Have any of you other taxidermists out there ever done a doe or a button buck mount with a complete tube skinned cape and absolutely no relief cut in the back of the head at all. I have done both a doe and a button buck this way, and although it was a little more work getting the cape off of the head this way, it sure was sweet when it came time to put the cape back on the form with no sewing at all involved! For the button buck, I skinned the head not only from the neck forward, but also from the lips and nose back. I broke off the buttons or nubs from the skull with a chisel, and then separated the skin from the bony nub all the way to the tip, but still left the bony nub in place (attached to the skin) and taned the hide all around the bony nub, and then filled the space all around the bony nub with Epo-Grip hide paste before I sliped the cape back on the form. Don't say it can't be done because I have now mounted 2 does and 1 button buck without having to do even a short Y incision or any sewing at all. The button buck was mounted on a Research not quite 90 upright button buck form and looks awesome!
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I've used that method for years now. Don't know who've you've been listening to.
I do all my doe capes seamless. I love it when people try and find the seams and can't. :')
George I was looking over some mounts at a local sports show and started talking taxidermy with two guys that were there and they insisted there was no way I could have mounted a deer without doing a short Y incision or at least a relief cut. I did not have my mounts on display so I could not have them check for themself, but they kept telling me there is no way I could get the head out on a doe because the skull is bigger than where the neck meets the back of the head. Anyway I just gave up trying to convince them that it can be done and I think they left uttering under their breath that I was a lieing fool. Thats why I wanted to see if it was so unusual the way I mount doe heads and now button bucks too.
I had the same experience at the FNAWS booth at Harrisburg last month. Two guys there were talking to my hunting buddy about his sheep trophies and we were looking at their "Grand Slam". I remarked that the Desert Bighorn seemed to have been poorly mounted as it looked too "full" and more like a Bighorn than a Desert. Then one of the guys remarked that HE was a taxidermist and was in the process of remounting all these animals. I then asked if he was going to make his own Desert Bighorn or modify a Dall Sheep form and wondered what he was going to do with making the eyes bulge in the typical Desert appearance. The blank stare told me more that I really wanted to know, but when he told me he was just going to buy a Desert Bighorn mannikin, I just acknowledged his answer and walked away.
"People who think they know everything are particularly annoying to those of us who actually do." LMAO
You are so right, sometimes you just have to chuckel and walk away. :)
You are so right, sometimes you just have to chuckel and walk away. :)
I have also done bucks that have shed their antlers in the manner you described. Then used tube, and peg to install the antlers after mounting. Makes for a nice mount.