I just recently got my Saskatchewan white-tail deer back from my taxidermist. I made a mistake and asked him to have the hair brushed up for the finished mount. I don't like the look, and I would like to have the hair laid down smooth. I talked to him about it, but he really doesn't know how to do this after the cape has dried and the follicles are set. I tried combing the hair down, but there are several cow-licks on the mount. Is there some kind of solution that I can safely spray on the mount that will cause the mount to have a slicked down natural appearance after I brush it out. Or does anyone know if there is anything that can be done? This deer is an exceptional deer, and I am afraid that I will be unhappy with this mount for the rest of my life. Please help!
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You got it the way you wanted it. I guess you could pay to have it remounted or take it back to the guy and see if he could rehydrate it slightly to regroom it. Of course, you shouldn't ask him to do it for free.
If you want to re-groom the mount from the neck down, here is what I would do. This is assuming it is a tanned cape. I would fill a large CLEAN garbage can with water and suspend the deer in there from the neck down. Leave it over night and then pull it out. This should re-hydrate the cape. Then you can comb it down the way you want and let it dry.
Hey Mickey not too much to worry about i dont think im not too sure what you mean by brushed up im thinking for the full look you usually cross comb the mount to give it the full look.But anyway yes get the mount wet i wouldnt say soak it a spray bottle will work fine then from the back of the mount stretch a ladies stocking over the mount and pin one end around the base of the head then comb the deer down and stretch the stocking down to the back panel of the deer and pin it there.Make sur not to let the stocking pull back toward the head while pinning this will just make the hair stand up again.I do this with all my finished mounts and let them stand for the full two week period while drying but in this case you may need to leave it longer,just an idea.
Hey Mickey who was your taxidermist if you dont mind me asking?
My taxidermist is Pettit's Taxidermy in Calhoun, Georgia. He has been my taxidermist for years and does great work. We talked about this particular situation with my deer. We discussed spraying the deer down with water from a spray bottle, but I never thought about using panty hose. He might do that already during the drying period. The main thing we were concerned about was introducing water to the mount again. We were concerned about the possibility of bacterial growth. The last thing I wanted to do was to ruin the cape. But it sounds like you guys don't feel it will hurt the cape to wet it with clean water again. Thanks for all your help! I will discuss your ideas with him.
there are different strengths available at Wal-mart it is a hair setting GEL . just put it on the hair that is bothering you, might have to put it on thick. Let it dry for a few weeks and then you can brush it out so the hair will be soft again. I used it on a deer that had some cowlicks about halfway down the side and back of the neck it worked good for me.
james SC
Just use any hair gel that you can buy at any local Wal-Mart etc. I use it all the time, works great.
Rob