The last 3 deer I mounted look very hard, not soft. I changed forms, that I don't like, but my eyes are pulling bad & everything looks hard. I think I'm splitting everything right but who knows. I have the WASCO deer video. I am using krowtann. Maybe I need to get some one on one help. I'm very discouraged.
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If your not sure your splitting everything right, are you sure your thinning and prepping around your eyes properly? I mean you really need to do a good prep job around the eye area at least the size of a baseball. Really, you need to get the whole cape thinned well. are you tucking the eye skin? Are you getting plenty of good hide paste around your eye area? Are you getting the right size forms? There are a myriad of issues that could be the source of your discouragement. Certainly hands on experience with a seasoned pro. for a day or two or three would be very beneficial.
Randy, are you taxi-ing the skin toward the eyes enough? In my opinion one thing most mounts with the 'hard' look have in common is there is too much skin showing around the eyes. I try to bring as much hide as I can toward the eye - when wet sometimes it almost seems I have brough too much but as it dries I keep working it until it is right. Compare you eye's to reference, do you have the same amount of skin showing?
If you want to see 'soft' eyes take a look at Bill Yox's deer - if I were you I would definately consider Bill if you are looking for one - one training for this issue.
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In addition to the comments prior, when the mount is starting to dry, usually by the second day, brush the hair forward around the face, especially around the eyes and muzzle. Then very gently brush the correct pattern and flow. This will help soften the look.