How to Mount Deer Antlers

Whether or not you have antlers from a big buck that you killed on a hunting trip, or just purchasing antlers from someone else, you can mount your antlers yourself.
 
Use a handsaw or hacksaw to cut an oval shaped skull plate from the deer skull so the antlers will be intact on a small oval piece of bone. Boil the skull plate in plain water for 20-30 minutes to remove any remaining tissue. After the antlers have dried and cooled and then clean it with a wire brush and bleach.
 
How to Mount Deer Antlers - The Plaque Behind the Antlers
 
A popular size for the wood plaque that you will mount the antlers to is 8 inches by 10 inches. Go to the lumber yard and look at pieces of wood that are 1" x 6" up to 1" x 20".
Take a piece of paper and sketch the design of your plaque. You can find all types of patterns on the internet. Decide if you want an oval, a square, or a fancier design with beveled edges. Choose something that will match the looks of the antlers or show them off best. Use carbon paper to trace your pattern onto your piece of wood and then cut the design out using a jigsaw or table saw. Use a rounter to put any special touches on it. Use, first rough, then fine sandpaper to smooth out your edges.
 
Stain the wood to whatever finish you have choosen. If you are mounting dark antlers should use a light to medium stain. If you are mounting light antlers, you should use a medium to dark stain. When putting on stain, follow the grain of the wood. Test the looks by trying it on the back of the plaque first. Put at least two coats of polyurethane on the plaque allowing drying time in-between coats. You may need to sand between coats with very fine sandpaper.

You can easily find deer antler plaques for sale that are ready-to-use. These are often very nice and may also have a velvet area on them, a metal plate that you can have engraved, a photo frame, or other extras to make your mount look better or add to your memories.
 
How to Mount Deer Antlers - Attaching the Antlers


Drill two small holes through the skull plate at the thickest part. Hold the antlers up to the plaque to check their position. Antlers are usually positioned about a third of the way from the top of the plaque. If you place them low on the boardmakes them look like they are sliding down the board. You can also use stainless steel plumbers tape to attach the antlers. Place the skull cap where you would like them, then lightly trace around with a pencil. Mark the plaque for corresponding holes. Drill the holes with a suitable drill bit. If you don't want the outline of the piece of skull to show, you can tape foam around the skull plate and between the antlers to give it some shape. Alternatively you can use clay to build a moulded shape for the skull plate.

Cut a piece of leather, deer skin, velvet, or other suitable material large enough to cover the skull plate plus half an inch to go over the edges. Measure the distance between the antler burrs and cut those holes out of the leather where the antlers will be. Stretch the leather over the skull plate with the edges rolled under so it is free of lumps and indentations. Fasten securely with tacks on the underside. Place the skull plate on the plaque so the pre-drilled holes in the plaque match up with the ones in the skull plate. Secure the skull plate using two long drywall screws.