I have a recent mount that smells bad and I have tried to air it out but to no avail. Is there anything that I can put on it to eliminate the smell?

Rotten flesh smell, or chemical type smell?

If it's a chemical smell, frebreeze the sucker. If it's not chemical take it back to your taxidermist now. If they are good and want your business they will step up and take care of it.

Makes me think they DP'ed your skin and didn't tan it. Could be some rotting flesh still left on the hide. Look for the hide pulling away at the antler burrs when it dries.

I would take it back.

What type of animal is it? Could be a number of things, and yes a tanned skin can smell as well.. May be a simple fix, call your taxidermist tell him the issue and let him handle it, if he won't then call a reputable Taxi and let him look into it.

I agree with those that recommended you bring it back to the taxidermist. If he used a dry preservative and did not do it properly it may be rotting flesh. Ask him if the cape was tanned and if not, ask what he did to preserve it.

I would not just "Frebreeze" the mount because that may just cover up the real problem.

Sorry guys but headed out yesterday to do some creek fishing.

Smell is chemical to me (formaldehyde comes to mind).

I won't take it back to the taxi. This is the bobcat that I posted up a few weeks ago that was really screwed up. I am having another pelt being tanned now to have a better mount made up but won't have anything for awhile. Was going to hang in my garage for the time being but the smell is still noticeable. Hate to spend any more money on this POS. Thanks for all your comments.

There are two basic ways to tan a hide. One is to send it to a commercial tannery and have it done by them. The other way is to rely on the taxidermist to tan it using whatever chemicals they have available to them to do it. The cheaper way is to have the taxidermist tan it because he will use something that isn't regulated like a commercial tannery is. The stuff they buy is going to be easier to dispose of and handle. The commercial stuff is very toxic and extremely dangerous to be around. Disposing of it costs a fortune. The do so much volume that they price that into their costs. It also takes longer to go through a commercial tannery because of time it takes to get it there and pick it up. The one I've always used is called Golden Gate Tannery in CA. I used it for all my hides when I lived in CA, and that's where everything that is being done here in TX is sent before being mounted.

My guess is your taxidermist cut too many corners on tanning the hide. The smell will go away in time, but you will probably start to lose hair fairly soon on it too as it decays on you.

Good luck,
Eddie