Care of Your Mounts

Even the highest quality taxidermy can become worn and dull looking when not cared for properly. Even in climate-controlled environments, skins can become dry and cracked, hair and fur can become brittle; and antlers and horns can lose their luster. Insect infestations are possible in any setting if mounts are not cared for properly.

It is recommended to clean and take care of your mounts on a regular basis. This will help keep your trophies looking their best and lasting a lifetime.

To keep your mounts looking their best it is important to store them in a proper location. To prevent fading over time, do not hang your mounts opposite a bright, sunny window or expose them to direct sunlight. Avoid intense, direct sources of heat such as furnace vents, fireplaces, or woodstoves which can prematurely dry a mount, cause cracking in skin and scales as well as cause hair and fur to become brittle. In addition, wood smoke and tobacco smoke will cause yellowing and discoloration of your mounts. To keep your mounts looking their best, do not display or store your mounts where they will be exposed to these conditions and avoid placing mounts where pets and children have access to them.

Dust and grease build-up on mammal mounts can cause damage. Avoid using products like furniture polish or hairsprays that are commonly rumored to work well to clean hair or fur. These products can actually attract more dust and moisture over time. Instead, lightly use an upholstery attachment on a vacuum and gently work it in the direction of the hair. Then, using a damp cloth or dry pantyhose gently wipe the mount in the direction of the hair to remove any remaining dust. Lightly brush the mount with a clean, soft-bristled pet brush.

Use a damp cloth to take care of most of the dust. It may be necessary to use a small amount of Dawn dish soap to take care of any remaining stubborn dust or grease.

To remove surface dust from your fish mounts use a can of compressed air which produces under 20 lbs. of pressure. Any remaining dust that has collected between scales may have to be cleaned with a dampened cotton swab. To dust your bird mounts, gently brush them with a wad of cotton balls in the direction of the feathers.

Use a cotton swab dampened with glass cleaner to bring back that life-like luster to the eyes of all your mounts.