first timer Q

[trappermatt]

just got my kits for a fox and yote shoulder mount and would love to see some pics for some help on the face. i am about to skin them tomorrow or the next day and also was wondering id i can skin like a cased skin and cut it wh
ere i need it cut or a dorsal cut? thanks for any help. also i should wait to work on the form until i get the skins tanned right? or is there any prep work i can do to the form before hand?

[timwilly]

For shoulder mounts there's no reason to case skinthe whole animal, unless your referring to just peeling him off from the shoulder up cased.
Just cut him around behind the shoulder and around the front legs and peel him off.
Do all you prep work on hides, then tan. Dremel out nose, eye, ear area. Cut a lip slot, rough up form and when tan is ready
just pull it over like a sock and do the taxidermy work. Check reference for ear placement also.
Very simple and easy project. Tons of pics in the reference section and on the internet. Take your time on the eyes
as they will make or break the mount. Dogs are fun to work on, don't rush the project and you'll be happier in the end.
Lips should be tucked hair to hair. On the front of a dogs mouth under his nose there's a line from nose to lip, that's tucked hair to hair also,
Make a little cut channel on the form to tuck it in. The little things will make the mount respectable.

You'll find reference photos here: http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/board,23.0.html

[trappermatt]

thanks. i take it you apply the hide paste after you do all the taxi work other wise if you call if quites for the night and pick it up the next day will it be to stiff to work with?.. same with the eye and ear placement with the clay. usually how long does it take for that clay to set?.

[timwilly]

Hide paste goes on form right before you pull your cape over it. eye placement done before you put on hide paste.
After you get the hide on and if you need to walk away from it until the next day wrap it with a wet towel and cover with a garbage bag.
For a shoulder mount fox or coyote it should only take a couple of hours to mount him up after he's tanned and form is ready.
Make sure you got the time to finish it when you start it. Pull hide over, arrange everything, tuck lips, nose, eyes, adjust ears to right position,
that's about it for a shoulder mount.

[Haffs]

This will probably help when your mounting process. Hopefully you still have the skull available.....

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,243306.0.html