I have skinned the head of my first mount however I didnt have my instruction videos before I started. I didnt take any measurements but still have the head and neck. Is their a way I can still get the measurements with out the cape on the deer? Or can I measure just the cape some how? Right now the cape is in a freezer (waiting until I finish my videos to go any further) and the head and neck stink like crazy but I didnt want to toss it knowing I didnt get any measurements.
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You should measure the meat for your neck measurements. You can measure over the hair, but you will generally have to go a size smaller than what you measure. When you measure the meat, you can order a mannikin that exact size. You can measure eye to nose before caping. I would measure the cape on this one. Otherwise, you'll have to factor in the thickness of the nosepad if you measure the skull.
I have only done two deer,but if this helps click on the orange button to the left and punch in CAPE MEASUREMENTS you will find your anwser for sure.Im think you can lay the cape out flat and measure 3 inches down from the ears and from the tip of the nose to the eye socket.One thing I can tell you is to order the form a inch or two smaller on your first one or it will turn into a hardtime putting the cape around the form.The capes shrink alot if you scrap or what they call thinning them.If it wasnt for the people on this site and that orange search button,I would never finished the two i did.
Thanks for the info. I will get that measured and will be glad to get that smell gone this week. Any tips on cutting the antlers loose from the skull that I might not get from my videos I got from WASCO?
I have said it a hundred times before, just measure the cape after it is tanned, rehydrated and stretched. Since the tanned, hydrated cape is the finished product, you know it will fit whatever form you buy with the same measurements.
Cutting the skull out... Cut straight down half way between the eye socket and the antler base, then cut straight from the back of the skull past where it forms a corner, and aim for the eye sockets. This will give you enough skull then you trim it to fit the form and your cape. Go and buy "Whitetail Mounting Basics" from McKenzie, it will teach you a lot about mounting and fitting the skull to the cape.