I ask because a certain supply co. has a tape on the subject and i'm highly skeptical of the idea, but have someone with an old sheep mount that might need remounting, and at $1000+ for a replacement cape, the alternative might be tempting.
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Mind you it will not be perfect, but the average Joe will not know. You will have to dye the bib, Alter the nose, and ears. but they can be made to look real good. I have done a few.
Rich, if your customer didnt take the sheep, and he has a bowling alley for a trophy room, youve got a shot at it! Its not even close. To the laymen, maybe. But to a guy who wants to spend, or has spent, over 10 grand to shoot a sheep, its not going to fly. Hair patterns, hair texture, ears (no matter how small you try cutting them) the muzzle shape...its just not close. Youd be better off with a great big fallow deer cape, and find a grey/brown one. I wouldnt, but at least the nose pad, some of the hair, etc, would come closer. Whitetails are too recognizable. One last thing, no way can you replace a customers sheep that way. I know you didnt say you were, I just offered (warned) that.
The thing is, i don't have any customers, but the UPS guy asked me about a sheep that belongs to his dad that's really old and dusty, with a horn coming loose. The inquiry had me brainstorming about how i would approach such an inquiry if i were in business (which i hope to be someday), including researching some of the costs involved.
After all, upon inspection it sounds like this could be a simple job requiring just a few hours, or a total remount... and the diffrence between the two would run about $2500 or so? In this case it sounds like the owner's level of commitment isn't anything like what you referred to... after all, if it were no one would have contacted me about it.
Found a gray/brown bou cape and it worked out very well. Sure cheaper than a sheep cape.
The way my post posted, it looks like Im belittling Tenbears answer. Im sorry, I didnt mean it to seem that way, I didnt read his post. I dont like to post after someone and have my post "imply" that the previous guy was wrong. Again, my apologies on the timing. Yes, Rich, that might make a difference. Good luck on your project, and maybe these guys here can give you some tips as well. Ill bow out, as I just couldnt do it myself. I sure see your point money-wise, though!
I wouldn't consider it for an instant. If the owner isn't that commited to doing it right i would not do it at all. I agree with Yox on the point of it "maybe" being passable to the average joe, but i wouldn't bet on that. I feel putting your reputation on the line is way more important than making a few bucks off of one mount that may come back to bite your hinney! Just my opinion not the word of GOD! lol
No need to apologize. I agree with what you said. And I would never recommend trying to replace a ram cape with a deer cape. Sometimes I read less, or more into a post than is intended. And it is good to have someone covering the bases. I would hate to misunderstand someone's intention, and cause them to ruin a mount. I knew the poster was a beginner, and assumed he was intending to do it as an experiment, and to learn a little. I did a few of them when I was beginning, and also used a mid summer road kill doe, for an Impala.
R. Stanton never said what kind of sheep it was, and I hind was figuring it to be an old mouflon or something. That he was trying to make resemble a bighorn. I feel such things although the actual mount may have no real value. the experience can. cutting the nose pad, closing it up to the hairline. Altering ears, singing hair with a hot hair dryer. are in My opinion useful things to know how to do. They help beginners to learn, and duplicate anatomical features. wile at the same time allowing them to work on different things. But you are absolutely right to do such a thing to a rare and Valuable trophy such as a stone sheep, or desert bighorn would indeed be a travesty.