Having used both methods ( I totally prefer tanning regardless the time it takes to get tanned) over the years, I know the tanned mounts look better much longer. I shave all my stuff thin. Dry Preserve or tanned. So thats not an issue. But on a few that friends wanted cheap and quick I have these results. Mounted and painted you can't tell the difference going out the door. I use epoxy hide paste and clay where I need to well,etc... IE done correctly, not McDonalds drive through quick style. In fact time wise the only difference in the end is the cost of the tan and waiting to get it back.

Look at same comparison a year down the road. Pretty close but you can start to tell the DP hide is off color a bit. Look 2-3-5 years down the road and hanging both side by side there is no question that DP got you what it got you. A cheap job. And in fact if you shave too thin with DP it'll crack that much easier.

Now keeping the DP mounts hair well oiled seems to help but not totally alleviate the problem later on.

So if its important to you, whats the cost of an occasional good mount? My do it yourself Caribou hunt in Alaska last fall cost me a minimum (bare bones minimum) of 2500 bucks. In reality adding some gear etc... tips and all to pilots, getting meat home, and so on it was more than that.

So do I get a cheapy mount done for say 400-500 or spend 700 for a lifetime mount? When in this business full time I often would not see my repeat customers more than every 2-5 years for another mount. Amoritized out it won't kill ya to get the better quality. But thats IMHO.

Jeff