Just completed my third deer and so far I have had shave the S@!t out of two of forms. The forms were as close as I could get them and one case the perfect size. Is this something you have to deal with every time or what am I doing wrong. Thanks
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Justin, no you shouldn't have to shave every form. Are you sure you're taking your measurements right?
Make sure you first neck measurement (if you take more than one) is taken directly behind the ears around the small of the throat right behind jaw bone.
If you're getting a #1 neck measurement any lower on the neck your form is gonna be, in most cases, way to big.
Also Justin, If all your measuring was done right, make sure to give your cape a good STRETCH after your tanning or rehydrating (from a dry tan) process.
Depending on the brand of form you use and what part of the country your deer are from, you may HAVE to take a couple neck measurements on down the neck or go to another brand name. Some forms are made for naturally heavier bodied or maybe an "in rut" deer. There's a big difference between some of the companies forms. Hope I'm making sense to ya.
Makes a difference many times who the forms are from. A certain company I know of, if I'm not careful to order the more recently sculpted ones, I'll have that problem. When I started in taxidermy, I ordered from them and had the same problem as you. Very frustrating! Also, deer vary a lot in size and shape in various parts of the country. Look for one that fits your deer. Check with other taxis in your area or your state association.
Measuring the carcass after skinning might help a lot, too.
...when you get them back from the tannery and when you lift them up by the nose, letting the body portion hang (stretches the cape longer and narrower). Try to order your next form 1/8 to 1/4 inch shy on the eye to nose and a 1/2 to 5/8 inch smaller on the neck measurement. Then when you stretch the hide width-wise prior to putting it on, you will have a little extra and it will go on much easier.
Justin, First be sure the cape is shaved thin enough, capes that are too thick are hard to stretch- and you must streatch the cape widthwise to get back it's original size. A common mistake is to pull the cape too far back on the mannikin. Try positioning the skin in the briskit area and then working some extra skin forward on top of the shoulders and up the neck. Where there is too much skin work it down some on each side of the shoulder area. Doing this takes a lot of strain off of the cape and gives the more soft and natural look as well as give you more skin to work with on the neck. Resist the urge to attemt placeing a cape on a mega monster buck if that's not what the buck was. Good luck and enjoy, Aaron H.
Ihave been looking in a lot of taxidermy catalogues for deer forms
and I believe they all suck or look like hell, who the hell came up
with the stubby front legs, I guess thats what they call them at
least they hang down,,I know some guts are grinding them off first.
In the past I could get really good forms from Jonas Bros. but they
are not the same now,I know other taxidermist that are unhappy with
the forms also!