How do you keep mounted deer heads looking nice?

Question

My dad has some that are pretty nice but kind of old, I think bugs or mice or something are ruining the hair, mostly around the ears. I want to help him clean them up and keep them looking good. Any tips?

Answer 1

Maintenance is critical. If it's really bad, you'll need professional help.
To clean the eyes use a Q-tip and Windex. To clean the hair you can use a furniture polish like pledge and a clean white wash cloth. Spray a little on the cloth and start at the head and go toward the rear, NEVER brush against the grain of the hair. For the horns/antlers use a product called Liquid gold you can also find this in the furniture polish section of your favorite store, just apply to a clean cloth and wipe on, it will go on shiny but when it is dry will look natural.
After cleaning apply a product such as "Mount Shield". Theirs plenty of critters that like the hair - dermestid beetles in particular. Cleaning and treating help prevent that.

Answer 2

Bound's hubby here:

The way I keep "Buck" handsome and presentable is with a feather duster and dry rag lightly swept over his head and neck. I will also use my shop vac set up to blow air (not in vacuum mode).

Buck has been hanging around the house for 28 years. and he still looks like a three year old when I got him.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Go to the taxidermist and get some spray that you can spray on the hide to kill mites. Tip for future mounts--go ahead and spend the extra $ to get the hide tanned before they mount it. It really makes a difference over the long run.

Answer 4

talk to a taxidermiest and see what they have to say. Probably just to keep them clean and im sure there is a product you can use to keep the bugs out

Answer 5

I use a lint brush every coupe of weeks to keep the cape (hide) for getting dirty. dust off the horns and sometime my wife wipes the horns with pledge

Answer 6

Ewww.