I am planning on doing my first lifesize deer soon. It is my own deer, a button buck bowkill from last year. I am not sure how close to the original measurements I should stick to. I am good at selecting forms for small game but having never done something this large, I am thinking it would be a good idea to go a bit smaller.
I have two forms I can choose from. The first measures 5 x 31 1/4 x 46 1/2. I do not remember the exact measurements of my buck, but I do know his eye to nose was 5. I'm pretty sure his measurements were close to this, probably a little smaller. This form costs $200
The second form available is 4 3/4 x 27 x 41. Approx. 4" smaller in girth and 5" smaller in length. This form costs only $100! It is on Ebay and appears to have very good detail.
If it was you, what would you do? How much difference will 5" make in a lifesize deer - a lot or a little? If there is not much difference, I would rather get the cheaper form.
Opinions please!
Amy Ritchie
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
Amy,
You are the Taxidermist (and a damn good one at that) but you need to find out what kind of form altering you are good at. Myself I have never done a l/s deer but I have altered enough forms to know I am better at making them shorter or longer than I am at making them bigger around or taking away girth. The E-Bay form sounds great, but you may end up making the body longer, the legs longer, and adding girth any way! One Hundred bucks is a big savings though. You can do a lot of form altering for $100.00. Is 5 inches too much? IMHO yes it is. I have done coyotes and raccoon that I needed 2 inches of shrinkage and ended up sweating bullets while the mount dries, but it did shrink. Big difference between two and five inches! IMHO I would go with the higher priced form. That is just my opinion though. Hope this info helps! Maybe George R. or Bill Y. can give more insight! By the way congrats to you and Robbie! May the LORD bless you with a long and happy life together! Joe Osborn
Amy, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but why didn't you take any measurements of the carcass? That's basic taxidermy 101. If all you have is the n-e, the rest will be nothing more than a guess to make either of those forms work. But I agree with Joe, I would go with the larger one. Easier to cut it down some than to make it bigger.
Bruce
Measure your hide(hydrated)before you pick your form.The lifesize skins of hoofed animals are notorious for stretching long,especially in the neck.For this reason I don't take the length measurement too literally.I expect it to measure longer than the form I select,even after stretching the hide widthwise.I do pay a lot of attention to the girth of the skin though.You can usually get a little more accurate measurement if you fold the skin at the back line so you are looking at one side,like a profile view.Measure top of back to belly and double that measurement.You already know the nose to eye,add this girth measurement and that should help you decide which form to buy.If you buy from a reputable company, the length should be fairly proportionate to the girth.That doesn't mean you might not have to do some minor size alterations to the form,that's just part of the game.I just try to get the closest one possible and the one alteration I try to avoid is having to lengthen or shorten the thin legs with rods in.Good luck.
Get a form with NO rods and be ready to alter to the skins test fit. That is the only Correct way. In my opinion.
i think the higher price form is the way to go
and make sure you have all the alterations done and a good test fit
before placing any hide paste
give yourself a full day to do the mount its a long process
if you dont finish it by nightfall wrap the whole mount in plastic
it will slow down the drying
and congradulations to you and Robbie
p.s. if i can offer some advice
iv been married 22 years and all of them were precious to me and my wife
keep God first,family second,and taxidermy third
there were times my wife told me i need more of your time
it took a few years but i learned to drop everything and listen
i grow more in love wih her every year
i hope you dont take offense from a old guy
all the best wishes from me and my family