Changing a Rack on a mount question

[kens]

Is it possible to take a rack off of a mount and but another one there? Can I still use the same cape? I can buy a mount pretty cheap and thought I would put one of my racks on it.

[upperEA]

Boy Ken that would be pretty tough, the hide gets stiff after a while although it will loosen back up when soaked in water for a while(maybe prayed with a spray bottle?). You would have to peel the hide back around the skull area and pull the old horns off and screw yours to it, then paper mashea (SP?) or plaster of paris arond the horns to make the skull plate normal looking, then sew it back together. It can be done, heck if you don't mind sticking 50-60 bucks into it (if thats what you mean by cheap) it would be worth a try. I just did a nine point which was the first deer I ever shot, I used a cape off a spike horn my buddy shot this year it seems like it's going to come out good. That's always an option. Good luck if I can help you at all email me and I will do what I can for ya. Tom

[kens]

Thanks for the help upperEA. I think I'm going to let a local taxidermy do it. He thinks it will work out good? I'm thinking about trying one my self this fall. That's if I shoot one? The buck in my avatar is the rack I'm going to put on mount. Nothing special but a very memorable hunt. Thanks

[BOHNTR]

I've had it done several times. Very easy process for a good taxidermist. Fairly inexpensive as well. Good luck.

[M.Magis]

It can be done, but I certainly wouldn't call it "easy". Just changing them out isn't hard, but getting new ones to look good can be next to impossible. It also depends on whether the mount was tanned or DP'd and the glue used. If you don't mind some imperfections you'll be fine with the results. If your wanting a top quality mount, that's not the way to go.

[BOHNTR]

Maybe it's just your taxidermist? It's not a difficult task, but agree it should not be done more than once to each respective mount. As for "imperfections", I've yet to see any from the taxidermist I had complete the task. They look great....to each his own.

[M.Magis]

I am my taxidermist, so I have a pretty good idea what kind of problems can come up. I have a feeling that our ideas of "imperfections" differ.

[BOHNTR]

M. Magis:

I figured you probably were (taxidermist).

After re-reading my last post, it might have sounded a little harsh.....definately not meant as that on my end. Just trying to pass along some info to the orginal poster.

However, I still feel as a consumer, it's an "easy" thing to have done with a turnaround of less than a week. Thanks for your insight, I know I appreciate the info and definately do not have the eye you do in that area. I'll look at some of mine to see if I can detect the things you describe. Again, didn't mean to sound harsh. Good luck.

[M.Magis]

No need to apologize. In all fairness, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to taxidermy. What I would call an imperfection, most people would never even see. Some of the problems than can come up are: pedical diameters not matching well, pedical spacing unequal, dry preserved cape (doesn't rehydrate well), epoxy glue (won't let go easily, if at all), ear butt attachment, medium used to rebuild muscle structure on head, poorly tanned cape tearing when rehydrated. Again, some of these things wouldn't be noticed by most people, but I wouldn't let it out the door.

[Taz]

I do it all the time. The results vary. Most are quite good. Some people just can't afford the $450 I charge for a shoulder mount and this is an alternative. Some of my customers are running out of wall space so I even take trade-ins for this purpose.