Whether you have a large taxidermy collection you want to store for safekeeping or you just need to temporarily store animal mounts during a home remodel, it’s important to put some thought into how they’re stored. This guide will help you prepare your mounts and choose the right storage option to prevent insect and sunlight damage.
How to Pack Taxidermy
The best way to protect your taxidermy collection from dust, sunlight, and pests is sealing them away in wood crates, which you can probably get from the taxidermist. After loading each trophy in its own crate, mount it to the inside of the crate with wood screws. Have someone hold the plaque against the wood while you set the screws in place. While it’s possible to store more than one mount in a single crate, you’ll need to be careful to make sure they won’t touch or bump each other, as even rubbing against each other can leave abrasion marks.
Choose Climate Control Storage
The single most important thing you can do to protect your taxidermy collection is ensuring a consistent humidity and temperature level. This is why it’s not advised to store your collection in a basement or attic; big temperature fluctuations will cause hides to crack. A climate controlled storage unit uses an HVAC system, dehumidifier, and humidifier to maintain a consistent and safe temperature between 60-85 degrees and a humidity level that does not exceed 60%.
Choose a Secure Storage Facility
Climate control is definitely important but you should also choose the storage facility carefully. Your trophies can’t be replaced. Make sure the facility has excellent security with video surveillance, individual door alarms, and on-site management.
Deter Pests
Once your collection is safely stored, take the time to prep the crates to prevent a pest infestation. You can place silica gel packets or even poison pellets in the crates to take care of any rodents that get in and coat the crate seams with silicon. No Pest Strips are also a good idea to kill insects that may eat your mounts. These strips last about four months so you’ll need to return regularly to check on your unit.
Check Them Regularly
One of the advantages of storing your taxidermy collection in self storage is you can easily access them to check for damage and clean them. After all, the last thing you want is to find that mice or moths have invaded your storage space.
As hard as it may be to put your prized trophies in a storage unit, it’s the best way to keep them safe until you can return them to their rightful place.