Well I completed my first shoulder mount this last weekend. I would first like to say that I have alot of respect of taxidermist after that. I found that defleshing and sewing was the hardest thing to do. Does anyone have any easier ideals for defleshing and sewing (broke about ten needles). Also I started my second one yesterday and the form is to large. Is there anyway to make this work. I have taken some picture if anyone would like to see them, see email.
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Get some good glovers needs, the kind with the chisled tips that cut well. If the form is too big you have two choices: cut and shape it down to size or order a new one.
There is no de in the word fleshing, a common beginners mistake. It is just called fleshing, and not defleshing. grin
Paul, I know when I did my first one a few years ago I wandered why anybody would want to do this on a regular basis, but now I have plans to open my own shop this fall. Just like everything else you do, it will get easier with experience. I only know one to flesh a deer and that's with "ELBOW GREASE". There are fleshing machines you can by, but I use a fleshing beam and a fleshing knife. I use a 6" tri-cornered needle for sewing deer, you need something you can get a good grip on. Good Luck!
Fleshing gets fairly easy with a beam and draw knife, and I prefer a good sharp scalpel to flesh and thin the face. Seems to me that shaving is where the problems arise. Since I don't own a round knife, I send them to the tannery. If you are breaking needles, the skin on your capes may be too thick near your "Y" incision.
Thanks for all the help.
I'm wanting to do my first deer mount of a deer that I killed last season but as I was skinning the deer I noticed a lot of hair was being pulled out as I skinned it....... It wasn't a real hot day...but warm and I got the deer in the freezer within 8 hrs of shooting it.
Will I be able to use this cape or is losing some hair a common thing? Thanks!
I wanted that to be a new posting......!