Ok picture this. You know how there are more than one form you can use to fit the same fish? Such as if you want a larger belly you get a shorter form with a larger girth. Well here is my dilemma. I have a customer who's son never hunted in his life until this year. He killed a doe opening day and then a 10 point buck 2 days later. The problem is it looks like the cape is a few inches short. I compared it to a form that would be similar in size to the cape. His deer is 7 1/2 x 18 1/2 x (22 swell). Know my question is would you, or could you go down a neck size in order to gain a little length? Or would you just alter the form (shorten it from the back)? I am just curious what you more experienced deer guys and gals would do. I want to try and make this work since it was his first buck. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Todd B
Return to Gamehead Taxidermy Category Menu
Your not gonna gain any extra length by going smaller on the neck. Either do a neck mount (not reccomended) or shorten the form some or just get him a new cape. Hope this helps....Mark
Todd, you are right, but in addition I would take out some of the length of the form.
You can also take the leg pits off the form, I use a belt sander and give the back an long oval shape.
Pin the brisket first and then just pull enough to cover the shoulders.
You need to pin it around the edge of the form also. Epo-Grip around the edges and pin, this needs to be your best job and very very neat.
IF YOU PULL IT OVER THE BACK, its still to short.
That should make it work for up to four inches short.
Todd B, Using a neck 1 size smaller manikin can solve a too short cape problem providing the shortness is not too great. Forms that are different neck sizes are different lengths too- small neck sizes are shorter than large neck sizes. Now, before someone jumps me on this, what I'm saying is not true every time. Some forms will not change in length when going from say a 17" neck to an 18" neck but some do so you can gain a little with getting a looser fit and you might get a bit due to the form being a little shorter as well. It is a standard practice in my shop on borderline capes to order a form one inch smaller in the neck. Those capes cut just a little short in the shoulder or briskit often fit well this way. Enjoy, Aaron H.
Maybe I was being a little hasty but I meant that by going to a 1 or 2 inch smaller neck your not gonna make miracles happen if your cape is cut that short. Good luck
I figured it would work. just doing the math in my head I thought it would be similar to a fish. I only need a little bit to get me by and the ideas mentioned should do it. Thanks alot it is greatly appreciated. I just wanted to try and make it work since it was his first.
Todd B
Get a back skin thats close to the color of your cape. Sew a piece all the way around to lengthen that cape. This is the easy way to fix it and if it don't quite look the way you think it should put some artificial snow on the back they will love it. Jack F