after reading numerous posts (orange button) and looking at numerous reference pictures as well as working for a well known taxidermist. Why do people even bother with the lower lip, even for competition? If you look at ten different up close pictures of a deer 6 times out of ten the lower lip does not show. I recently spent 2 hours at a deer farm with binoculars and the only time I saw the lower lip was when they had something else going on and showed their lower lip. which wasn't too awful much. The last 20 deer I've mounted I tucked it completely and no one has asked where the lower lip was. I'm not posting this to get beat up ( and please save the rap on quality is why you do it ) What are your thoughts? Kim? Your feelings please. Thanks John
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The front bottom lip lies up under the nose so tightly that it's just not visible when you look at a deer, head on. STill, it does NOT tuck up into the upper gum line because there IS NO UPPER GUM line on a deer. That palate pad is used to tear greenery off and the front bottom lip keeps it inside the mouth. Next time you get close to a tame deer, lift it's muzzle or stoop down and look up under its muzzle. You'll see that lip. It has no place else to go. It just doesn't show up in photos.
people out of 100 will not know the difference. even though i leave the lower lip slightly visiable, i dont believe its nessary for commercial work. But on the other hand its just as easy to do it right!
tuck it up so it doesnt show, leave the sliver of the lower lip showing up under the nose. The rest of the lips tuck them hair to hair so it does not show.
Hmmmmm, all the deer I have seen done at competitions have about 1/8" of the lip showing under the nose and not to spane any further from the sides of the nose pad. Now I know commecial work ain't a competition but if it takes me the same amount of time to set it with as without I will always show it. Also certain times of the year winter/summer is it more preavalaint. I also use this as a selling point along with the top "O" the line eyes, earliners, tanning method(s), better forms, hide paste, closer stitching, knife edge ear lines ect ect ect...
That whole thing about a bottom lip not extending beyond the width of the nose pad is, of course, not accurate, but just a simple guideline. As the mouth and lip line become more relaxed, the lip would indded extend beyond the width of the nose pad. To hold it back would give it a pucker appearance, similar to a poor quality caribou mount. Simple rule of thumb, think it through. Like Geo said, the upper lip IS the nose pad, and the bottom lip can rest up to it, all the way to the other extreme of being slightly open. Just as simple as thinking, is to look at the reference and read it right. If the pic is taken from slightly above the deer, less lip will appear to show, of course, and vice versa.
I appreciate the response