Upgrade your Racks! A summer craft for the Huntress or wife of a hunter.

Being the wife of an avid deer hunter, I love the horns collected and well earned through the process of the hunt. Bill, my husband can tell you where, when and how the shot was made and in all its full glory. In our home the horns carry memories, traditions and a reminder of the next hunting season.

 Decorating with the trophies isn't anything new. Many lodges, country homes and farm houses hang them proudly. However, in recent years modern homes, eclectic homes , and even up scale restaurants are using horns as decor. I've seen them gilded, with rhinestones, sprayed white, and moss covered. The problem decorating with them, is that although I personally love the covered velvet and the 80's green and red, they just don't fit our interior styles today. I have one answer to upgrading those beloved "racks" so that they have a better chance of coming out of the man cave or garage and front and center in your living areas.

First, start by removing the cap (in green) by pulling out the top and bottom nails that keep it attached and the gold metal plate. Those both pop off easily. Then sand the wood. This will help the paint adhere to the wood. 

 After wiping off the wood plaque, I paint using a Black multi surface acrylic. It does take two layers which won't take very long to dry. *Use whatever paint color and finish you think will look best. I used the black satin because my bedroom has neutral colors with blacks and grey.


While paint is drying remove the velvet from the styrofoam cover. The older racks have little staples that I saved to re-use. Then, I cut out a square piece of my new fabric. For my racks I used a basic burlap but there were many choices like grey, black and brown. I chose natural because I didn't want to match exactly. I like the contrast of black, burlap and horn color. Move around the styrofoam re-pinning and hot gluing, pulling fabric taunt as you go.  All that's left now is to re-nail the cover with the new fabric back onto the plaque. Use the same nail heads which should back into the original holes.

Here are 5 sets that hang proudly in our bedroom.  * Please note that keeping them close together and in an odd grouping keeps them a focal without being overwhelming.

The real visionary in this of course is the hunter who tirelessly surrenders to the cold conditions every year to bring me deer meat and horns. So, I'd like to thank Husband Bill!


Written By: Mandy Barkley
with River Valley Real Estate