I have a customer that wants an antler mount with the deer's hair left on. I realize that the hair around the antlers must be removed and tanned. What procedure could I use next to make the mount look good? Glue the skin/hair back onto the skull plate? Any ideas would be appreciated.. Thanks in advance.. Gary
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but if you don't even know how to do an antlermount, why are you taking it in from a customer? Maybe you should learn how to do this business correctly before taking in customer work.
You I'm knew to these types of forums, and I hope to get alot of help from them, But it seems like alot of times people ask for help and someone gets right back at them with no advise, but telling them to search the archives for hours, or tear into them for trying something new. I know that you should not charge a person for work you dont know how to do, or even atempt it for that matter, maybe it was a frinend or family member. cause we all know they are usually are first customers. I guess, I just wish if you asking a question on the beginners portion of the forum it's because we know close to nothing about a proffession we want to go into. So if a beginner asks for help, please help or send us in the right direction. Dont be rude and say negative things. I dont just mean the above post but any and all. I dont know the answer to the question, because I'm a beginner, or I would give you any advise I could.
...be archived.
First skin the skull out with your normal "Y" cut (some people actually lift the skin and tan it on the skull, but I prefer removing it). Cut across the forehead taking the top eyebrows, over the ear butts and down around the knob on the back of the skull. Tan that piece of hide.
Now with the boney skull, saw it off close to the antlers leaving no more than a palm sized piece of skull. Once cleaned properly, set it on a piece of 3/8 inch plywood and trace the pattern. With your scrollsaw set at 45 degrees OUTWARD, cut out this piece of wood. Fill the brain cavity with a small dollop of Bondo and place the plywood under the skull bone. Once hardened, drill 2 small holes in the skull and sink 2 or 3 inch drywall screws through the skull into the plywood.
With a disk sander, bevel the plywood and bone to some sort of symmentry as well as grinding off any drywall screw protusions. Take superglue and glue the tanned hide under the pedicels, then sew up your "Y" cut. Mix a small amount of epoxy and paint it up under the hide so you cover the entire skull. Arrange your skull roach properly. You should have more than enough hide left over to tuck and staple down to the backside of your 3/8 inch plywood. Trim. Then mount the skull on a small plaque by running drywall screws through the plaque into that 3/8 inch backboard you made for the skull. I usually use several screws to lock the plate down on the plaque firmly so as not to expose any mussed hair patterns.
Thanks George for your help.. No thanks to Evelyn... I would put my taxidermy work up against hers any day..
I've mounted many sets of antlers but never with the hair left on. It's a shame there are people out there with her attitude. Sales must be down or something. Gary