Van Dyke Antler Mounting Kit a Real Let-down

Shed hunting is one of America's fastest growing past times. In most places, it doesn't require a permit if it's done on public lands, and no special equipment is required either. It's good for the cardiovascular and it can yield interesting one-of-a-kind natural works of art grown by living creatures, but left for mankind to ponder and admire.

But once you get the antlers home, what's next? Many people make them into knife handles, door handles or sell them at major antler markets in places like Jackson Hole by the pound. When you can find a matching set, that's like gold. Mule deer, whitetail or elk, nothing looks more handsome than a matching set of antlers hung above the fireplace or above a desk in your den.

So, how is one to mount these antlers? If you're like me, you'd assume someone has made a basic kit to mount these types of antlers. After searching through Cabela's online shopping site, I came across a mounting kit from Van Dyke Taxidermy. It said no special hardware was required and said antlers simply attach to the main plate.

The reality couldn't be more difficult. In the end, there are no ways to attach shed antlers to this plate. You have to have harvested the antlers from the actual deer, leaving them on a portion of skull bone. Then they can easily be screwed onto the wooden board and have the cheap plastic imitation leather cushion piece snapped around them.

Perhaps I'm naïve for not inquiring further, but it said nothing about not being able to attach shed antlers. So, how did I make it work? I spent an additional $6 at Wal-Mart on a five-minute epoxy compound that will virtually attack anything to anything. I drilled two screws in from the back of the wooden board at angles going outward. I then drilled out the insides of the antlers. I applied epoxy heavily to the threads of the screws and slid the antlers over the screws. After a few minutes, they were set. I then put the plastic cover plate on as directed and it was ready to go.

It's not as simple as it said it would be, mainly due to the fact that I was using for something other than it was actually intended. Perhaps it's on Cabela's for not having a better description of the product's limitations, but, again, none of this was indicated. Perhaps someday someone will come along with a product that can achieve what I wanted, but with shed antlers.