A few months ago, right at the end of deer season, I got a call from my uncle who used to be a taxidermist, he said this guy had brought him a deer to mount. He took the cape and antlers and finished skinning out the head and then froze it. I was real busy at the time so when he offered to do all the fleshing and splitting of the lips, eyes and nose, I told him to go right ahead. I figured him being a former taxiderm he should know what he was doing, his deer also strongly resemble goats but thats another story. I got the cape out to let it thaw so I could start the tanning procedure. I started to salt the thing down and I notice there is absolutely no eye skin left to tuck. I got to looking around elsewhere on the cape and the bottom lip is completely gone, the skin to tuck the nostrils is also completely gone. I knew my uncle was a poor taxidermist and an idiot but this is uncomprehendable. The deer is 22 pointer that grosses 170, if the smaller side matched the bigger side he would gross 210" B&C. It would be a shame to mount this deer with the cape that was on the deer. Is there anything I can do to repair this cape or should I just use another cape free of charge and also should I call the guy and tell him about the cape or should I keep my mouth shut.
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If the guy brought it to your uncle,and you say your uncle is Worlds Worst Taxidermist, then I'd think the guy was aware of the quality (or lack thereof) that your uncle produces. So... stands to reason that even with the results on that cape that has been handed to you, you should still be able to mount a deer much nicer than what your uncle ever could. I sure as heck would NEVER get another cape FOR FREE! IF I were to get another cape I'd then tell the guy uncle messed the cape up so he needs to pay for another one. Otherwise I'd use the cape I have. From what you described it sounds like the "defects" to the cape will make mounting it harder, but with a little finess you should be able to mount it up as nicely as any other. You'll just have to do more pinning. If you aren't comfortable setting eyes without something to tuck then you might look into Rineharts mannikins with the pre-installed eyes which by design was made to have the innder lid skin removed. Use a good glue, pin the mouth skin where the lips are and pin the nose skin at the edges in the nostrils and later do your epoxy work and it should be fine. Try not to worry so much about "such a nice buck" being mounted on less than perfect conditions. Its the hunters trophy and he saw fit to bring it to your uncle. If that's his standard then you will exceed it greatly right?
make the decision. If you had ruined the cape its another story.
If your uncle skrewed up you shouldn't take it out on the customer and make them pay for a replacement cape. I personally don't like tucking the eyelids. I do sometimes but It works just as good not to tuck them. The mouth on the other hand may be a little more difficult but just use alot of hide paste and pins and you should be ok. If you want to use a replacement cape go for it, I just couldn't justify charging the customer for it when he didn't skrew it up, it was a good cape when he dropped it off. Make your uncle pay for a new cape if that's the route you go.