I've been doing Taxidermy for about 5 years now! I've worked mainly on small mammals and birds. I just recieved a muskox for a shoulder mount and I haven't done a shoulder mount on any large game before. I am looking for a full run through on the entire process from start to finish, including recommended materials (epoxys, chemicals etc..) and where I might pick up a good form, eyes etc. I know that this is a big order but I'm sure someone out there is familar with mounting muskox and could share some of there expertise with a beginner. Thanks in advance. mk
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If you dont have a clue as how to do this , then why did you take it in ? Have you ever mounted any deer heads ? Rick
...trophy of a lifetime....I sure hope that you informed the customer as well that this is a MAJOR practice run for you...good luck...?...start ordering videos, magazines, reference photos and paints...the tanning and hide prep will be the same as any ungulate...I imagine you will have to do some extra manninkin scultping also as there aren't that many forms available for muskox...be sure to purchase some sort of anatomy book to get you muscles sculpted properly...you sure you want to take this on?...is your customer?
Actually Rick, I harvested the Muskox myself about 45 minutes from my house. I live in a remote community in the Northwest Territories where I try and do alot of my own Taxidermy work. I never posted on this site to get crap on, I would just like a little guidance. I have mounted caribou, sheep and moose shoulder mounts but haven't dealt with Muskox. I don't have a business, so I obviously would not take on such a trophey if I did not have the experience! If anyone has something positive to offer please post. Thanks mk
.......I took your posting the same way the others did. "Here is some wannabee fixin to ruin someones once in a lifetime trophy!" If you had explained your situation in the beginning you would have gotten a positive response. In over 40 years in this business I have seen "taxidermists" with little more than two squirrels under their belt, hang out their TAXIDERMIST shingle. And I have seen a lot of nice trophies destroyed by otherwise competent taxidermists, who failed to do any research on the unusual animal that they were asked to mount.
The key for you is REFERENCE, you can't have enough and in your case you may be able to get your own.
My experience with muskox is limited, but I did not tackle the tanning myself. The hide is thick and I don't have the proper shaving equipment.
Forms are limited, both size and options. Don't exclude lifesize forms in your search for a headform. Most suppliers will pour you a headform from their lifesize form molds, if you just ask. And the limited sizes mean that you may have to "alter to fit". This is not extremely difficult, but the first time, without some minimal altering experience, could be overwhelming. Not to mention the expense if you totally ruin an expensive form.
send the hide out to a tannery, and between now and the end of the year(when you get the hide back) study, study, study. do some deer, buy a tanned buffalo cape to mount, anything to learn. get pictures, videos on large game. it wont be cheap, but you need to learn before you piss more people off, like customers.