I'm in Maryland and do a few sika deer a year. Many of Maryland's sika's, particularly from Assateague Island and Blackwater refuge, are really small, and the sika forms available from most of the suppliers I use are for larger strains, probably Texas or somewhere. For example, I have a small buck that I'm working on right now that probably weighed in at about 65 lbs (smaller than my Lab!). I've used small fallow deer forms in the past, but sikas have a distinctive short face, so have to modify the form. Can anyone direct me to a supplier that might provide small sika headforms and perhaps jaw sets (the last jaw set I used required substantial modification also). Thanks for the help.
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Bill, Noonkester Taxidermy supply has the forms you are looking for.
I've done dozens and from your measurements, their Japanese sika forms should fit exceptionally well. In fact, their Formosan sika should also fit that hide.
Im in maryland also and mount quite a few sikas from blackwater and surrounding areas in dorchester county. I use McKenzie forms for most of my shoulder mounts and holt forms from Van Dykes for lifesize mounts. The jaw sets I get from WASCO. As popular as sikas are becoming Im surprised there arent more forms availible. The few forms that are out there are so basic. Something with an off-set shoulder would be great!
For anyone interested, I guess my little Sika buck (and some of the other's I've done in past years) is smaller than I thought, since the head and neck measurements (5 in. and 12) are smaller than the smallest McKenzie form (5 1/2, 14) and the McKenzie form is the smallest of all the Sikas in all the catalogues I've gone through. I'm back to using a FAS101 form from [a supply company], which is the right size (5,13), but I'll have to widen the snout. I don't have a Noonkester catalogue so will have to check that out. Fortunately, the other Sika I have fits the McKenzie form perfectly, so less work there.