My son decided to take a blade to a deer that is drying on the mounting stand. He cut the hair about midway down the neck on the top side. Here are some pics...
http://photos.yahoo.com/smittysfarm
I Have extra hide, can this be cut out and patched? The cape is a 6 3/4" x 16 early bow season and has no seam, just a cut between the burrs. I am just shaking right now I am so mad at the kid. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Smitty
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Hope you busted his butt.
You left out a ton of specifics that need to be told, tan? how Dry? Hide paste?
If you try to patch the cape you may not have a color match and that could be worse.
and don't let your son have access to a knife again. Since it is on the back and may not be seen easily the customer may take it, as is, if there is no charge.
It is a commercial tan and has been on the form 5 days. WASCO pre-mix hide paste (Carpet glue) was used in that area. Epo-Grip on the brisket and face. The scraps I have from the cape are a real close color match, just didn't know if I could cut out a football shaped area around the damagae as use it as a template to cut out a patch or if I would just make it worse. I wish it was a simple as to just give it to the customer. The guy is a close friend and this was his first P&Y whitetail. Just makes me sick!
"I'll take you out and make another one that looks just like ya."
Man, I'd be pissed, too. Thats' why 1) I never let my 5 y/o around the mounts, and 2) I never leave scalpels lying around or near the mounts. It could have just as easily been you dropping a scalpel while near the mount and you'd have have had the same damage.
If I were to try cutting and patching, I'd go for a half-football rather than the whole nine yards. Use the flat line there with the point going left and use a good epoxy to hold it down, hopign the trailing guard hairs on the flat side lay nicely to cover the edge. I'd think the big challenge is going to be finding guard hairs of the same length to avoid that telltale black line where they overlap. Good luck.
replace the cape at your expense. Be honest and let your friend know what happened and offer to give him this one at no charge or you'll replace the cape and he owes only the original balance. A cape that size won't cost you very much if he wants it replaced. Good luck. Alan
I took it off the stand and hung it on the wall. When hanging, it's barely noticeable unless you are behind it. He is going to accept it as is and hang towards a right corner of the house where the cut won't be seen. Thanks again for all the advice! Smitty
You might add a tree or a branch to cover the spot on the back. This is a link that will illustrate what I'm talking about. Scroll down to the shoulder mount. Good Luck! Jeff F. http://www.buckspromounttaxidermy.com/bucksgallery.html
Well dam thats a tough one but inform the cutomer and well just let him know that if the hair cant be matched or replased you could make a fighter out of this bad boy a little mars red some burnt umber a little flesh tone you can do one of two things make a fight wound which most guys like to brag about or just an old scar from bucks scrapping before, just another idea because really in the real deer world no one deer is perfect,us as taxidermists just like to put out that totally flawless mount but in cases like this a little of that two bucks fighting memorabilia might be the answer.