You’ve been a busy animal hunter, and you now have a house full of trophies and mounts for everyone to admire. But now that it’s time to move to a new house, you might be wondering how to move them without any damage befalling them. While you could call in a mover who specializes in moving taxidermy animals, you could also save the money it would cost to hire a pro and do it yourself. In this case, the taxidermy professionals at Nature’s Design Taxidermy have put together some simple and straightforward tips to help you relocate your trophies without tears.
Without further ado, here are some ways to pack up and move your prized trophy room:
- Vacuuming your vulture: There is no doubt that your trophy gathered some dust during the course of hanging on your wall or sitting on the fireplace mantel. Now that you have it within reach, you should take the opportunity to give it a thorough cleaning. A feather duster and a light vacuuming can work wonders in restoring the luster and majesty of your piece. Just make sure to avoid harsh chemicals and heavy vacuuming, as this can damage your mounts.
- Wrapping your reindeer: One of the most important steps in the moving process is wrapping your mounts in brown paper. Things like antlers should be wrapped with care in this paper to prevent damage. Be careful to check that no tape or other adhesives come in direct contact with the mount or antlers—adhesives can cause significant damage and should be avoided.
- Crating your carcass: The best way to move a mount is to mount it in a crate appropriate for its size. Just like you might mount it to the wall of your trophy room, securely mounting it to the inside of a heavy-duty crate wall will help to protect it during a move. The rigidity of a wooden crate will ensure that a well-mounted trophy does not shift or move around while it’s in transit.
- Packing your panther: Once your trophy is cleaned, wrapped and crated, the extra space in the crate should be filled with appropriate, non-abrasive packing materials. This step is to make absolutely certain that there is as little movement as possible. But you must be sure not to use a material that will break apart and cling to your mount, such as small pieces of Styrofoam, because they can be difficult to remove from your mount during the unpacking process.
- Unpacking your prize: Even with all your precise preparation, your mount may have shifted in the moving process. To avoid possible damage, be sure to carefully remove all the packing material in reverse order. If you discover damage, consult a professional who can tend to it properly.
From start-to-finish taxidermy services to help with ideas for designing your new trophy room, contact us at Nature’s Design Taxidermy. We’re the most reliable professional taxidermists in the area, and we’re ready to assist you with all your animal trophy mount needs.