i have done several mule deer mounts and the ears always look fuzzy on the edges when dry. what am i doing wrong?
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Card them with wire mesh or poker cards or something rigid. I use cards and small clothespins or you can use paper clips. Card em' for a day or two after mounting then remove and groom.
Ragged ear edges and missaligned ears are the most common mistakes that I see on mounted deer. Here's what I do: First I run a length of heavy wire (the thickness of a heavy coat hanger) down through the ear and into the form. I wrap the other end around an antler to secure it. It is my opinion that both ear positions should match, so this allows me to possition them evenly for drying. I then apply carding material to the fron and back edge of the ears. I use non-coragated cardboard for this and cut it to size. Then I use office supply, metal clips to clamp the ear to the wire. I use wooden cloths pins to pinch the cardboard together with the ear edges between. Before doing this though, I comb the ear hairs and apply the carding carfully to keep the hair looking neat yet natural. The ears will then dry in good shape.
just a tip, I use those useless thin heavy paper tearouts in your magazines. Just make sure your ear is fully turned and all the cartilage is removed.
The same material a lot of guys and gals use for fish fins works for me. I cut a few that match the contour of the lower ear and part of the upper ear, about 3/4 of an inch wide and after slight grooming use 5 large paper clips on each ear to hold them in place for a few days. These edges dry quite fast and the mesh allows air to reach the area.
Actually, if you subscribe to Taxidermy Today the most recent issue shows this procedure and also a great way to set ears.
I mount alot of mulies and have noticed that some have straight hair and crisp ear edges like whitetails while others (60-70% of the mulies I take in)have curly hair that makes the entire ear look thick and fluffy (before and after mounting).