From the shot, bolt or arrow that downs your trophy animal to the labor-intensive taxidermy process, a lot of work and thought goes into bagging and mounting a trophy. But the work doesn’t stop there. Now that you have a your mount displayed in your home, it’s time to make sure it stays looking its best. The simple fact of the matter is that your hard work is under attack from the moment it gets displayed in your trophy room. Dust, insects and general wear and tear are all there to make sure your trophy gets destroyed. There is only one response: careful and deliberate care.
Here are three common things that can damage your prized taxidermy in Cody, WY.
Insects
A lot of people think dust is the biggest threat to taxidermy, but insects can also wreak havoc on your prize mounts. Insects like moths can and will make meals of your prizes, unless you stop them. The effects of these moths and beetles can be bald patches as a result of their feeding on proteins, which will spread as the insects lay eggs and multiply. The best defense is keeping a careful eye out for their signs of attack.
In addition to fumigation, you can also temporarily freeze your smaller mounts to kill the larvae. The unfortunate part about an insect infestation is that their after-effects can make it very difficult, if not impossible, to restore the pieces to the original condition.
Dust
Like insects, dust can be a killer when it comes to how good your mounts look. While dust won’t immediately degrade the fur, it can lead to matting of the fur and destruction over time. The best defense against dust is gentle brushing and light vacuuming. However you decide to clean your mounts, be careful that you are not putting too much stress on the trophy. No matter how well preserved your trophy mount may be, being too rough with it will result in damage.
If you are planning a trip that will keep you out of the cleaning game for an extended period of time, be sure to cover your trophies with plastic or canvas until you can return to a regular cleaning schedule. When it comes to caring for and dusting horns, be sure to follow your taxidermist’s directions. Using certain oils and chemicals can irreversibly damage horns on taxidermy pieces.
Moisture
Another mount killer comes in the form of moisture. Whether in the air or from a more direct source, moisture can cause a lot of damage to the overall health of the mount and make way for things like mold and mildew. Be sure to carefully manage the humidity in your home and avoid any direct contact with water or cleansers containing harsh chemicals.
It’s important that you hire the right person for taxidermy services in Cody, WY; otherwise, you’ll end up with a final product not worthy of showing off. Before you take off on a hunt for your next animal trophy, make sure to contact the experts at Nature’s Design Taxidermy!