Realtive beginner here.I am going to do a WT that has a mane.Starts about 6" down from the back of the head and runs about 16" or so down the center of the back ,is about and inch wide and maybe an 1 1/2" high ,fairly stiff hair.This deer has a fairly large neck (just got it no measurements yet).Planning on using a short Y and hoping I can get it thru, don't want to extend that cut all the way into the mane.Any other suggestions for caping? Also ,what pose would likely show it best? I'm looking at a full sneak but even with that I haven't seen a form that will likely show this portion off very well.
any suggestions would be apprecited.THanks
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With a little care and a lot of confidence, you can tube a cape down to the very last joint between the spine and the skull. I do it all the time, but you have to work "around" the neck. When you finally get it tubed down to the larynx, make a cut through the soft tissue at the center of the organ. Cut on through the esophagus and you'll come to the apex of the skull. Carefully take your scalpel and cut around the edges until the head pops free of the spine. Continue to cut down through the neck muscles and the tendons that attach it. This will leave you with NOTHING other than the skull and lower jaw. Now "Y" cut your ears to the base of the skull and then cut a 2 or 3 inch tail on your "Y". Once you peel the ears back and sever them along with freeing the pedicels, you won't have much sewing to do and you'll have saved all that mane.
the full sneak is the one that does come to mind.You could do like we do and cut your -V- between the horns but dont make the cut down the neck. Next ust a chisel the cut the skull cap off and then you only have a very short cut.
Kim
Have never tried the chisek thing.You just basically using a sharp chisel and using it to cut the skull plate up close to the pedicils?
Thanks again for the input.
Not worry so much about that mane as it will sew together better then you think IF you have to cut through it. The long hair will cover your stitchs. I would also put it on a full sneak maybe one with the head up. I would go with the short Y like George explained. I do on all my deer anyways.
Try a Joe Meder sneak form from McKenzie they have a heavily offset shoulder that will move the head out to the side of the mount and should show it off nicely.