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Best Antler Mounting Kits Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Fit
The most important thing to look for with an antler mounting kit is the kit's ability to hold your antlers firmly in place. This can be done through a few different methods. There are kit that just have the antlers rest in small holes or indents. This is very easy to do, and will cut out a lot of time that you'll be spending with your tools. On the other hand, these kits will be a little less consistent in how steady and sturdy the antlers will stay. You want your antlers to not move at all, and resting loose in the saddle will make the antlers move with the smallest nudge. Other kits have it so you need to drill the antler into the mount. This will ensure that your antlers are held completely still by the mounting kit. These kits will mean that you will need to do a bit more work than with the simpler kits.
Ease of Use
One of the most important things about an antler mounting kit is how easy it is going to be for you to install it. Every antler mounting kit is going to be a bit of a project. Mounting antlers is actually a fun thing to do if you realize that it is going to take a bit of time and effort to pull off. This category is referring to the simplicity, or at least the lack of stress, that will come with setting up your antler mounting kit. These kits will usually come with some kind of instructions, which will make it easier for you to set up. They should also come with everything you need to get it on the wall. You will likely need a few tools to get the whole thing put together, but besides the tools that you should already have, these antler kits should come with screws, brackets, and mounts.
Adjustability
Most people who get themselves a set of antlers for a mounting kit are probably going to be going out for another round of hunting some time in the future. This means that the trophy that you are so proud of during this season, might turn out to be not as impressive as the trophy from your next season. It might be a good idea to find an antler mounting kit that makes it easy for you to switch out the antlers for something that you might find better. Of course, you could buy another antler mounting kit, but it is often the case that you don't have the space for multiple sets of antlers hanging on your wall. Even the kits that require you to drill the antlers into the mount are usually quite easy to reverse if the kit is designed properly. This category is an indication of how easy it is to take the kit apart, and replace the antlers if you would like to.
Visibility
The big reason that people usually buy an antler mounting kit is that they want to present the antlers that they have earned in an aesthetically pleasing kind of way. One of the big reasons this is useful is for concealing the bases of the antlers. You can polish and sand the bases of the antlers as much as you want, but there will always be a sense of the unnatural to a set of antlers that still present the base. There are many clever ways that these kits go about making it look like the antlers are protruding naturally from the mount. There are easy to place plates that perfectly conceal the bases of the antlers. There are also clever ideas like using a length of cord and surrounding the base of the antler with it. This category is a ranking of how successfully the mounting kit does at concealing the seams of where the antler attaches to the mount.
Value
There is a wide variety of prices that are associated with these antler mounting kits. The one great thing about these kits is that most antler mounting kits are very affordable, especially when compared to the price it costs to get the entire front of the deer stuffed and mounted. This, and the smaller size, are big reasons that people buy antler mounting kits. The kits that cost more than the others usually have more complexity put into their design and style. The most expensive ones, which are the ones from Mike, and the Camo Buck, use either more complex design, as seen with the reproduction of the skull, or are quite large, as seen with the Camo Buck. The smaller mounts usually costs quite a bit less. They are all quite similar to each other, so it might be in your best interest to find something that looks good to you, before you find something that costs less.
10 Best Antler Mounting Kits
1. Mountain Mike's Reproductions Skull Master
This is a high-quality product that uses the style of a deer's skull to make an interesting and eye-catching mount that resembles the real thing.
Skull Mount
The Skull Master is designed to look like a European Deer's skull. It will make for a great centerpiece for a display for antlers that you have found or harvested. It is a good way to represent your trophy without needing the entire skull of the animal that you have found. This reproduction is well-made and it is hard for anyone to tell the difference.
Other Features
This antler mounting kit comes with everything that you may need to set up your set of antlers. All you need to do is cut the antlers off at the base, and then use the screws and glue that come with the kit to set up the antlers that you want. The process is very easy, and shouldn't cause you any trouble beyond a few hours of your time.
Cost and Value
The Skull Master is a great choice for anyone who wants to set up their antlers. Because it is based off of a deer's skull, it looks best with antlers from a deer. It comes in multiple sizes, which lets you better customize the skull that you should buy. It doesn't cost very much, and these guys have great customer service, so don't worry if any pieces are missing when you order.
2. Rackheads Buck Antler
The Rackheads kit is a little more classic, but keeps a simple wooden look that will fit in any kind of room in your house.
Wooden Style
The Rackheads mount is a very well-made piece of wood that represents the outline of a buck. It is very simply made, and is designed to make for a simple frame for any medium-sized set of antlers that you can find. This display has the effect of putting the antlers on full display, while also putting them in the context of what they would look like on a real deer.
Other Features
The Rackheads mounting kit is a good choice for a variety of other reasons too. It is made of solid oak that is almost a full inch thick. It is a high quality mount for displaying your best trophies. It comes with full instructions for mounting the antlers too. It is designed for medium-sized deer and measures twelve inches from the end one side of the mount to the other side.
Cost and Value
The Rackheads mounting kit comes at a very reasonable price. This is the mounting kit that you should buy if you are not too concerned about if people look at the mount, or not. This is best thought of as the most basic mount that you can find, but it is designed in such a way, and with an amount of care, that makes it one of the best choices for a mount that you can find.
3. Steelcap Authentic
The Steelcap mounting kit is in another distinct, and simple style. It uses a metal backing, which is a great counterpoint to the antlers when it is put on display.
Metal Mounting Kit
This is a great looking kit that does a great job at presenting a fancy looking centrepiece for any room. It is a metal face plate that is attached to a piece of dark cherry wood. The face plate is removed, and then placed on top of the antlers after they have been installed. This makes for a great looking mount that hides the bases of the antlers very effectively.
Other Features
The Steelcap kit has some other great features. It comes with all the hardware that you are going to need to do a very easy and simple installation job. All the pieces are handcrafted and look very professionally done. The instructions come with pictures so it is impossible to get the installation process wrong.
Cost and Value
This kit costs a little bit more than the other kits that have been on the list so far, but it makes up for it with the great look of the design, and the professional looking pieces. The installation is very simple, as well. For an eye-catching design that is sure to impress everyone who sees it, you should think about buying the Steelcap kit.
4. Camo Buck
For something truly unique, think about buying an antler mounting kit in the strange style of the Camo Buck set.
Unique Style
This antler mounting kit is designed to make quite the impression on anyone who sees it. It is painted in a neon style that looks like it would fit in the eighties somewhere. It also has quite the profile, seeing as it is a full artificial deer head as the mount for the antlers. It is difficult for anyone to ignore this one when you set it up.
Other Features
The Camo Buck kit is designed as a good place to put your antlers if you do not want to put a real deer head mount up there. The design is very artistic, but it is also made out of high quality products, so don't worry about it looking cheap when you buy it. It is also very easy to mount the antlers on it, and it comes with all the instructions and tools that you need.
Cost and Value
The Camo Buck kit costs quite a bit more than many of the other kits on this list. That is mostly because of the much larger size that comes with buying this one. If you want to buy a mounting kit that will make a big impression on guests, then it is hard to find one that will make a bigger impact than this one.
5. Strutt Your Buck Tree of Life
This is a very classy design for your antlers that is made out of great materials, and can fit any size of antlers that you could find.
High Quality Design
This mount is an etched piece of steel that gives the impression of elegance to any antlers that you mount on it. The design is very high quality, and the mount is made out of steel, which makes it a good choice for anyone who is worried about the strength of the mounting kit. This kit is great at evoking the wilderness that the antlers came from.
Other Features
The mount is dusted with a powder that gives it a textured feeling and look, which adds some dimension to the mount. It can also fit any size of antler, which means you don't have to worry about returning the mount if they do not fit. This mount is only an eighth of an inch thick, which makes it a good choice if you don't want the mount to protrude so much.
Cost and Value
This mount does cost quite a bit when compared to some of the other mounts on this list. It is a very high quality piece, that has had a lot of individual effort put into it. This kit is great because you don't have to worry about what kind of antlers that you have. This also means that you can easily put new antlers into it if you want to switch them after a while.
6. Allen Cases
This is a simple and cheap antler mounting kit that also gives you the option of being able to engrave something on it.
Engraving Mounting Kit
This is a good mounting kit to buy in a set. You can use each one to denote or celebrate a different hunt that you have done. The section at the bottom of the plaque is perfect for being able to etch in something that will commemorate the hunt. Put a few of these together and you can show the entire history of your hunting career.
Other Features
This antler mounting kit is designed so that it has a simple, but effective level of style. The backing on this kit is made out of a laminated wood that has a shiny look, while also making it a good choice for those who are worried about scratching the backing. It has a felt-covered plate, which is where you put the antlers.
Cost and Value
This mounting kit doesn't cost very much at all. This is the perfect antler mounting kit to buy if you want to have a few of these things stocked up so you can continue to mount antlers as you go on. These are cheap enough that you can buy a few of them, and then set up a room with all of your kills and trophies.
7. Walnut Hollow Country Deluxe
This is a very nice kit that does a good job of displaying the bases of the antlers very well.
Deluxe Display
This antler mounting kit has a great design that makes the kit look a little bit regal. It has a few antler covers that are very flexible so it is easy to move the cover around until it has properly covered the bases of the antlers. It uses a few lengths of gold cord that you easily wrap around the base of the antlers.
Other Features
This is a great kit for a few other reasons, as well. The antler cover is finished with velvet, which continues in giving the kit a very professional look. It is nince inches acorss, which makes it a good choice for any kind of medium to small sized deer. The Walnut mounting kit is also made out of premium materials.
Cost and Value
This antler mounting kit is great because it looks really good in many settings, while also not costing very much at all. The bases of the antlers makes this a great kit choice for any kind of antlers, especially for those hunters who are not completely confident in their shearing technique. This kit comes in a variety of styles, and there is sure to be something that you think looks good.
8. The Taxidermists Woodshop
This kit is made to be about as simple as possible. This makes it come out with a great look that is easy to love.
Simple Design
This is great for anyone who wants their kit to have a very simple look to it. This lets the antlers do the work when it comes to impressing other people. This kit is a simple plaque with the antlers coming out of the top of the mounting kit. The bare look of the plaque's front is a good complement to an impressive set of antlers.
Other Features
The option from the Taxidermist Workshop is very simple, but it is still designed very well. It has some nice texture to the wood, and the wood is a good oak, too. It is very easy to mount the antlers on this one, and it should be simple for anyone to be able to figure it out. You don't even need to hammer the horns into the mount.
Cost and Value
This is the simplest form of hanging your antlers that you are going to find. You can hang the plaque first, and then just add whatever antlers it is that you want to the plaque. It is easy to switch them out too. This antler mounting kit is also a totally reasonable price. This is a good choice for anyone who isn't very handy and just wants to be able to show off whatever trophy it is they have caught that season.
9. New Age Taxidermy Head Honcho
This is a choice that you could make if you want to mount the entire skull of your trophy. It is a simple head mount that gets the job done.
Full Skull Mount
A full skull mount is another popular method for hanging your trophies. It does not have the classic touch of a plaque, or other design elements, but it does a good job when you just want to show off the entire head of your trophy. It will definitely make an impression on anyone who sees the display that you have made.
Other Features
There are lots of other reasons to buy a full head mount. This mount is incredibly easy to set up. Once the mount is on the wall, you just have to hang the skull on the hook. It takes out a lot of the effort that it takes to install one of your trophies on the wall. These hooks are also great because they can be used to hang many kinds of skulls.
Cost and Value
These head mounts are very cheap. They are made out of a simple metal construction, and let the skull of your prey do all the talking for you when it comes to creating a display. These mounts are also a great deal because they come in a pack that includes multiple mounts. This is a good choice if you have the time and effort to get yourself a skull made out of one of your trophies.
10. Highwild European
This is another European mount that is designed so that it makes it easy for you to hang the entire skull of any trophies you are feeling especially proud of.
Strong Skull Hanger
This hanger is great for anyone who wants to hang the skull of any of their trophies. The Highwild is a very durable choice of hanger, and can be used for just about anything. It will take a very easy installation process, and can be used for just about any species that you can think of. The Highwild is a reliable choice for a mounting kit.
Other Features
The Highwild is a great choice for a hanging kit, because it is very durable and stylish. It has a little, antler-like design on the back of it, which adds to the stability of the hanger, but also does a good job of making the hook look good, even when something is not displayed on it. The Highwild is good for holding loads that can weigh up to twenty pounds.
Cost and Value
These hangers don't cost very much at all, and can be a good choice for anyone who wants a hanging kit. It can't hang an individual set of antlers, but it is a good choice for anyone who wants to hang a whole skull. This hanger can come in a single pack, or a pack of three.
Sources
- , How to Prepare Deer Antlers for Mounting, Article
- , How to Mount Antlers, Article
- , DIY Taxidermy: 3 Ways to Make Your Own European Mount, Article
