When buying a deer mannikin which supplier has the best quality mannikins? I was told overwhelmingly that Van Dykes are made of cheaper quality and that McKenzies are better. Or would you recommend even a different company? Is there really a big difference when it comes to mounting? Thanks, Chris
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i personally like rhinehardts forms. i know they cost more but i dont have any problems with them. i dont really care for the way Van Dykes briskets look.
i have a Van Dyke deer mannikin and it is the same as any other deer mannikin and they mount pretty good especially for your northern deer use one and see
Cris Over the years I have used just about every form on the market and the forms from Ben Mears supply in Mississippi are the best looking and with out a doubt the easeist forms I have ever used,but they are for southern deer I dont know how they would do on northern deer.Mcenzie has an exellence form.Joe Coomes also has a good form as bad as I hate to say it [a supply company] has a pretty dang good form also.
HANDS DOWN......No questions asked.
MEARS and COOMBS are the best,they simply fit better and yield a better product overall.McKenzie has to many anatomical problems with the head area on thier newer forms[8600,4600,64U,wall ped.]Anyway but to give some credit the 6500 is one of the best forms around!ALSO McKenzie has to many measurement problems head n neck both.Van Dykes not my preference at all.WASCO has some decent forms.If I had to pick ONE company only for deer forms it would be -JOE COOMBS!-
Ive used quite a few different forms but now I'm primarily using forms from Quality Taxidermy Supply in NC.I like McKenzie but I think they are raising their prices too much.
look great for those HUGE bodied mature bucks also....
I'm With Matt I prefer the Meder forms on our Northern deer they seem to fit great and I have never had any problems fitting the capes on them. I Also like McKenzies 6500 and still use the 8000 forms. Buckeye forms would round off my list for my early bow killed deer or specialty mounts. It all boils down to preference you have to find forms that fill your needs by geographic location.You will find that some companies mannikins will not fit your deer and some will you just have to do some research and trial and error. Good luck, Mark