i have only done a few deer heads and am wanting to redo a nice 10 pt, problem is i am not sure what would be the best way to get the antlers to fit the new cape. whats the best way to get things lined up proper? i know there are some videos out there on how to mount deer on repo. antlers, i would think that you would be in the same boat, [hide and antlers are from differnt deer] if you get repo. antlers how do you know where to set them on a form front to back and angles and so on so the antlers would be set correctly. maybe some one can help me out here?
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Prefit cape to form and antlers. Make things match up especially by altering or ajusting antler plate.
Why are you remounting?if you dont mind me asking.
I always measure from the antler tips to the tip of the nose on all my fresh deer head mounts. I have noticed over time that the measurement from the anlter base to the center of the eye always measures 2 1/2 inches. I have done a few remounts and have used that measurement to set the antlers on the form. It works and I have had no troubles geting things to fit right. If you have a mount measure from the base of the antlers to the center of the eye ball and see for yourself.
What a name you're parents stuck with, to set the antlers from front to back, as Gordon says, test fit it before gluing, put the cape over the form, pin the eyes of the cape over the eye holes of the form to where you will think you will want them. Place the antlers on top and find where they match the burr holes in the cape. If the antlers are back to far, cut a sliver off of the skull plate until it fits. In the other direction, you may have to shim the front to move the antlers back to fit. Then center the rack from left to right by standing in front of the form looking at it.
For the angle, the brow tines should be tipped back at a 1:00 to 1:30 position, or the bottom of the beams should like up with the slant of the face. Bondo and then screw the skull cap down.
On all that I cape off of the skull, I take a picture of the side and front view of the skull after I cape it out, and store it on the computer. The side view is for the slant or tilt of the rack, and I also measure from the tips of the beams to the nose and record.
The way i was taught was to take a small gauge wire and starting from the back corner of the eye on the cape measure to the base of the burr on the cape and bend the wire.Make one for each eye and mark them right and left. Set the antlers on your form and use these wires as your guage going from base of burr to corner of eye on mannikan.I always shorten this measurement slightly to give myself more room for adjustment if needed.If your burrs on antlers are larger than what they were on cape you can trim to fit.As far as properly aligning the antlers do what you think looks best. See how the burrs angle off the skull and use that as a starting point. Without having the entire head before skinning you cannot get the tip of antler to tip of nose measurement so do what you think looks best and get opinions from maybe some friends. Just remember to always test fit.
the reason is that it is the first one i ever did and i can do better
You want to redo your 1st deer mount and not sure just what angle to set antlers- how far back etc. I'm thinking you have a mount in front of you that worked- not great but it's together. Are the antlers properly set on the original mount? Angle ok? If so just set them up the same way on the new mount. If they are wrong what should be done differently? Figure this out and mount your deer. When you mount a deer for display or practice and don't know the actual measurements go to your reference photos and study the angles and relationship of the beams and bases to eyes and ears. Notice the angle of the back tines and brow tines. Good reference photos and plenty of them will show acceptable range of position. You can get hung up on measuring the beam tip to nose pad or eye to antler base and still get it wrong. Use these type measurements as a guide but the skull plate must be positioned properly even if it causes one or more of these measurements to go wrong- it's possible to get antler tip to nose correct and cause the plate to be set too far back. Be certain that you cut the skull plate as recomended for the manikin you choose and you will have it very close to right. Enjoy, Aaron H.
I allways measure the nose to the tip of each antler. The vast majority typical deer I mount will be around 15" on that measurement.
Keep your first mount it"s interesting , to see how you have improved over time