First let me set the stage. I am not a taxidermist. I have been studying and lurking for the last several months trying to learn as much as I can. As soon as I return from this deployment I plan to attempt my first try at Taxidermy, a deer shoulder mount. In the mean time I have subscribed to Breakthrough Magazine, received a few catalogs, and ordered some Videos. I read this forum almost everyday and it has helped me to understand a lot. As a newcomer there are so many choices in some areas that it"s sometimes seems overwhelming. I got this idea to ask a few questions as a poll to try to see what is some of the most popular ways to tan and do a few other things. I know there is some STRONG opinions on what is the best method to tan, I have read a lot of the archives. I am NOT asking what you think is the BEST or what you think of someone else"s method, just what YOU prefer. If possible I would like to leave opinions out of this, and try to answer just the following questions. I don"t want this to turn into a debate of what method is the better - that dead horse wont run.
1. What tanning method (chemicals) do you prefer for deer cape (if you use a commercial tanner just state commercial)?
2. Do you recommend your preferred method to a newcomer, if not why?
3. How many deer mounts do you do a year (I know some may not want to state this and that"s fine, just skip it)?
4. How long have you been doing deer mounts?
5. If a customer brought you a deer to cape out, what are the steps that cape goes through until its ready to mount?
Thanks in advance for your answers, and if this goes well expect some more Poll questions in the future.
AH
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#1. I use and prefer home tanning "Liqua Tan or McKenzie Tan"
#2. Yes, its a good learning expeirience.
#3. 16-20
#4. 3yrs
#5. This is my routine.
a) Take correct measurements eye to nose
b) Cape out
c) take neck measurements
d) rough flesh
e) split eyes,nose,lips,and turn ears
f) salt for 24hrs
g) resalt for another 24hrs or until hard
h) rehydrate
i) pickle 3 days@ PH-1.5
j) shave
k) repickle 24hrs
l) finish or detail shave
m) neutralize
n) Tan
o) Bag and freeze till ready to use or mount the next day.
p) Tumble
Rick,
that is the exact type of answer I was looking for!
AH
......Doing your first deer head I would recommend DP. The truth is, no matter what your friends and family tell you, your first few heads will most likely be crap. You are just learning and they are practice. In fact I wold recommend that you don't even use a hide paste, it will be easier to tear apart and redo when you have gained a bit of experience. Now to answer your poll.
1. Commercial
2. DP to learn the basics and then Commercial.
3. 40+
4. 40+ years.
Wild Expressions Taxidermy 1st year in business part time.
#1 Started using liqua tan then went with the auto tanner haven't and probably won't go to anything else.
#2 Auto tanner is the way to go for a beginner its almost fool proof, but liqua tan and pickling is a good way to learn also.
#Note you have to learn to shave. It is a must if you tan in house.
#3 20+ this year
#4 2yrs.
#5 Deer head comes in.
A. Take measurements
B. Cape the head out.
C. Either I prep it right away for the auto tanner or I freeze to be done at a later date.
D. Tanning method auto tanner, flesh and turn lips,eyes,ears and place in the auto tanner with solution for two hours, remove and shave on the Quebec lite machine, then its back in the auto tanner for two more hours, I take the cape out shave one more time and then thin the lips and eyes and oil the cape. I leave the cartlage in the ears untill I mount. The cape gets froze untill I am ready to mount. Hope this helps. I'm not sure what is the best tanning method. I just know that I have great success with this method. Good luck Jack F
1) krowtann
2)yes- you have to be braindead not to get good results
3)>50 but <100
4) 30 yrs
5)
a) cape deer and take measurements from carcass (not over skin)
b) throw in freezer
c) thaw and split e'thing
d) into krowtann for minimum 3 days
e) neautralize
f) shave to thickness needed
g) refreeze or mount right away