What Are the Benefits of European Mounts?

Cost

• The main benefit of opting for a European -- or Western -- mount over other methods of taxidermy is cost. European mounts are as much as 25 percent cheaper than other mounting styles. In addition, many do-it-yourselfers can accomplish a professional-looking finished product if they have a license allowing them to purchase the necessary chemicals for cleaning.

Cleaning

• Many taxidermists prefer to use dermestidae beetles over boiling to clean the skull for superior color and much less damage to the skull. The skin, eyes and brain are removed from the head by the taxidermist, and then the beetles clean away everything else in just a few days. Boiling can cause staining as the oils and pigments are released from the bone and can also cause the bones and teeth to fall apart at the joints.

Whitening

• After all the meat and muscle has been cleaned from the bone, it must be whitened using industrial strength hydrogen peroxide. This treatment is also called degreasing, and it removes any remaining oils from the inside of the bone that could seep out later and cause yellowing and odor.

Space

• Yet another benefit of choosing a European mount is that it takes up less space than a shoulder mount. Shoulder mounts include not only the head of the animal but also the neck. These require much more wall space for hanging. European mounts are compact and display your trophy just as impressively but without the need for extra hanging space.