setting the antlers

[lisa]

 I have whitetail antlers that are giving my a little trouble. I set the skull plate and measured the back corner of the eye to the burrs and i have two inch's. The bridge of the nose matches the middle of the skull plate. It looks like the antlers are laing down. Should the tip of the antlers match the back of the eye, the top of the burr line up with the to eye browand the bottom of the eye line up with the bottom of the burr or all antlers are different some lean in front, some lean back. I didn't measure from the nose to the tip of the antlers before when i was skinning. I got the McKenzie measuring sheets and the didn't have that measurement on there. Can anyone help me understand how to set the skull and antlers right . It always has to be right, it drives me nuts (OCD)Ha! Ha!
Thank you
Lisa 

[dsutyford77]

Without measurements you'll have to eyeball it from the side profile. Use your measurement of 2 inches from burr to the back of the eye and then look at it from the side as you tilt the antlers forward or back. You should almost be able to imagine a straight-edge lying on the bridge of the nose from tip to the forehead( remember this is from the side-view) to where the antlers come out of the skull for the first couple of inches before they curve up and forward. Take a look at some reference photos of a side view and you'll understand what i'm describing. hope it helps!

[Jesse W.]

O.K. Lisa, I'll see if I can help you out any. One way that I do it and it seemed to work all right. Lay your index and middle finger together on the side of your form,your index finger at the back upper corner of eye,and your middle finger should touch the antler base. When you put the antlers on the form ,look at the side of the mount. You should eyeball a straight line down the base and antler beam so the line will come out just behind the chin.( I know this might be hard to understand, but I hope not for you)  L.O.L. J.W.  

[Matt]

The angle of the skull plate should match the head angle on the form. Now, with that said, when I fit my capes to a form, I set my antlers. That way I can fit the cape to the antlers as well. There is no guess work, you get the right fit and angle everytime.

[bill@hogheaven]

When you are measuring eye to burr eye to antler tip, Measure from the FRONT corner of the eye. This is the only CONSTANT point you have. Exactly where was the center of the nose? Exactly where on the back of the eye? You will always be exact using the front corner of the eye.

[Darrell]

I agree with Bill as well as Matt.  I measure from the fron corner of the eye to the burr then if the anatomy of the form is right lay the skull plate on the same angle/line as the form.  Some times if I get one that is questionable before I cape it out I will take a 4' level and come straight up off his nose and make notes of what the measurement is form the level to each tip.

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

A picture says a thousand words,

[Darrell]

Great pictures Mr. T

[paul e]

Lisa try to match the ridge in the middle of the skull
it should give you a idea of the original angle
and if the reason i use the nose is the symmetry on a original skull WILL NOT BE THE SAME FROM SIDE TO SIDE
so when you put it on a form it will be off,now it wont be much but it will be off
i use the very middle of the nose where it matches the the hair line
i make a little note and sketch and i take a picture
i would recommend getting Rick Carters video from WASCO VHS606
watch it and you'll get a better idea of where to measure and why
the distance from the corner of the aye can and will be a little different on the same deer
the center of the nose triangulates making it more accurate if you nail the spot mentally and take a picture
with the picture you'll get a visual reference of the angle also

[Artie mags]

Great pics.Notice that every one is the same.That straight line

[bigrubs07]

Everyone has there own way of doing things. I measure tip of nose to tip of right antlerr then nose to left antler, that gives you position of antlers. Then I measure tip of nose to antler burr, write down measurements then when your form comes I put the antlers on, no problems

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

Good job, Bigrubs!  That is a very accurate way IMO.  I hear of a lot of people just measuring from the nose to the antler tips.  This isn't good enough.  You can have the skull cap too far forward (or back) and just tip the antlers forward (or backward) to match your false measurement.  You could be off an INCH or MORE on skull cap placement....only the tips would be in the right spot!  Your way should nail it pretty close every time!

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

So what do you do when you get antlers and no cape? What good are you measurements then? 

[Pascal]

Good pics "T". It can't get clearer than that.

[bill@hogheaven]

They are no good paul. Then its time for test fits with new cape & an experience eye & reference. But YOU already knew that.