I am a beginner. I am going to order videos and some books. In the last week I have read every message on this site. I have harvested a couple of does and saved thier capes. I also have several small basket racked plaque mounts. I don't want 3 or 4 does heads to go with my one pro. done buck head. I know I need lots and lots of practice before I get my license and take on a job. My question is, "Would it be extremely difficult to order a small buck maniquin head,and put a does cape on it,and use the basket racks on the manaquin as well, for practice reasons only?". I really need the advice from a pro. Please give me some pros and cons.
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If you took the measurements of your does you will see that there are no buck mannikins that match the measurements. Then there is the matter of the skin on the pedicels, the bumps that the antlers sit on, there is no skin on a doe cape to fit them. That being said, you can do it by using the proper size doe form and setting the skull plate into the form so that the antlers are flush with the skull(form) surface. That would eliminate the need for the pedicel skin cover. If you must do it why not puy a couple small buck capes and do the job right. And mount the does as does, you really need the practice, anyway. I've said it before and I will say it again, "Do the job right or don't do it at all".
Thanks for the advice, Ive seen your name on here before, guess your a pro. Thanks again, and I'll keep reading and learning. I already come to find out this is probably like being a "Machinist," you never learn it all no matter how long you do it. see ya, Tony
"Old Fart" always seems to be sarcastic about every question he answers, If any one could add some more advice, pros and cons, I would really apreciate it. thank you, Tony
Tony,
Old Fart gave you the EXACT answer you were looking for,without a hint of sarcasm .If you want to practice on bucks, then buy a buck cape . If not, then practice on the doe you have on hand . Also,when asking for help,don't be so quick to accuse someone of being sarcastic, especially after receiving sound advice .
their your deer right? Its not like your going to have an angry customer yelling at you for screwing up their mount.Could be good practice.Like Old Fart said,you'll probably have probems around the antler bases,might have to do some patchwork.And use a good,high quality hidepaste so the skin stays exactly where you put it.Who knows,you might be able to pull it off.Good luck.
The wacky weirdo beginner question/bite the hand that feeds you season, that is! Glad Im gonna be busy with a deer season, you guys enjoy answering these questions...and careful with the sarcasm, will yas? Ha ha ha!
What old fart gave you was very good advice. If what he said got to you that much you really don't need to get in the taxidermy field. What he did was to take his time to help you and several others here while he could be working on something that pays the bills instead of volunteering his time to answer questions from beginners and pros as well. A simple thanks should be what you gave hin instead of your little sarcastic remark. With that attitude you may need to use another name when asking a question I'm not sure that many people would want to help you with the attitude you have. Just wait untill you start to deal with the public.
I just read the comments he made to other people in other catagories they were 80% sarcastic I just wanted other peoples advice as well Thanks Larry and I,m sorry if I offended any one. Tony
Lenny,
Maybe you should direct your response to Tony . I very much agreed with Old Fart.
Mark
You are right Tony, I do get sarcastic with the stupid and redundant questions. I think that I did give you a pretty straight up answer. If you are looking to learn than I do believe that trying to learn the right way is the ONLY way. Cutting corners and cobbling things together to save money only leads to poor craftsmanship. Don't sell yourself short, try to do the job right all the time.
My mistake I'll pay a little better attention next time before I list someones name.
Tony, We all had to start somewhere, even people like old fart. I mounted a doe with a small 8pt rack just to get the practice and to see if it would work. The skin around the antlers is the only area that gave me any trouble but it turned out fine with a little ingenuity. Until you establish a customer base you will be hard pressed to find stuff to work on unless you have plenty of money to burn or like me you hunt practically every day and get your own specimens to work on. As long as it is your own project why not experiment, thats how we learn best. If we were all preprogrammed to know what the seach was for we would not upset some people on this site. I would never have to ask another stupid question myself since they seem to have been all asked and answered somewhere along the way. The only stupid and redundant questions are those that are not asked, isn't that what this forum is for. LOL Tony, we are not all as sarcastic as some so don't be shy about asking any questions that might come up. .
at least the question should be answered correctly. NO, the doe cape will not help you much. If you want to practice, try doing it with a more accurate speciman. Mount the doe as a doe, now that would help you well. The doe cape on the buck form will not fit around the nose pad or muzzle (width, length) and the eyes arent near the same. No swelling and the eyelids are much different. The ears set differently and of course theres that antler issue, along with no brow or forehead hair pattern. A doe is built differently enough that I dont feel you would gain practice as much as be frustrated needlessly. Mount it on a doe form, and once you guys dont find us so sarcastic and offensive, ask one of us for a average sized deer cape, from a buck, and we can probably get one to you as cheap as you wish...
Thats exactly what I wanted to here. pros and cons Thanks Ron and Bill It means a lot to a green horn like me. The ? may sound stupid but it seemed like an inteligent ? to me! Thats my trouble I have been agrivating every one at work to death wanting thier cape if they harvest a deer, either sex. so far I have one guy that had shot a doe but just my luck he shot her in the head! LOL I shot a nice buck but, I was afraid to try it myself. This was once in a lifetime deer for me! Ron Thanks for admitting you, your self, had the same ? in your mind at one time or another! And Bill thanks for the seriousness that was in your answer and the information as well. Ron sounds like you got started the way I'm trying. Trying to fill up the freezer with legal limits before season goes out! Thanks again guys. Guess Old Fart was born a Taxidermist and never had a ? The reason I asked a ? like this is " not being licensed " going to wait to the fist of the year because they expire Dec 31. So I can,t sell anything. And Who wants a bunch of doe heads hanging around? Someone thats as green as I am needs all the seriousness he can get. Thanks again guys! I really appreciate it. Going to give it some thought. Tony P.S. every one at work promised me they would give me thier cape if they get one!
Go ahead and get your license, those purchased after August in almost any state carries over to Dec31 of the following year. Like Bill said,
many of us have capes and antlers that we can part with cheap.We just want you to realize the difference between sarcasm and good answers.Once your licensed, send me an email.I have tons of small buck capes and antlers this time of year.Lenny, I accept your apology, honest mistake.
Thanks, for the offer I will check into getting my license. I have your E- mail adress Mark Thanks again Tony P.S. driving my wife crazy This is all I talk about, been insulating my so called "SHOP" havent been on the net much in the last week. Thanks again everyone sorry I got off on the wrong foot with ya'all!
You should have praticed on your "once in a lifetime"deer.That way you would be more careful and wouldbe more critical of how you did.Thats what i did.Eveyone who has seen it has brought me a deer to mount.It was my first!Maybe I got lucky but it sure nice getting business cause of it.