I finished my first mount on wednesday (a grey squirrel) and am not
too satisfied. I guess it is ok-lots of room for improvement though.
I have some more squirrels to work on along with some other small mammals (all intended to be lifesize mounts). Is it better to stick with squirrels until I am satisfied with them or is it better to practice on a variety of animals?
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I think they are tough, but I have only done one. I have done deer, bear, fisher, fox, bobcat and have found them much more pleasant to work with. Everything just seemed so tiny and detailed with a squirrel, that I didn't have much fun. Although larger animals have fine details too, to me it makes a big difference because of the larger scale. Just my opinion. Gather up your reference if you plan to tackle some others.
.....Well not quite. I don't like squirrels either but they are the perfect practice specimen. Readily available, durable, relatively inexpensive to work with and managable due to their size.
You really need to work on your technique to get the basics down before you can really concentrate on the details. Think of it this way, you are now learning addition and subtraction. When you get that down you move on to multiplication and division. Before you attempt Calculus make sure you have the preceeding steps down.
If you get the basics down by working on squirrels you will be ready to attempt the details that you need to learn as you move on to other specimens, that can be considerably more expensive to work with.
I know it can be tough to do, squirrels can get boring after a while. If you are serious about taxidermy this is the best way to learn it in the long run.
I have found squirrels to be pretty easy.Yes they are small,but any flaws are harder to see.As with larger game species such as deer,if the eyes for example are not perfect,you know it.Jennifer,pick up this video:It is by Rhinehart taxidermy,which is now owned by McKenzie,Mounting a fox squirrel.It is an excellent video as is all Rhinehart learning videos.McKenzies# is 1-800-279-7985,Ask for the Rhinehart catalogue,and you can also get McKenzies if you don't already have it.Also,forms make a big difference,no matter what kind of animal.Get a crappy form,it produces a crappy mount.Rhinehart makes a decent squirrel form as does McKenzie.Also remember,Rome was not built in a day!PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!Good Luck
you must have patience with the process,give your self plenty of time.Every time I work on a species I find something I like about it or not.That is where the practice comes in on the species of your preference.You should try as many different species as possible, to be able to make a comparison.I my self like to do birds and fish over others,but do others also, thats where the fun comes in.Its all learning I never stop learning.Be Patient,Practice and you'll find your Preference. Good Luck
A squirrel was the first thing I attempted to mount. I never finished the squirrel but, I still have a scar where I got three stitches. Good Luck!
Squirrels don't suck...they chew. Don't blame the Squirrel for ineptness with a skinning knife.
JENNIFER...Mike is right (NOT)...chuck your squirrels in the trash can and run out to get a Bear...much simpler to mount...(Right!).
Squirrels are the perfect animal specimens for Beginners...and Pros (Ask John Bellucci)...Pheasants for Birds.
Look below under Squirrel posts for my replies on Squirrel Mounting...John Bellucci Videos from WASCO,,,the best...teaches you stuff fur stuffing which others don't teach to stuff good stuffed Squirrels...Too lengthy to repeat here...it's all below...Good luck..
If you wait until you "perfect" squirrels, you'll be in a LONG line of us who've never quite mastered it as well. I still say that it's the toughest animal to mount to where it's pleasing to the eye.
Move up to a larger animal maybe a Muskrat they are cool and then you'll learn defatting ,or some other animal ,I don't like specialists I think a taxidermist should be an all around artist.
i have done a bunch of them tree rats to, and a few other things and came to the same thought, keep doing these or try other things, out of 5 tree rats only got 2 good ones so far . so i would say do other things to ,, think how to improve on what you have learned and keep going , and ( dont make it be work!) the enjoyment will be lost lol
Thank you all-that was all very motivating advice! Thanx.