What is the best way to ensure i get the correct ear position? I NEVER do, and i'm sure i must be messing up the location of the antlers....probably either too far forward or too far back. My ear butts are usually too far back on the head.
Has anyone found a sure way (ha ha) to get the correct placement of ear butts?
thanks
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a good reference picture is probally the best way.
I align the nostil opening and the center of the eye. The center of the ear should be aligned with that imaginary line so that the ear butts come right up behind the antler. BUT reference pictures are the only sure way of doing it. Once you establish your own guidelines, you won't have any problems.
If you have heard this once you have heard a hundred times,reference. Use pictures and reference cast to get proper placement and take some measurements such as tip of nose to antler tip before skinning. Truly the best help is a state comp.,not only will you get a critique from a judge, he or she will explain how to interpret reference material as well. good luck
Freeze a deer head and take it out for reference, throw it back in the freezer for the next time.
Christine, A very common mistake when starting out (and some who do it wrong forever) is to pull the skin too far down the neck while getting everything lined up. It then seems like you just can't get the ears to the correct place for lack of skin. The skin you need to allow proper fit is slid down the neck pulling those ears down too. All of the above responses say it well. Just remember that a deer skull is part of a good reference collection. The skull shows clearly where the ears are. You might benefit from trying a manikin with ear position molded in if you are having lots of trouble. Enjoy, Aaron H.
Once you've done all of the above, they sell an earliner with a locator ball... and a second pice that attaches to the mannikin. with it, you have the full range of motion but the earbutt remains seated where it belongs.
That sounds like a neat tool, where can you get one of those?
Thanks!
get an ear butt cast! most suppliers sell them, it will show the muscle structure and the correct placement of the ear butt in relation to the antler burr
when i so up the incision it pulls the ears back. so it that due incorrect antler position?
Before you skin your heads, take a measurement from antler burr to nose and right and left antler tip to nose, this will assure you that your antlers are where they should be. These measurements are included on my check in sheets and I consider them as important as the other head measurementts..