I have two problems. First, I ordered a doe form from Van Dykes and am trying to mount a Northern Missouri whitetail. Has anyone had problems with these mannikins? It fits it terribly! The eye to nose measurements are correct but when I pull it all together and line up the seam, the brisket area on the cape is a long way off the end of the mannikin. Why doesn't the form allow for the brisket to be shown? I bought a form with the neck measurement a bit smaller than what the cape measured (measured after wet tan, by the way), but I wouldn't think that would cause this problem.
Are there any better mannikins out there for does? It doesn't look anatomically correct or even possible to use neck skin all the way down on the shoulders and brisket.
Thanks for the help!
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It sounds as if you did not line your cape up properly. You should always put your face/head skin on, than turn your form over brisket facing up, and line up your brisket and pin it to the form...than turn your form back over and start your normal procedure as far as mounting goes. Remember, taxi the skin to the form...don't let the form control the mounting. Good luck
Van Dykes has terrible doe forms. I made the mistake of using them and will never again. use a McKenzie form they are good
to use Van Dykes Coues deer forms for does, fill in the skull cap and shave a tad off the neck so it's more slender like a doe and they look great. Their regular doe forms do not look too good.
I agree with Steve ......McKenzie.
I was starting to think they were terrible too but I didn't want to actually say that. I figured they had to have been developed from a real deer, so they can't be TOO far off. I think I will give a shot at a McKenzie form...should have done that in the first place like I thought I was going to do. The $18 Van Dykes form caught my eye before the $28 (or so) McKenzie form did. Plus McKenzie didn't offer the exact size I was looking for. That's OK, I'll get one and make it work.