i have a deer buck cape i'm trying to get on my mannikin but it doesn't seem to fit when the cape was measured it was 6 1/2 now it is 7 eye to nose is this common the cape is salted if you can help i thank you Mike
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Mike, If the cape is salted ONLY (?) you will never get it to fit. You must prepare the cape by tanning or, at the least, by shaving and use dry preservative. A salted cape will have no stretch at all and will be much smaller than when you first measured. The long nose may be from hanging the cape? Just guessing but the extra length in the face seems to be a minor problem. With a well prepared cape you can taxi the skin a bit and easily "absorb" 1/4" and 1/2" is doable or simpley add a bit to the snout. Best way is to cut the snout off about 3" back from the end of the nose and add some length and reattatch w/bondo. Or you can add a smaller amount to the nose itself (don't try to add the whole 1/2"here) and taxi the rest around OR you can re-order a new form but I like that idea the least if the nose is the only problem. Whatever- don't mount a cape that is salted only. Even if you get it mounted it will be nothiung but trouble as it will absorb dampness from the air and "weep" on rainy days not to mention it will look terrible. Good luck, Aaron H.
With good glue and taxiing of the skin it should fit fine. If you want you could cut the form right behind the lip line and add on your extra 1/2" and reattach. By the way, I always measure my capes after they get back from the tannery. No problems that way.Good luck.
Mike;
If you measured the deer prior to skinning it, and did everything right, whats the problem. who did the measuring. Either someone doesn't know how to measure the right measurments,or your on some kind of drugs. Because a tanned cape doesn't get larger, it shrink's some what. rehydrate the cape and remeasure it. If the measurements are right than order the right size mannikin. If your a beginner than put your questions on the beginners page. I have been mounting deers for 40 yrs.And always measure before skinning and salting down the cape. who ever is telling you they measure the cape after it's tanned is full of crap. one of the reasons you rehydrate a cape is so you can stretch the cape to almost the real size.And also give you some additional stretch.you have to quit listening to all these so called know it alls.It just like making a cabinet or something else out of wood. measure twice and cut once.Same thing goes with taxidermy!Either get some schooling or think what i've been trying to explaining to you.hide's don't expand after there tanned. they actually shrink.Put a leather belt in water and see what it does! It get smaller, not bigger.Try thinking before you ask these questions. I'm not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but think before you ask these qustions.Are you a Taxidermist or not
Hey, Mike, Who whizzed in your Wheaties?
someone whizzed in Mike's wheaties, but he is right with what he is saying. Mike you really need to take some classes in taxidermy or study it with a qualified taxidermist. Just the thought of someone trying to mount a salted cape makes me crinch. It's like building a house. Are you gonna put it on a sandfoundation or are you gonna build a good concrete slap for it? Same goes in taxidermy. If your cape isn't take care properly before mounting, then the whole mount is going to look terrible and won't last any time at all. Start of with a good solid foundation and get that cape tanned right. Then you'll see that it will fit your form a lot better. Good luck.
I measure ALL of my capes after they are received from the tannery Whether they are cape buffalo OR deers(?) Obviously they are rehydrated and stretched before measuring, any taxidermist knows that. As far as being full of crap. Yea I'm making it up. Well I guess that is Mr. No-names opinion. Oh and by the way a raw cape can be stretched way beyond the correct measurements. I guess I am a know it all since I know what the plural of deer is!
We build SLABS over here. A good steak will only result in a SLAP. Sorry momma.