I recently received a deer head to mount and I've gotten through the skinning and tanning procedures just fine. When I first received the deer, I took the measurements on the outside of the cape. I order the form based on those measurements. I ordered the Whitetail Creation series from Van Dykes. I just happened to cut off the top of the skull including the top of the eye orbits and then cut the skull the way it was supposed to be cut for the mount. When I place the cutoff with the eye orbits on the form, I can tell immediately that the forms head looks much wider than the cutoff. The neck also looks like it's a little big but I did pull the tape rather tight on the neck when I measured. The corner of the eye to the tip of the nose is correct. I just happened to have an old form here from when I was going to attempt a mount some years ago and the horns just look more natural on that form, but the nose to the corner of the eye is way too short and the neck isn't nearly as big as it should be. Can anyone tell me what I should do. It almost seems like I should look for a form with a narrow skull width but the same or a little smaller dimension on the neck. This buck was definetly in rut.
Thanks for any help on this one,
h
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Those that take the hiar measurement will always be wrong unles they take a minumin of one inch to an inch and a half and there are times it will be two inches depending on the thickness of the hair. I don't know where you got that info from but it's wrong to take a measurement from the hair side of any mount.
To do it correctly and there are many ways here. The one I like the best and it will never ever fail and that is I measure the meat on the neck of the deer. With these measurements the form will always fit. The only problem I hear from this is it may be a tight fit and the reason being is the tanned cape has not be shaved properlly and to be thinner. I know on my capes (which I do the whole process) they can co on a form one to two inch bigger at times. That's the stretch I get from them but I keep them at the right measurement for I hate to fight with capes that are to tight on a form.
The other best method is to have the cape tanned and take your measurements from there. If you look in any taxidermy catalog you will find these two ways on how to measure your cape for a proper fit. These two methods are the safest and best way to get the proper measurements for any mount that your trying to do.
The way it sounds right now is that you have a deer form way to big to use on the cape you have. I would remeasure the whole cape again and then order the form that would fit it. Now I never worry about the nose to eye measurements. I keep that on the side for when I get the form in. The most important thing here is your neck measurements. When you get it and you find that the nose to eye is off a quarter inch either way, that won't and shouldn't worry about it. The skin will stretch that far and you can compress it that much and it will look great. If your over a half an inch either way you alter the form then. If it's short you make the cut behind the lip line. Don't make the lips smaller. If you have to make it bigger check and see if the deer has a long lip line which most will do and make a cut behind the nose and extend it there. If he has a small lip line then make the cut past the lip line. I use regular expandable foam for my repairs, reshape it and your ready to mount. I will also say that I place a wire or two into the mount so that I can align them pieces better and I keep the wires in it when I'm done. It just gives some added strenght.
Also check other companies beside Van Dykes but now I believe they have Jody Green in there and his form are good. Make sure the forms your getting are sculpted from top guys, Rick Carter(WASCO), Mark Fraiser Research form) McKenzies, Joe Coombs. This is just a few and I missed more great other guys out there but take a good look at these forms and you may find a better fit.
Thanks for your advice Frank. I'll make sure to take the measurement after I've skinned the deer next time.
I guess one last question. If the cape was wet tanned and also has a 'Y' incision, how can I get the measurement? I assume that I'm going to have to rehydrate the cape just like I'm getting ready to finish it but then I need to stop and wait for the form.
When you have a wet tan there is no need to rehydrate the cape. This is the purpose of having a wet tan done. When it comes to you it'll be ready to mount at that time or freeze it till your ready.
Now to get the measurement of a Y cut I just use a wooden ruler and measure just below the ear and place the ruler into the cape till I hit the neck area. You will get only half the neck size. Let say you place it in there ( now don't go and push the ruler as hard as you can and stretch the heck out of it LOL) and you get 7 1/2" on the ruler. Your neck size would then be a 15" neck and if you came down 3 more inches you would get the other measurement if you need both. I just take the one for generally and depending on the time of year it was shot would determine if I'm going with a regular form or one of a full rut. Hope this helps out.
this will be my first shoulder mount to try. i have a cape that i skinned out last night(11-20-03). i have not yet split the lip or eyes. i salted down last night thinking that i ws going to be able to start the tanning process today. something has come up and i will have to put it off for a few days. can i just freeze with the salt on it or do i need to wash and let dri then frezze.