Placing a trophy fallow and roa antlers semi outside.

[troggy]

Not sure the title made sense, however, the issue is, I have a large heavy fallow skull with antlers, ditto a couple of roa heads I shot years ago when I was culling deer in the NF. And a nice BDS person I was recommended to, boiled and prepared the heads. They have been languishing in a shed for over 10 years, as I did not really have a place to hang them in the house, however, I have now built as a retirement present to myself, an out building to house my charcuterie making enterprise , which has a porch the back of which has a suitable stretch above the entrance on which these antlers could be hung.
The question is, do I varnish the skull and antlers to preserve the colour and protect them ( they will not be in direct sunlight or totally open to the elements under the porch roof, but they will be in the area above a Bradley smoker )
Or is there a special preserving method used to keep the antlers looking good?
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Regards

 

[VSS]

I'd just hang them up there, to be honest. Shouldn't be too bad if they've got some protection from the elements and direct sunshine. They're bound to start looking a bit "rustic" after a while, but it's got to be better than just leaving them lying in the shed.

 

[troggy]

I'd just hang them up there, to be honest. Shouldn't be too bad if they've got some protection from the elements and direct sunshine. They're bound to start looking a bit "rustic" after a while, but it's got to be better than just leaving them lying in the shed.

True, the shed was not my idea, the war office wouldn't agree on a wall in the house to hang them, we have some lose red antlers and a couple of small roe antlers scattered around various shelves and table centre decorations, but the large sets are just a little over the top space wise. Looking forward to hanging them up.

 

[FISH BOY]

Pictures please.

PS squirrels are barstewards and ruin everything antlered you leave outside.

 

[WH308]

Pick something of the wife’s in the house and nail it up outside, when she protests it should be indoors argue the toss and barter about the Heads.

Or remember it’s your house too and just put the things up while she is out.

 

[VSS]

Pick something of the wife’s in the house and nail it up outside, when she protests it should be indoors argue the toss and barter about the Heads.

Or remember it’s your house too and just put the things up while she is out.

I generally find that if I leave them lying on the sitting room floor for long enough, eventually I get told to hang them up!

 

[starr shot]

I’ve had roe antlers hanging on shields out side for 3or4 years partly undercover as they are not open to the elements but only to the atmosphere and they are as good now as when I put them there.