Masters Division Whitetail

[joker]

I would not recommend  putting holes in your ear liner. They may show when back lit or create divots in the ear. just sayin.

[siffordstaxidermy]

I think it looks great.  Would love to see pics after its mounted up

[DEERXNG]

What did you use around the eyes? and did you seal them with something?

[Rick Carter]

Look at a ready mount change out head from WASCO. Same ear technique, only simpler.

[Camptrapp]

Joker,
I know what your saying about the holes. I don't usually use them but could not risk any drumming because I have 20 days to mount it, dry, and finish. I kept the holes 1/8 and know from experience that they will not show and not drum. Thanks

Deerxng,
I use clay around the eyes. After forming, I cover them in Modge Podge while still wet. I let dry hard as a rock but you don't have to. I just don't have to worry about them changing shape when I pull the skin over the head. I cut the skin around the eye so that is is only about an 1/8 inch long to tuck in. I let the skin dry just before it starts to darken and if it takes to long I just spray a mist of water on them to soft just a little. The dryer the skin the less shrinkage and movement. The clay right around the eye will re soften from the skin, if not just spray a little water on the eye and wait a little bit. it will soften enough to tuck with a small tool. The rest off the eye will stay hard and not move. Another member commented about the crease above the eye, and does not like to put it in first. That is fine so when you paint your modge podge on, leave it off the upper brow and that will soften enough to put in after you tuck the eye.
The great thing about taxidermy is that we all want a similar end result be there is not just one way to get there. There are many great ways!

[absmithtaxidermy]

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[BOWFISH]

I dont see any clay in the front corner of the eye how do you tuck the front corner?

[JEJ]

Did you make those earliners?  I see you did the veining but I mean the actual liner itself?

[Camptrapp]

Bowfish,
When I tuck the eye, I put a real small ball of clay in the front corner.

JEJ,
I bought the ear liners from Epply. This deer had large ears, so I had to get the large liners. No one makes large with the inner detail already in like there medium size pink ones which also have the vanes.

[JEJ]

Ok, thanks. They looked grey in color so I hadn't seen any like that before. Must just be the lighting. I use epply's as well

[Camptrapp]

Ended up with a second in the Masters Division. That is what I figured considering I really had to rush at the end. I now know what I need to do to get a first other than starting sooner.

[BO-N-ARO]

Nice!  If you do not mind..... what did they deduct for??

[Camptrapp]

I missed some paint on the nostril hairs. Should have blended the black on the nose pad further down. One of the nictitating membrane pulled away from the eye and I missed it. it was all pretty miner stuff that I could have fixed if I didn't run out of time. Wisconsin is stacked with great whitetail guys so the bar is high and you can't miss that little stuff. I think there was 7 first place heads in the masters so they look pretty hard to find something wrong. They can't have all first places!

[luv2bowhunt]

Well I think you did a fine job and congrats on the 2nd in Masters. I appreciate you explaining some of the things that you did on this one. It helps everyone out

[silverman]

Awesome job,if you can do a picture tatorial,that looks like an excellent set up.