How to mount a wall pedestal mount on a wall that has 1/2 inch drywall with 2X4 frame behind it?

Had my mounts from my last trip in Africa arrive at my house on Friday. I know...I need to post pictures!

I have a dilema...I need to mount 2 kudu, 2 waterbuck and a eland wall pedestal on my walls on my basement. I have it drywalled and 2x4 framed. I have no interest in starting a remodeling project to mount the animals on the wall....but I'm worried of putting in drywall screws to hold the mounts up. I was thinking of buying 3/4 plywood and having it covered in some form of fabric or matierial and then screwing it into the 2x4's but my wife is worried about the looks.

Anyone run into this problem? Anyway to make this secure and look good in a house...affordably?

Thanks for any suggestions!

E I would definitely not use drywall anchors on mounts that size. My best suggestion is try to make them work on the studs with good long lag bolts. One option might be putting the mouts on panels and using 2 hangers on each one, then I think that your mounts should be wide enough to span studs on 16" centers but this would still not move a wall pedistal mount very far from its original balance point so I really dont know what to say.

Maybe a couple mounts could be attached to a large panel, maybe africa shaped? If made from 3/4" oak plywood with trim applied to the edges it would be large enough to place wherever you wanted on the wall and your mounts could be attached wherever you like. I would use a heavy duty (large steel) wall anchor to attach the mounts to the oversized panel.

Another possibility would be to attach a 4' wide strip of oak plywood to the entire wall at the right height and finish it with some african scene wallpaper or leave as a natural wood finish and finish the edges and seams with hardwood trim. In either case go as light of color as possible to best display your mounts.

You are only limited by your imagination. I hope this helps.

One note - when I say wall anchors I am not talking about the crappy pound in ones that rely on friction and compression to hold. I am talking the ones that butterfly steel tabs out behind the wall when tightened. And only use these through the 3/4" plywood, not in drywall.

I second the anchors/plywood solution. Or if you can utilize a stud, the lag bolts will work fine. I have a just shy of Boone and Crockett Shiras moose shoulder mount that utilizes a single lag bolt to hang on. It's been on the wall for 9 plus years without a problem. Unless one of your mounts is an Eland, I don't think you'll have anything as heavy or heavier.

I believe I used a nice long 3" lag for this.

Thought the 4 inch wide strip of finished wood at the right height might work for you. But, not sure about the mounting/contact points all being the same. ie. distance from the bottom of the brisket to the anchor point on the Eland vs Kudu.

I will probably use butterfly anchors or lag bolts of they happen to line up with the 2x4.

No other idea.

I hate those butterfly bolts and I'm not sure I'd use plywood. I found some plastic anchors that are made to hold 60-70 pounds. I think I bought them at Lowes. They have no problem supporting a very large bull bison, 66 inch moose, kudu, muskox, etc... You get the picture. Living in Alaska we have frequent earthquakes. I have never had any problems with them. For what it is worth.

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Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Thought the 4 inch wide strip of finished wood at the right height might work for you. But, not sure about the mounting/contact points all being the same. ie. distance from the bottom of the brisket to the anchor point on the Eland vs Kudu.

I will probably use butterfly anchors or lag bolts of they happen to line up with the 2x4.

No other idea.

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Actually I meant 4 foot wide. I have seen a great trophy room done like this. The wall was first wallpapered with an african scene (on the african wall), Mountain scene (on the sheep/goat wall), etc. and then the light colored oak plywood was applied over it at the appropriate height, and finally the wall was finished with 8 inch architrave for a baseboard and 2 1/2 inch trim was used at the ceiling. The end result looks incredible and very little work is required, literally one afternoon.

It would be interesting to see this concept.
Visual aids are required for the disabled in the crowd like me. :)

Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm still mulling my options. I will have to take a look at wallpaper options.

I here you Brickburn, visual pictures help...but I can understand the circumstances too.

You pay so much for hunts and mounts...you want to get it right!

I have to fix my bushbuck and nyala mounts...I got hair rubbed off on the neck...on the journey back to USA. Looks like a paint job is in order!

E, that sucks.
They figured saving a couple of cents on extra screws was not worth it or did the crate get destroyed.

Oh well, Hope the paint job fixes things.

Well here is a hint to all packers of game heads in a box. Don't wrap a animal in 7 layers of bubble wrap and put it next to a wood 2X2. During the drive and ship ride it's going to get wrecked. Wrap the 2X2 with a layer of super cheap clothing and bubble wrap, that way nothing rubs...even if the bubble wrap fails. There is way to many vibrations.

It makes a person want to vomit when they see a quarter to half dollar hole in the neck area of a bush buck or nyala...you live with it or remount it. I'm at a point in my life, where I'll live with it. And try to mount the animal in a less prominant place in my house.

When you spend so much on a hunt and taxidermy it's hard to take.

Hair Color Thickener Spray - 3.5 Oz. Black

Maybe they have a grey or brown that would work. Not making fun of the situation but at this point your options are limited.

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Originally Posted by enysse

I have to fix my bushbuck and nyala mounts...I got hair rubbed off on the neck...on the journey back to USA. Looks like a paint job is in order!

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Thats a shame. I know how proud you are of the bushuck in particular.I am sure that the right Taxi can fix that right up for you though.

Here is what i use.

i drill a 3/16 hole in the studs and then screw in a 1/4 X 3 1/2" lag bolt and use a socket to screw the bolt in.

Look at your wall and put sticky notes where you think you want to place your heads.

I do it a couple of ways.

1st measure where the attaching hole is on the back of your mount. and then measure to the bottom and then the top to get a total length picture and then a with picture. use your sticky notes to outline each piece.

Second is ask you wife where she want then and use her to place them where she wants them.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm putting up a suspended ceiling in my basement next weekend. Once I get that project done...I will work on getting things mounted on the wall.

I will be incorporating everyone's ideas, thanks!

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Originally Posted by enysse

Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm putting up a suspended ceiling in my basement next weekend. Once I get that project done...I will work on getting things mounted on the wall.

I will be incorporating everyone's ideas, thanks!

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I dont think I need to say that we will be requiring pics when completed!

The idea I am considering is using the same system that they use in galleries to hang paintings. It consists of rail that is attached to the wall right at the top of the ceiling into the stud work. From this rail you attach lengths of mono line (similar to thick clear fishing line). This has an roller arrangement at rail end and a hook at the other to hang the mount on. You make the lengths of mono anything you like and also the slide the mounts along the wall when you have more to add. In addition you can use more then one line per mount in case it will not balance on only one. From what I have read this system can hold a tremendous amount of weight. To me the benefit is no holes in the wall. The draw back is that if you have darker color walls the lines may be a little to visible.

Just a thought.