Cape to Horn Ratio

Ok heres a question for those of you who have been doing taxidermy for a while...

IF someone brings you a set of horns (from a Deer, Antelope, elk, etc) without a cape, what do you use as guidelines for fitting a replacement cape? For example... Someone brings in an Pronghorn Antelope skull with these measurments Prongs 12" from top of skull to top of curve, Width at widest point 12", what size cape would fit this? I have never done taxidermy... just tanning but am planning on going to school next spring and want to practice on some of my own capes for mounting during class next year. I have been able to find horns but never matching horns and capes (locally anyway).

Thanks in advance.

Shelby
Promise Land Tannery

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Shelby

I just haven't had a problem getting a replacement antelope cape to fit.A cape from a mature animal usually will work.There are minor differences in circumferences of horns and base contours,but the skin is ususlly stretchy enough to compensate.The biggest problem with deer is a difference in pedicel circumferences,but this too is a minor problem if you are using large capes for large deer etc..A little trimming of the pedecil area on the cape is all it takes to make it work on a larger pedicel diameter.The problem increases when you go to larger diameter horns like bighorn sheep.You might have a cape off a sheep with 14" bases,but need to fit it to one with 16" bases.Now you are not dealing with just a 1/2" circumference difference.However,sheep are very stretchy and you would be surprised how much difference they will tolerate.Two inches might be a little bit of a pain,though.i won't say it can't be done.Generally,if you pick a cape from the appropriate body size animal,ie.mature replacment cape for horns-antlers from mature animal or immature for immature,you have very little problem adapting the two to each other.

There Is...

...No such thing! I've had whitetails with 22" necks(right at the head/neck junction) that had 130-140 class racks and I've had a 210 class buck that only had an 18" neck. You'll just have to use your judgement.

Thanks

Thanks everyone... I thought it might be like that but I haven't seen enough different deer...and been able to measure them to figure it out for sure. That definately makes it easier to track down capes for my horns and antlers.

Thanks

Shelby
Promise Land Tannery