After years of getting thing mounted by others I have enbarked on my own. This site has been a wealth of knowledage in finifhing this mount. What I want of you is some constrictive critisism. I shot this buck two years ago here in central texas post rut. He was pretty scared up his ears were split so I left them as so. In the album there are 4 pics of an 8 pointer hanging from a tree, that him. The otheres are other deer in my collection.
I already have another cape and an about to mount up the first deer I shot back in 1989 ( I was 11 yo). I'm hooked. Thanks again for this site its great help!
http://photobucket.com/albums/v394/im2hi4u/taxidermy/
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Nice job for a first mount. Ear butts are off, look at yours compared to the closest of the 3 deer,(ears forward) in the indoor picture. The top of the butts flow under the antler burr, you have quite a dip in your ear butts along the top edge. The musclature of the rest of the butt is off too.. I don't really care for the form you used, especially the shoulders, brisket, neck and head, other than that it's o.k. Hope you're having fun and keep up the good work.
You should try another hobby. Wassup wit those ametures trying stuff they donnu? Let me tell you in plane english. You dont have what it takes bro.
I have to agree with what was said prior, I don't like the form. What brand form did you use?
Second, you need to work on the ear shape, as well as the bases. Did you use earliners? There are tons of great earliners on the market for whitetails.
Third, tone down the color around the eyes a bit. You just want to touch up the natural coloration, not darken it up too much. Other than that, be happy, each mount will get better.
Go and buy "whitetail mounting basics" from McKenzie Supply. It is a great video for beginner and experienced.
Yes you have what it takes. You stated it was your first deer, Christ I've seen inferior work done by people actually trying to make a living at taxidermy. I look at some of my early mounts (birds only) and I cringe. You get better with every mount. I don't cringe when I look at your deer. Move forward and take criticism as a learning tool, and take blatant bashing with a grain of salt.
my first deer mount would have been that good!...you do need to work on the ears and ear butts ,,,and they do look like bondo ears,,,which isnt a bad thing,,,try earliners on your next mount,,,but over all i would have to say it is an excellent mount for your first endeaver,,and it shows a lot of potential,,,congradulations and good luck on your next peice,,,,,,jim
hey chad i jus have an idiot up here that hates hisself cause he isnt me. anyway, the mount that you shown is aight. just listen to the valuable comments that have been given to you and apply it to your mounts. good luck!
I'm listining.
1. the ears are bondo ears, I will be trying liners on my next mount.
2 I bought a gereric kit from Van Dykes, and I chose the form.....which wasn't a really good pick, I wanted a full sneak and that was the one that fit. Oh welll.... I'm learning. I have several other catalogs to choose from now ([a supply company], resaerch man. and makenzie) not to mention reference material.
The process of mounting the first taught me alot such as in form prep and things I need to do different then fleshing and tanning. I have 4 notebook pages of thing I'm doing different next time.
wrong with this mount? other than what was said above, it seems to me that you are on the right track.
buy the Breakthrough manuals and videos as well as some others.
join your states association if they have one and enter your mounts in competition.
you will learn a great deal by doing this. make sure you "not the mounts" have a thick skin and can take the criticism from others and the judges, deal with it and learn from it.
you are doing good work for a beginner and will only get better if you listen to what others will tell you, it seems to me that you have the talent, now you have to learn how to use it and develop it.
Good Luck