Beginners Whitetail Shoulder Mounts (mounting and tweaking)

[Bobbi Meyer]

I'm no expert, so let me make my disclaimer now.
The following are shots I took today in my shop while mounting my latest whitetail...the instructions included are the way I do things...everyone has a different way, so mine may not be the best, but could possibly help someone here just starting out.

I took a pair of eppley buttless earliners, cut the ear canal portion off, then used expanding foam to make some rigid "forms"

[Bobbi Meyer]

I don't use bondo, but suppose this could be used with bondo.
I fill the ear up with the mixed Ear Magic, then place it over the "form" that I made.
I use a seam roller to distribute the Ear Magic evenly and use my thumb to flatten the edges.

[Bobbi Meyer]

heres the ear on the form after I've worked it and groomed it to make sure the hair patterns are correct.
This deer had pretty little ears.

[Bobbi Meyer]

here's the ears both finished, turned over so you can see

[Beaumont taxidermy]

thank you....  every different 'tool' in the tool box is great to have...  thanks again

[Bobbi Meyer]

I mark the pupil of the eyes with a wax pencil so I can keep them horizontal.
Here's the clay work for my eyes...it's just roughed in right now.
Notice in the second and third pictures, where I am pointing the pencil to. There is supposed to be a slight dip, so I have incorporated it into the clay work....( This was pointed out to me by Jody Green at competition)

[Bobbi Meyer]

lets put some hide paste on the face....
Next I tuck the lips, starting with the top one.
Tuck the front first, then the corners then the sides.

[Bobbi Meyer]

next tuck the bottom lip...the sequence is the same. Front, corners then sides. Don't panic, it looks like a lot of extra skin to tuck.
Also, notice how I've put a roll of clay at the bottom lip, after the lip is tucked I will push the clay towards the nose pad to give the bottom lip a nice full look...

[Bobbi Meyer]

Next I'll do the eyes.
If you noticed in the eye claywork picture, there was extra clay near the lacrymal gland that I pointed out.
First I'll tuck the gland and push a T-Pin deep in the slot I created there, to hold the skin.
Then push it shut with the extra clay I added.
Next I like to tuck the top back of the eye, working my way to the front.
Then I tuck the bottom lid.

[Bobbi Meyer]

here's a few more pictures of the eye work...
The last one is pretty much where I want it, but I will watch it closely over the next week to make sure it doesn't move much.
I usually make them a little sleepy looking to begin with, but when they dry, it seems to be just about where I want it. I have place another T-Pin at the front corner of the eye for now, but it will be replaced later by a regular pin, right at the front corner of the eye and  pushed all the way in and apoxied over.
If you look at the eye lid, there is a lighter "streak" which will be my guideline for where I place the crease to create the eyelid itself.
The T-Pin at the back of the eye is to hold eye work in place while I set the do the ear work and sewing.

[Bobbi Meyer]

The last three photos are just the mache work over the skull..some people use bondo instead.
The mache roughed in on the first photo, smoothed down with a wet bristle brush on the sceond photo and the finished cap on the last photo.

[Bobbi Meyer]

If I can and anyone is interested, I'll post the rest of the process.

[Charlie Schram]

Outstanding Bobbie!

[Charlie Schram]

By all means finish the process!

[Hunter01]

i think this is exceptional and appreciate your time and desire to help us that are just starting. thanks in advance for the rest if you post it.