Taxidermy mounting apparatus

A mounting device for use in a taxidermy mounting apparatus, the taxidermy mounting apparatus comprising a mounting device, a flat backing board and a mannequin molded on the flat backing board, the flat backing board being shaped to substantially match an outer profile of the mannequin, the mounting device comprising:

• a female member made from a plastic molded material having an elongated body extending transversely from an integral flanged portion including a plurality of tapered fins circumferentially spaced about an outer surface of the elongated body, said female member an elongate socket extending into the elongated body and having a blind end, the elongate socket extending to an open mouth, the female member being non-rotatably moldable in a body of the mannequin with the open mouth of the elongate socket positioned to receive, in use and in a non-rotatable manner, an elongate male member extending laterally from a supporting structure, such that the elongate male member can then support the mounting apparatus relative to the supporting structure.

A method of mounting a taxidermy exhibit to a wall, the taxidermy exhibit including a taxidermy mannequin and a flat backing board on which the taxidermy mannequin is molded, the flat backing board having a shape that matches an outer profile of the mannequin, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a taxidermy mounting device which comprises a plastic molded female member having an elongated body extending transversely from an integral flanged portion, the female member being fixed non-rotatably in the taxidermy mannequin and having an elongate socket extending from an open mouth at the integral flanged portion aligned with an opening in the flat backing board to a blind end formed within the elongated body;
• providing a wall mount device comprising a flange for location against and fixture to a wall and a male member projecting from the flange of the wall mount device for non-rotatable slide reception in the elongate socket of the taxidermy mounting device;
• sliding the male member of the wall mount device into the elongate socket of the taxidermy mounting device thereby to support the taxidermy exhibit relative to the wall, and in which the male member projects at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the flange of the wall mount device to assist in the non-rotatable slide reception between the wall mount device and the taxidermy mounting device.