120" 8 pt. WT rack 18 1/2" spread. Is this a good rack to start with?

[CarlScroggins]

I have a small 8 point rack (6" inside spread) that I thought about making a mold of for practice, but I got to thinking,"What if it turns out good? Nobody would be interested in such a small rack". I have a friend who has an 8 point rack with an 18 1/2 inside spread (around 120"). Would their be a market for these if I could pull it off, or would you stick to the small rack to start with? Also, if I get him to loan me the rack for molding in exchange for an antler mount, who would have the rights to the cast?

Thanks,
Carl

[marshell-with-an-e]

Carl,

Your right about who wants to buy a 120 class 8 point, you should consider what is the cost and time involded is to make a copy, can you make a profit off it?

Who has the rights to the mold needs to be determined at the beginning of the project, put it in writing and get it signed,
 if you want to make a mold of someone's rack get everything in writing before you start. Learning how to protect your work is important also.

You might consider buying a nice 160 class typical rack out right to start with, something that you feel someone else would want a copy of.

Spending your time and materials on some thing noboby wants is only teaching you how to do it. 
Try to kill two birds with one stone, make something somebody wants and profit from it is a good thing.

Start with a typical rack and learn from your mistakes and accomplishments, then increase you difficulities.  Here is an example of my work:........Marshell

[CarlScroggins]

That's one wicked looking rack Marshell! As far as the 120" rack I know it's not the best, but I figured it would be good for mounting up some display deer. The rack I thought was to small was the little 6" spread 8 point. Although, it would be good for jackalopes.

[marshell-with-an-e]

Carl,

If it's legal to sell mounted deer in your state, why not have all your display deer for sale? 

If you mount 5 different poses on the 120 class buck, it might represent the customers in your area average deer, that's OK.

But let say you decided to stop doing taxidermy and want to try something else, what kind of market wants those 5 120 class bucks?

But if you had 5 170 class buck, I'm betting you could get $1,200.00 to $1,500.00 for each mount.

People spend 100's of hours on a spike for competition, only to have a blue ribbon spike, now they learned a lot working on

that piece, but nobody will give him $500.00 for it.  If he used a B&C reproduction valued at $500.00 and mounted a blue ribbon deer head

I'm thinking he could make a pretty nice profit off that head.

Good Luck.....Marshell

[CarlScroggins]

Good Point.