Will be doing coyote rug with headshell/open mouth and am wondering whether you should trim some of the belly or do you leave it full-size? How dry should the tanned hide be before applying backing and felt? I will rehydrate the head for mounting but do I leave the rest of the skin dry? Any help very much appreciated.
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I did a coyote at school a few months ago. We stretched and stapled the body to a piece of plywood(after the head was mounted)skin side up. You will need to cut a U shape centered on the board and using a piece of scrap wood screw the head centered into the form and into the plywood. you will notice that the legs will not lay at a 90 degree angle. you must make V shaped relief cuts and sew them together. (Front legs only). it is ok to cut some of the belly so that it is balanced. I sprayed the hide down when stapling it to the plywood so it would stretch more easily. Rugs are a $#*Y% and I'd send it out once the head was done. I don't think I'll ever do one again! They are LABOR intensive! let the rest dry naturally...believe me it will because you will be sewing for days!