I have had many heads mounted from an individual and for the most part they look very nice. One thing that has bothered me is the nose of the anmals, they are pointy and not very lifelike, what causes this? Can it be fixed? Thanks a bunch.
tyler
I hope these pictures work, if they don't, visit this site: http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=WHSeagle&album_id=85368
<img src="http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=WHSeagle&album_id=85368&image_id=1&courtesy=1">
<img src="http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=WHSeagle&album_id=85368&image_id=2&courtesy=1">
<img src="http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=WHSeagle&album_id=85368&image_id=3&courtesy=1">
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This is a real tragedy of someone posing as a taxidermist. The CAUSE of the problem is the lack of artistry and knowledge by this person. The cure is to find a qualified taxidermist. This nose was just placed on the form. Nostril openings weren't cut and the nostrils weren't placed in the openings nor was the nose pad sculpted in place properly. I do crappy work, but I've NEVER done anything like this. As far as a "cure", I'm sorry to tell you there isn't one. This cape has already dried in this position and likely formed a "memory" that rehydrating and remounting won't correct. It also looks as if this individual doesn't like using glue as the face seems to be drummed with no detail. I would additionally imagine that this person uses dry preservative instead of tanning. If he doesn't, he sure wasted his time and money to achieve the results I see in those pictures.
After going back and looking again, it seems that he never removed any of the nose cartilage. If it helps, it does look like he did a nice job on tucking the lips.
I've never seen anything like that!
And I thought I had problems with MY deer noses... :o
That guy needs some reference photos!
Amy Ritchie
I looked at the pictures of the awful deer nose. I do not understand how someone could do such a poor job and give it to a customer. I was wondering what the rest of the mount looks like. P.S. He needs good photos and a conscience.
George...your insinuation that because of the crappy work on this mount the guiy probably used DP is pretty pathetic. I used DP 50% of the time and NEVER have any of my deer turn out that way. In fact My DP'ed skins look 10X better than a "wet tan" taxidermist down the road who cgarges $75 more..it isnt the method of tanning/preserving that gave this deer that look.
In fact by looking at the photo where the ears can be seen i would say it is a tanned skin with a pathetic "taxidermist", and I use that term loosley, doing a half arsed job.
Matt, I've probably done between 2,000 and 3,000 deer with dry preservative myself. I made that comment solely on the fact of the hide drumming so badly and the turnip nose characteristic. Had the hide been tanned, I would have hoped the cartilage would have been removed during that process or hair would have likely slipped. I didn't see the ears on the picture I got. Either way, it IS a pathetic immitation of real taxidermy work.
I realize that it isn't a very good mount. But I didn't come here to have you guys say how bad the mount is. I came here to see if there was a solution for the problem and what causes it, not for you to say how horrible it is.
... if you want straight-up answers to your questions I'll give them to you.
Question #1- Is there a solution to this problem?
Answer- Yes. Go to a REAL professional taxidermist to have your gameheads mounted.
Question #2- What causes this problem?
Answer- Failure to follow the advice found in the answer to the first question.
Additional unsolicited comments/advice (disregard if you choose)- I find it incredible that you have taken your return business to someone who does work like this. Educate yourself about the difference between good taxidermy and poor taxidermy. Visit several showrooms and compare the mounts to photos of actual live animals. Find someone who knows what they are doing. Whoever did that deer mount obviously doesn't. In my opinion the animals deserve better than this.
To end up with a mount like that is a mistake you should learn from. To take more work to that same taxidermist is foolishness.
The mounts cannot be fixed.
They are ruined. Sorry.
There is no need to waste time worrying about what was done in the past. Assuming that you now know the difference between good and bad taxidermy work, when you find a better taxidermist you can have the antlers re-mounted with a new cape if you want to. (It won't be cheap!)
Otherwise, just consider it one of those lessons in life .... as such things go, it could have been a LOT worse.
I think it says in my first entry:"As far as a 'cure', I'm sorry to tell you there isn't one." I guess I could blow roses up your rear, but this dog won't hunt. You're stuck with this aberration until you decide to have it "refreshed" (remounted) by that the advice Doug gave you.