My brother-in-law took his whitetail to a professional taxidermist, who had it for 20 months, and tanning is as far as he got. Needless to say, I now have the tanned hide and the measurements that the taxidermist took, but I don't think his measurements are correct. I cannot find a mannikin that will fit. He said he uses McKenzie forms, and measured as such:
A - nose to eye
B - circumference of neck crossing the atlas
C - circumference of meck at head
D - circumference of neck 3" down from B and around widest part of neck.
Here are the measurements he gave me:
A - 8" to 8 1/4"
B - 19"
C - 18 1/2"
d - 19 1/2" to 20"
The nose to eye measurement seems awfully long compared to the others.
Can I still measure the tanned hide? How should I proceed in finding a form?
Thank you in advance. I love this forum. Maybe seomeday I will know enough to be able to answer someone else's questions!
LeAnn Pogue
Return to Beginners Category Menu
This is a frequently ask question. But first relax the hide and stretch it, I think you are lookin at a 8 or 7/34 inch I to nose once the face is pulled wide, this is not a criticail measurment.
Now work the cape wide all the way down the neck. I think you will have a pretty soild 23-24 inch necked deer I would find a sweeled nck 22 in form to put this deer on.
You may have to thin the cape to get good stretch.
When relaxing use Downey fabric softener and let it soak 2 hours at most, keep checking on the hide to see what its doing!. The face and lips are going to need to be thinned also. You can use a sanding drum on a Dremal tool for this.
Good luck
John C
McKenzie's letters don't correspond with what you gave here. Look at their catalog, match their letter designators, take the eye to nose, circumference tight under the chin and then tight 3 inches down the neck. Without even looking, I know they have a form that fits your deer almost perfectly.