I have just finished my first bobcat, and it looks very good. It took me a month of sundays to sew that critter up. I made a belly incision, and had to cut down each leg to get it on the manikin. Is there a easier way to do this? Could you make a dorsal incesion and not have to cut down every leg, or would you still have trouble getting the skin on the manikin? Please send me some ideas. My fingers are so sore I can hardly type!
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Bob,
Dorsal incisions are the only way to mount these varmints. You'll still have to open the legs at the "ankle" to work around the feet and claws, but they fit into the form like slipping on a pair of pajamas. When you make the dorsal incision, I take a permanent marker and make 'cross hatches' or marks every few inches so that when I go to sew it up, I know the hide is being properly aligned.
my friend george roof is right on the head on doing bobcats only thing i do different is i use air by making small hole on each side behind the front shoulder insert air noozzle hold tight around hole let air in until cat stretches out then do the same on the other siddde most mammals you can do this to it loosoons the hide from the fromthe meat makes it a lot easier to skin i learned this from tommy ramage
good luck
The previous bits of advice are very good. The only flaw is the cutting of the legs. I have found thatI do not have to cut the legs at all just work them to the toes inside out. However If you get a cat that someone else has skinned and it is belley cut try this next time. Cut your form in half, and remove 1 front leg at the shoulder, place the leg in the lide then work the head and remaining leg onto the hide, Bondo both sides of the cut off leg and hold it in place. when the bondo sets work the bach half of the form into the hide. with the cat but to head bondo the 2 half and fold them down togather, hold them in place till solid. Now all you have to do is sew up the belly and set the expression. I can do 4 to 6 full body cats a day even if they are belly cut. Good Luck And Have fun. Tenbears
I feel a storm brewing...
Try using a brad air gun with 1" brads. You need to put lots of brads
and make sure your hair stays out. I know lots of people will say this isn't good, but I've mounted several bobcats and this method
saves lots of time and you don't see the inscission any more than you
do by sewing it. Do just like sewing, start at the head and work to
to middle and then from the tail to the middle working in any excess
skin.
I was told by a master taxidermist that you didn't have to sew or pin the cut at all if you use a quality hide adhesive under the seam. He suggested Bondo.
Anybody that reads this forum regularly knows bondo is not an adhesive. Much less a bonding agent.(LOL)