How to Hang Taxidermy on Wall?
Outdoor and hunting enthusiasts enjoy displaying their taxidermy proudly on the wall of their home or cabin. Once your taxidermy mount(s) arrive at your doorstep, you will need to know how to properly care for your taxidermy, as well as how to handle and hang it.
Hanging Your Taxidermy Mount
How do I hang my mount? To start, you’ll always want to make sure that you use a stud finder to locate a stud to drill the hole and screw in the mounting screw. Always ensure your hole for the screw is drilled into the stud.
Some mounts will have single hangers, and some will have double hangers. Most hangers should be level and at 16” increments to ensure they hit a wood stud behind drywall.
Below, we’ll cover what you need to do for the weight and type of taxidermy animal you plan to hang:
Mammals
Deer shoulder mounts and other mammals will commonly have a 3 1/2” drywall screw. To start, assess where on the wall you would like to hang the deer/mammal mount. Use a stud finder to locate a stud, then drill a hole through the drywall and into that stud. To drill the hole, use a small diameter drill bit. Then, you can use a screwdriver/cordless drill to screw the mounting screw into the stud.
Large Game
To safely hang your large game mammals, such as bear, elk, moose, or bison, you’ll want to utilize a heavy-duty lag screw centered on a wall stud to ensure your large game taxidermy mount stays firmly in place, such as a 3/8 lag screw. When in doubt, be sure to ask your taxidermist about the size of screw you should use.
Birds & Fish
If you are hanging a smaller mount such as a bird or fish, be sure to use a 2 1/2” drywall screw. Screws installed into wall studs are sufficient for most small taxidermy mounts.
Handling Mounts Attached to Habitats
A unique taxidermy option is to get your animal(s) hung as a wall mount with a habitat to display the animal in its natural surroundings. To properly hang a mount that is attached to a habitat, you will need to make sure you lift, carry, and hold by its base and not by the animal.
Other Tips on Hanging Taxidermy
If you’re new to hanging taxidermy, here’s a few other tips to keep in mind:
- Don’t hang your taxidermy in a room that has too low or too high of humidity, or that experiences lots of shifts in temperature. You don’t want to hang your taxidermy in an area that gets too hot or too cold as this will affect the quality of the taxidermy work. Examples of where not to hang your taxidermy include a screened-in porch or your garage, since the temperature in those areas will fluctuate frequently.
- Be careful to hang your taxidermy where it can’t be touched or accidentally moved. For you and the safety of everyone living in your home, be sure to hang your mount away from where children, pets, or adults can accidentally bump and break your mount. By contrast, do not hang your taxidermy too high, where the antlers could touch the ceiling.
Cleaning Your Taxidermy
Be sure to clean your taxidermy periodically. You’ll want to gently dust off your taxidermy with a lightly dampened cloth and always brush in the natural direction of the fur/feathers. Use a cotton swab to clean the eyes of the animal. For more information about how to properly care for your taxidermy, please see our taxidermy care page.
For any questions relating to hanging, handling, or cleaning your taxidermy, please give us a call at 1-888-983-3886.
