I was wondering about the ear cartilage. When takin it off do I have to take it off the ear butts alsoi or can I just leave it on? I was working on a doe tonight that is my dads (for practice) I decides to take it off the butts too, but it was alot harder to get off and the one I ripped a pretty big hole in it. SO I just wondering if it needed to be done? Thanks, Kevin
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it doesn't. Just leave the cartilage on the ear base unless you are using earliners with the base molded in then you can just cut it off altogether. Some cut it off anyways and model it back in or in the case of longer haired deer just let the hair cover up the inner ear.
Just what you are referring to. I always referred to the buts of the ears, as the bases where the but against the head. If you are using the cartiliner, or maybe the bondo method. Then the cartilage is left in the ear. only the back skin is detached from the cartilage. I have never done it this way. even when I used bondo I totally removed the cartilage. And replaces it with fiber reinforced bondo. Now I use ear liners with the buts built in. I totally remove the cartilage and bond with Key Ear epoxy. A good trick to easy removal of the cartilage is to separate the skin from the back. Then soak the ears for 15 minuets in water. the cartilage comes out smoothly.
This seems to be a question that isn't finished being asked. Obviously it would seem that you're using earliners. If so, peel the whole ear out. Once you've split the ear, take you scalpel and scribe lightly straigt across the cartilage about half way between the tip and the butt. Then fold it. The cartilage should snap open. Remove the tip end and then begin removing the butt end. When you get down near the butt, CAREFULLY snip the cartilage tendons on each side. Grasp the cartilage in one hand and the ear in the other and pull. The cartilage will peel right off like a sock. If you're using earliners with butts, this will allow the skin to fit perfectly over the butts. If you're not, then when you install the liners, you can open the ear canal and glue it to the liner. This will allow you access to add or subtract clay in the butt if need be and will allow you to rebuild the inner ear detail more readily. OR, as said above, on winter/long haired deer, you can brush it so it won't be seen anyway on non-competition/commercial mounts.
It would seem he is refering to the very end wher the inner ear detail is. You can leave it in or take it out. I like it all the way out, but on thin haired animals, you end up having to do some finish work inside so you cant SEE the earliner down there. It IS a bear to get out sometimes.