Guys...I recently purchased a hide from a fellow taxidermist, however I am having the greatest deal of trouble..The cape is about 7 3/4 X 21...I got a form from McKenzie and the face matches up real nice, but the neck was for some reason way to big? I ordered another one at 7.5 X 20 and that was better but still way to big...I just ordered a 7 1/4 X 19 and damn if that sucker still wont go on. Its not really the actual neck giving me the trouble, but down towards the base of the neck and the back. At this point I have strectched as far as I can, and I am still 3-4 inches short of my two edges of the hide meeting. What am I doing wrong? I dont know what to blame it on...but this deer must have had a tiny frame? its a south dakota WT...any suggestions?
very stressed,
C.smith
Return to Deer Taxidermy Category Menu
If you've stretched that neck to the max, you need to measure the neck and stick with that. I seldom base my form on the E-N measurement. I like right behind the ears and when you get that right, any form with that measurement can and will fit. a face can be stretched or "packed" to some degree but that "C" measurement won't ever change. Could it be possible you were taken in the hide you bought?
I think it was cut to short...the brisket skin is even with the back skin when you lay it out. I may have to cut several inches off the back? I hate doing that kind of altering to a form, any suggestions.
Thanks,
C.Smith
On this one. That first neck measurement is the most important.
Also the skin will stretch along the length in the course of tanning and handling, your E to N is probably a little exaggerated.
One or the other line of forms will vary a bit in their measurement ratios relative to each other. Getting used to a particular line will help you know what to expect, or switch to another line and see if it helps.
The thirteen sub-species of whitetail vary quite a bit, one particular line can't possibly fit them all.
I get a handful of deer in during the gun season here in Ohio that are in the 140-150 class and are exausted from the rut. They might have an eye to nose of 7 3/4" and the small of the neck might be 18-19" I'm sorry, but you cannot go on just the small of the neck and order from there. Your eye to nose in most cases is going to be way to small to make it work. I do one of two things, a change out head or alter the muzzle length. The deer's head size usually doesn't change during this exausting period in their life, but they will drop a significant amount of body weight and neck size. You are going to have way to much skin to taxi in the muzzle, not to mention a sagging jawline. Just my 2 cents though. George, I love you and all, and you are full of good info and have helped me out tremendously, but could you elaborate on "packing"?
Your cape may actually be able to fit one of those forms, but when you are sewing it up, you've got the cape pulled down toward the shoulders where the higher (closer to the head) part of the capes neck is being forced to stretch over the lower part of the mannikins neck. As you sew, try using a hide taxying tool to pull/slide the cape back up towards the head and then continue sewing. Do this repeatedly and you might be suprised to see it works when it seems like no way on earth it will.You might get the impression the cape will be too bunched up like its too long for the manninkin, but not so. Once its all sewn up, you can taxi the skin back down and smooth out. Also those McKenzie forms do run wide at the shoulders, so that adds to your problem. BUT they dont run so wide that its this bad!
If the cape was 21 inches and I assumed tanned, it for sure will fit a 20 inch form. What I do is sew up the cape first if it has been split all the way, then slip it over just like a short Y cut.
that what the seller measured a hair on measurement? When I first got into this hobby/business, I had lots of problems. Now I have a cape stretcher and have no more problems. Also I spray the neck and shoulder area with water, sweat cape in bag overnight and mount the next day. Works for me! I also agree with Matt on the exausting period.
if its still too short after you have stretched it as far as possible, you might have to shave the form down. This is criticle to shave down all area around the neck, not just in one spot. But, 3-4 inches is quite a lot to shave down.
Also, flesh it more, causing the hide to be thinner. You will get much more stretch out of it. Be carefull not to go too thin, you dont want to damage the roots causing the hair to slip. You will be suprised how thin you can get that hide. This will give you the most possible stretch in the hide.
This is just another case in which many different measurements are required. Its better to have too many measurements, than too little.
joe