i have searched the archives and still havent found the answer i need but this is what i got out of it. When measuring a deer cape, do i take the eye to nose with the carcass and hair on then after skinned and fleshed take the neck or is there some other way. I have ordered 2 mannikins before and had to send each back and get diffrent ones. Is it better to get a larger or smaller mannikin? I have more problems getting the right mannikin then i thought i would have. Thanks
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Jay,
This is how we measure the deer in my shop:
1) nose to eye with the skin still attached to the skull.
2) nose to back of skull with skin attached to skull.
3) neck at bottom of ear butts skin off.
4) circumference of neck meat (if it is still there) just below ear butts.
5) neck 4 inches down from ear butts with skin off.
6) I like to measure (with the skin on the skull) the back corner of the eye to the antler burr. Usually it is 2 fingers (3 if you are female), but I like to measure for accuracy.
After I tan a cape I will sand on it to get it thin and then I retake the neck measurements and the nose to eye. When I order a form I try to get it as close as humany possible. In many cases it is hard to find one that matches all of your measurements. If I cannot find one that fits exactly I always go larger. It is easier (for me atleast) to sand away excess foam than it is to add to it.
Good luck and I hope this helps. Remember, everyone in this industry does things different and this just one of many ways.
-Jeanette
I just clicked the SEARCH icon and I typed in "Measuring a cape". NOT SURPRISINGLY, I found that there were 131 exact same entries in that category. The first 2 I clicked on referred to skinned out or tanned capes, but the third entry was this exact same question with several very good explanations. Jay, try that SEARCH button. It works.
You might pick up WASO's measurement sheets. It will give you way more than you need, but will give you plenty of reference points.
thats what i was looking for...I just dont ever seems to get the right mannikin measuring while the cape is still attached to the skull and neck.Thanks again.
George, i did the search and didnt find anything that even resembled what jeanette has described here.I guess i may be a dummy. I went through about 40 of them (not kidding). Im not being a smartass but sometime you just cant find what your looking for the way you want it. Does anyone know if there is a taxidermy for dummies book? Maybe someone could make a fortune doing so! lol thanks again to all of you for your help.
Try picking this book up. If you don't get a slight grasp on what you need to do after reading this book then you might want to try a diffrent hobby. The book is an great starting point!
and in each one of them they took all measurements before skinning the cape off the skull. Thats why i am asking this question. I have referred back to all videos and books and they all do it the same way. None have taken measurements after skinning.But i will try that this time.
You can take all of the measurements you want of the raw cape, of the carcass, around the neck, behind the ears, left nut, whatever, but in the end, the only measurements that really matter are the size of the tanned skin. That is what you are going to put on the form. Yeah, those other measurements will give you a ballpark figure, but after tanning and shaving a cape, your size will vary from those original measurements. I use Meder forms and just keep 3 on hand (751, 851 and 951) and test fit the cape after it is tanned. Then I KNOW what it will fit on when I order the form - no guess work! For a $100 investment in 3 forms, most of those fit problems go away.
Looking for. Hell you dont know what you are looking for to begin with, why not look at the supply catalog you are going to order from.
The forst 40 enteries tell you how to measure, since you are they expert already, why did you ask the question?
It has been my experience that you have to come up with your own formula for this. Not all deer are the same accross the country. Some have thick hair some don't just do a few and come up with your own way thats the best way. Ever heard of if you want something done write you have to do it yourself. This site is a great way to get good starting info. BUT there are alot of things I have found in taxidermy that you just have to do and divelope your ways of doing them. My two cents. Jack