i recently went on an axis deer hunt on the island of lanai with some friends, we got 5 bucks an 2 does and i was lucky to harvest a nice buck. i got to study a bunch of deer and noticed that the axis deer on lanai had a roman nose. i usually mount my axis deer on mannikins from Van Dykes, and carry one in my shop but it didnt have that roman nose on it. I also got to see an axis deer mount by my buddy Mike B. on an Mule deer form and it looked great, it had that roman nose. I know alot of you dont substitute mannikins, i guess the same type of deer have a different look, in different states. im going to mount my buck on mule deer form, hope it turns out great like Mike's. Chris..
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just add a roman nose on a axis mannikins.
you can use clay, I think is the best option
How many inches in the beams was your buck? As far as axis mannikins, seems all the currently made mannikins must have been modeled after Texas game ranch stock or something because the genetics are way different. All the available mannikins on the market have much shorter E to N measurement and the faces are much too narrow... and yes, they don't sport the roman nose. Lanai trophy bucks usually have about a 7 inch E to N measurment, even with only 16 inch "C" neck measurements and the faces are thicker. Build you the gland infront of the eyes and you'll be fine. I stubbornly bought yet another Axis mannikin (a new one from McKenzie) and was AGAIN disappointed. Narrow short face and this one even had a disproportionately huge chest where it didn't look real. Mule deer mannikins give far more choices and a better fit, atleast for Lanai deer. Don't expect the Mainalnders to agree for they know not the unique beauty of the Lanai axis deer. I have 2 more Lanai deer to do and yes, I have mule deer mannikins for them. McKenzie or Research have some good ones. Chris, give me an e-mail address and I'll send you pics of the latest one I did on an axis mannikin.
the axis wasnt real big somewhere in the low low 20's but i needed a cape for the set of antlers i alredy have at 28" the neck was 16" and e-n was 6 1/2". It wasnt even close to the size my buddy Mike B. shoots. Chris..
Well, I know your buddy Mike, and yes he is quite the killer. Check your e-mail for more pics tomorrow (Thursday). Aloha.