Removing Antlers from Mounted Deer Head

[cavscout]

I've acquired a mounted deer head with a nice rack that has potential for a couple of knife handles and maybe a few other pieces. My question is how to get the antlers off.

I was hoping the antlers are screwed into the mount but in researching mounting techniques it appears the antlers may still be attached to a piece of skull and I may have to cut into the head and remove the entire skull plate. Then cut the skull away from the antler base to be left with a nice crown at the base of each antler.

Can someone with more knowledge on this confirm or advise on this?

[Panache]

I've acquired a mounted deer head with a nice rack that has potential for a couple of knife handles and maybe a few other pieces. My question is how to get the antlers off.

I was hoping the antlers are screwed into the mount but in researching mounting techniques it appears the antlers may still be attached to a piece of skull and I may have to cut into the head and remove the entire skull plate. Then cut the skull away from the antler base to be left with a nice crown at the base of each antler.

Can someone with more knowledge on this confirm or advise on this?

CS,

All the antlers I have worked with came as a rack so they were attached together with part of the skull.

Take a look at this old thread of mine about making a sgian dubh that has pictures of how I removed them from the skull piece

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...x.html?t=20820

Hope this was of some help

Cheers

Jamie

[tyger]

Yes, without much doubt, the antlers are attached to the skull that lies underneath the hide. Go to vanDykes taxidermy and see how forms are used to mount the antler set, then the hide. You can take a hacksaw, or jigsaw (handheld, careful with power), or keyhole saw and saw off the antlers below the corona at the base of each antler. Then you can glue any cap-like button over the sawed bone to finish the head, and mount same on the wall. That way you still have a nice head, and a set of antlers. Jamie's pic shows the corona of antler that is found just above the hairline, and is the bone from which the antler grew::

[Panache]

CS,

If you want a smooth natural top to the corona make sure to go slowly with cutting, sanding, and polishing it. The hard part of the cap can give way to the the very soft center which isn't much use (requiring then a metal badge or something to cover it over).

Cheers

Jamie

[Squeaky McMurdo]

All you really have to do is pull the scalp away from the base of the crown and use a hacksaw or rotozip to separate the antler from the scull.

But as far as getting an easier angle to cut at, it might be easier for you to just remove the scull plate, break it in half, and then cut the antler off.

--Chelsea McMurdo--
who still has a mountain of elk antlers in her garage, lol

[cavscout]

Great! Thanks everyone. My 5 year old has grown attached to the head so I will have to wait till after taps to start cutting into it and then remove the remains before revillie Hopefully these will provide a unique, functional and attractive handle for the blade I've been wanting to use for a while now

[tyger]

[QUOTE=cavscout;708707]Great! Thanks everyone. My 5 year old has grown attached to the head .......QUOTE]

I can see it now........coat hanger 'antlers' come morning.......

[tyger]

[QUOTE=cavscout;708707]Great! Thanks everyone. My 5 year old has grown attached to the head .......QUOTE]

Whahappened to the quote?

[Panache]

Great! Thanks everyone. My 5 year old has grown attached to the head so I will have to wait till after taps to start cutting into it and then remove the remains before revillie Hopefully these will provide a unique, functional and attractive handle for the blade I've been wanting to use for a while now

Are you planning on grinding the down the handle to make a tang and then use drilling /two part epoxy or the boiling method to hold it into a solid corona handle?

Or are going to make scales and attach the tip of the corona at the end?

Cheers

Jamie

[cavscout]

deleted for double post