First lifesize whitetail competition pieces

[Vince Spellane]

I will be mounting two lifesize whitetails for competition....since I have never done lifesize whitetails for competiton I was wondering if there was anything I should be aware of or any hints or things that the judges will be looking for...I realize this is a very broad general question since every judge is different, but I would appreciate any help I can get.

[RDA]

I will be honest,,  in competitions,,,you had better do a near perfect life size white tail,  cuz the judges  KNOW THEM,  live with them   and  well,   i think you might learn alot!!!   If it were me  Id opt  to sandpaper a live rhinos arse  before entering a white tail in competition  LOL!!!!!

[Ryan.]

RDA that was a little discouraging eh!?!

Mount it to the best of you ability and walk out of there after with a lot more knowledge then you had walking in. Good luck and pay close attention to detail.

[*]

I will be honest,,  in competitions,,,you had better do a near perfect life size white tail,  cuz the judges  KNOW THEM,  live with them   and  well,   i think you might learn alot!!!   If it were me  Id opt  to sandpaper a live rhinos arse  before entering a white tail in competition  LOL!!!!!

I'll second this from RDA, Your entering the toughest hardest piece you could ever do,
Your jumping in right at the top, 
RDA you sandpaper one butt cheek of that rhino, cause I'll be on the other side sanding it also.

[outwoods taxidermy]

sandpaper a rinos arse,,,lol
better use the 40 grit tho.

[George Roof]

Ryan, the ONLY thing that Ron said that was discouraging is what he said is as factual as you can get. Taxidermy competitons have pushed the world of whitetail into the realm of distorted fantasy. I've seen mounts downgraded for "one nostril being 1/16 inch smaller than the other."  To jump into competition with a lifesized mount just gives more surface area for a judge to be nitpicking.  Now I'm going to tell you something that's likely to piss off a lot of people but as I said, when you catch me in a lie, please point it out to me.  The FACT is that you could mount the most perfect whitetail ever seen to God or man BUT unless you're already well known and LIKED in the competition community, you're going to have a tough sell.  I wish you the best and you do have to start someplace. Given what I know, if I were competing, however, I'd have started someplace else.

[Vince Spellane]

Thanks for the input guys....I have competed with whitetail before up to half lifesize...but have not gone full lifesize..just wondering if there is anything special from mid way back that I should be aware of.

thanks again for the responses

[Lone Wolf Taxidermy]

That would be borderline insanity.....BUT....you have to jump in the deep water to find out how well you can swim. I advise a floatation device.

Good luck.....really study reference. As all have said, everything will have to be spot-on to survive and there is a lot of everything on a LS deer - X2.

[John Bellucci]

Try to get yourself to a place that has live Whitetail Deer that can be handled, or at least studied up close and personal.  Literally stick your head up the animals butt, get as close as possible to its underside to study its male parts -- Bucks only of course!  Try like hell to get "hands-on" with the animals.

This may sound nuts, koo-koo, or whatever, but if you want to reproduce what a live Whitetail Deer looks like there is NO better way.  I did that with Big Cats, Zebra, Giraffe, Elephant, Wildebeest, Blesbok, Blackbuck, Bison, Elk and Red Deer, just to name a few, not to mention the Squirrels I raised and kept as pets and the Raccoons that I have semi-tamed that show up for late a late supper and special snacks every night!

Photograph the animals, and make notes on the spot.  Make some quick sketches of the Deer.  If it goes from your eye to your brain, to your hand, you will remember it better, and will have a better feel for your subject.  There is a lot more to it than just going into the shop and cutting and pasting a form together.  You have to do the research ... make the study of the subject.

Try to find a local animal broker ... a seller of native and exotic animals.  Make connections with those folks who deal in live animal sales and whatnot.  Befriend them ... it's tough in the beginning, but once you are in, you will be welcome.  That's the way to do it short of travelling the world to photograph what you want!   Then again, you can't really "handle" true wildlife!

Do this and transfer what you have seen and learned to your mounts.  You will see a marked difference and improvement!

Plus ... it is FUN!  Enjoy!

John.

[Vince Spellane]

thanks for the info and taking the time to provide your insight and share your knowledge....I study Whitetail reference daily...but have not spent a lot of time around the real thing...but I do have access to a person who raises whitetails...that will be my next step.

Thanks again
Vince

[John Bellucci]

thanks for the info and taking the time to provide your insight and share your knowledge....I study Whitetail reference daily...but have not spent a lot of time around the real thing...but I do have access to a person who raises whitetails...that will be my next step.

Thanks again
Vince

Hey Vince,

Glad to be of help!  You have a HUGE opportunity that not many have.  Oh man ... get to that deer when you can and study, study, study, and study, until your bored out of your skull!   Just kidding ... I never bore of being as close as I can to my subjects, and I don't think you will either.  

I had the opportunity once to actually handle and HOLD a Kirk's Dik Dik!  Talk about a delicate creature!  What an experience!  In its own way, it was as exciting to me as standing in a cage of Lions or Tigers!  This little thing let me see so many of the details that you can only surmise at the way they look on a live animal ... the scent glands of the face, head, legs, and hooves ... what a little stinker!  A mild musky aroma, but it was there all the same!

Studying references is only second best to studying the real thing!  This I know from personal experience!  It will open up a whole new world for you, and you will see the Whitetail Deer in a whole new light than before!

Enjoy the opportunities you will have to study this beautiful creature!

Take care, and best regards,
John.

[coonhollow]

I will be honest,,  in competitions,,,you had better do a near perfect life size white tail,  cuz the judges  KNOW THEM,  live with them   and  well,   i think you might learn alot!!!   If it were me  Id opt  to sandpaper a live rhinos arse  before entering a white tail in competition  LOL!!!!!

x3
Ryan
if you are gonna compete with whitetails you better homework up! what RDA said is fact!

I'll second this from RDA, Your entering the toughest hardest piece you could ever do,
Your jumping in right at the top, 
RDA you sandpaper one butt cheek of that rhino, cause I'll be on the other side sanding it also.