some free standing skulls like giraffe, steenbok and warthog and then some to hang up on the wall. They all look great.

Ann

What do you think of European type of mounts? Some Americans think it looks tacky and not soo nice at all.

I't would be great to see a pic of the Giraffe and Warthog skulls.

It is far easier to clean and dust if you don't have to manny full mounts or shoulder mounts, that is good for us who have more important things to do

/ JOHAN

Trapper,

I'm at the stage of having most of my stuff done European mounts. Less expensive and less space.
I think European mounts mixed with a few shoulder mounts looks pretty cool.

Regards,

Terry

Thanks for the replies and the info. I was interested both in the cost and the space involved, plus I also think the mounts look very nice. I too would like to have a a mixed array of conventional mounts and skull mounts. Another factor is the look of mounts after several years - I have seen a lot of regular mounts that look shabby after a time and I have seen some skull or European mounts that were very old and still looked nice.
Again, thanks.

Guys,

For the uneducated ... what is a "European style mount?"

thanks,

Mike,

Like this:



or this:



You can do them with or without a wooden plaque.

Regards,

Terry

[ 02-15-2003, 22:27: Message edited by: T.Carr ]

T.Carr

Thanks for the nice pictures.

Is that a bighorn or a stone sheep mounted on the wood plattern?

/ JOHAN

Johan,

I honestly don't know, I "stole" the picture from a taxidermy website.

Regards,

Terry

Cost of a European mount with a plaque is about $25.00 to $35.00 in Africa, most of mine are that. tanned skins are very inexpensive in Africa and they make the best leather in the world..RSA is the best....

RSA tanned Buffalo and Ostrich is so good it brings tears to ones eyes...USA tanned Buffalo and Ostrich will also bring tears to ones eyes because they made a mess of it, thanks to OSHA.....

Ray, you just seem to have all the answers! Can you give a "For Instance" cost of a conventional mount with plaque? I am under the impression that with packing, shipping, etc the cost would be many times what you stated for the typical skull mount. And thanks again to all for the info.
Regards,

I have a finite amount of income and space. I prefer to spend my money on the hunting. Some trophies I have done in shoulder mounts, but more and more are skull mounts. They are simple and cheap. I take lots of photos.

I think skull mounts are beautuful as well, but of course a nice shouldermount is preferable if the animals fur has got a nice pattern. What about bongo for instance. If I`m lucky enough to shoot one in my life, I wouldn`t hesitate about a full mount, even if I have to throw out my TV.
I have got some roe deer skull mounts and I love them. They are beautiful and small! And I`ve got a shouldermount in the middle of my collection. So I love both kind of mounts. They both have their sharm.
But I`ll agree with Matt Norman. I`ll rather spend my money hunting and take a lot of pictures. Increase the pictures size and put them in a nice frame!

I just finished this mule deer this weekend. I thought it turned out nice.
Ron

Trapper,
Since hunting and clients are my business, I had better have the answers...

Shipping from Africa is largely based on the SIZE, of the crate therefore all your trophies can be placed in a small crate, so charges are considerably less than a crate sizable enough to pack a shoulder mounted Buffalo or Kudu...

Most Skull mounts done in the US cost about $100 to $150 to plaque, by the better taxidermist...

Another option is mount the skull on your own plaque as you will get them bleached and cleaned anyway or you can get the plaque done in Africa for about $5 ot $10.00 extra...What I am saying is that it only cost you the price of the plaque as your shipping the trophy skull and horns home anyway at a price of about $20.00 depending on size....Also leather and skins are cheaper and weigh less when tanned plus they do a better job...

I would never have shoulder mounts done in Africa as the shipping then becomes excessive and you can have it done in the USA for about the same price, without risk of losing it and the problems that go with taxidermy work outside your home country...

I hope this answers your question acceptably.....