How to Mount Pronghorns Without Removing Sheaths

With their lean silhouettes appearing across the Great Plains or against a backdrop of majestic mountains, the pronghorn antelope is a true symbol of America's western frontier. Along with being known for their speed and agility -- pronghorns can run at speeds faster than 53 miles an hour -- these antelope can be easily identified by their trademark black horns which curve backward. For hunters who successfully get a pronghorn antelope, they can create a lasting memory of their hunt by having the animal preserved in a European mount with the sheaths, or antlers, intact.

Things You'll Need

  • Face mask
  • Leather gloves
  • Camping stove, gas grill or hot plate
  • Hacksaw
  • Utility knife
  • Pliers
  • Flat screwdriver
  • Garbage container
  • Large kettle
  • Ladle
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Water
  • Bleach
  • Wooden mount
  • Electric screwdriver
  • Screws
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare your work area as you begin to start the process of transforming the antelope carcass into a European mount of the pronghorn. Due to the smell and nature of this project, you will want to work in either a garage or outdoor area. Set up either a camping stove, gas grill or hot plate to provide the heat this process requires. Fill a large kettle with water and add a 1/4 cup of household bleach. Allow the water temperature to rise to a high boil. Put on your protective gear which includes leather gloves and a face mask.

    • 2

      Remove the antelope's head at the base of the skull with a hacksaw. Take care to avoid bumping the antlers whenever possible so that they retain their shape and stance during the cleaning process.

    • 3

      Use the utility knife and flat screwdriver to remove as much of the meat and skin from the antelope head as possible before submerging it into the boiling pot of water. This process may get tiresome as it can be difficult to remove the brain and eyeballs of the antelope from the skull. As you are removing the inner and outer pieces of the skull, place the debris into a garbage can to be taken into the woods or outdoor area where they can be disposed of without disturbing others with the smell of rot.

    • 4

      Submerge the antelope head into the boiling water. Take extreme care and caution to hold the head at the antlers so no part of the sheaths touch the water as they will get discolored and destroyed.

    • 5

      Use a ladle to spoon the boiling water onto areas of the skull that may not get to be fully submerged as the sheaths need to be protected.

    • 6

      Remove the head from the water after about 30 minutes. Use your tools to remove remaining skin, muscle, fat or other matter left on the skull.

    • 7

      Dispose of the used water in the kettle and refill the pot with hydrogen peroxide. Bring the peroxide to a boil and hold the skull in the fluid. The skull needs to soak for at least an hour to sanitize the bone and help remove any excess matter off of the bone.

    • 8

      Remove the skull from the water and continue to pick off any excess brain matter, skin or tissue from the bone. Once you have picked it clean, repeat the process of soaking the antelope skull in hydrogen peroxide. Continue this cycle until the skull is perfectly clean.

    • 9

      Let the antelope skull air dry. Once the bone is dry, use a electric screwdriver to attach the antelope skull to a wooden mount that can be hung on the wall to display your hunting conquest.