Whether you’re a die-hard animal trophy hunter or a passionate collector of all things taxidermy, there comes a time when you may want to put it all out on display. After all, your chosen taxidermist has always done such a lovely job of making your trophies as lifelike as possible, and it’s also as if your home was meant to house a unique collection like this. The time is now to hang, place or create natural scenes with all that taxidermy! But how do you go about this task without looking like a hoarder of mounted animals or a disorganized “eccentric”?
Here are five tips for displaying animal mounts and other pieces of taxidermy in Cody, WY to avoid chaos in an area:
• Hang high to avoid injury: While it’s likely you know not to crowd your mounts all together in one spot on the wall or mantle, did you ever think about safety? It’s good practice to hang certain animal mounts up high to avoid incidents like an antler poking someone in the eye or a giant fish tail point jabbing you in the neck. This tip is not as common sense as you’d think, because what you’re thinking about at the moment is how all your taxidermy looks as wall decorations.
• Use props wisely: For full body taxidermy pieces, consider designing standing dioramas on wood platforms. To recreate an epic bear battle scene, include props like large rocks, dirt, a tree truck and even place smaller animals or birds in the background. Use lighter things found in nature—like dry leaves, moss and twigs—for less sizable mantle dioramas.
• Paint the wall: There are other ways to dress up your trophies than by using props. For an easy makeover without the possible high cost of specialty props, head to a home improvement store and pick put a few paint swatches. That’s right! Paint your wall to create an instant backdrop, but go with light taupe shades to keep from overshadowing your taxidermy with dark colors.
• Highlight a special mount: If you have a prized animal trophy that deserves its own spot in your trophy room, then put a spotlight on it—literally. After selecting the best spot for your special mount, get some adjustable track lighting to shine under and over it whenever you please.
• Dust often: It doesn’t matter if your taxidermy animals are a collection of just furry creatures or include feathered or finned friends—it’s crucial that you keep it all clean, all the time. This means dusting with a chemical-free dusting device or using a soft brush attachment on an ever-so-gentle vacuum setting. Not only does dusting help preserve the integrity of your trophies, but removing spider webs from ears, antlers and mouths makes for a more aesthetically pleasing display.
Don’t put off displaying your trophies any longer! If you need some assistance setting up your trophy room or reorganizing your mounts on the wall, or are in the market for professional services for the best taxidermy in Cody, WY, look no further than the skilled team at Nature’s Design Taxidermy!