Need Help Understanding Measurements. I'm Stuck!!

I am by far an expert. I just listen to the other experts on here as well as picking up things at state association seminars. One thing I have learned is that the pre-tan measurements are just that, pre-tanned. Taxidermists that have plenty of forms on hand have the ability to test tanned hides on multiple sizes that they might have in stock. If you are a hobbyist like me, I don't have a stock pile and probably would take years to use one that I didn't need. I only order one form for the animal I am currently working on. They are way to expensive (shipping) to order one that might be the wrong measurements and then have to either send it back or eat it monetarily all together. The tanned hide may be different measurements than what your were given by the other taxidermists and I would recommend you wait until you get the tanned hide back to re-take the measurements. I would then order based on those new measurements. I recently sat in one of Ben Mears seminars and his forms are exceptional looking. I don't think you could go wrong with one of his, but I would wait and get new measurements. Just my two cents.

 

Wait for the cape to get back measure then back into the freezer. You may want to stretch the cape a little before you measure it. .

 

You need to rough flesh, split lips nose eyes, turn ears then salt dry, I would suggest you send it to a tannery after that, or there is plenty of advice on here regarding different tanning methods, when you get it back, stretch out measure directly under ears, that will be most companies B measurement, some list it as there C measurement. Mears is good choice. I would go one inch under your B measurement. Good luck!

 

I would follow exactly what Fallenscale recommended. I left a mule deer hide in a refrigerator (not knowing any better) after measuring it for a little too long in my opinion. Paid for expedited shipping, to try and get the form quickly. I ended up having some slippage that I can only attribute to either the tannery or keeping it in the fridge too long. It ended up being a good learning experience of dealing with different problems, but I will never make that mistake again. Thaw it, relax/stretch it, measure, and back in the freezer until your form comes in. Here are other posts on here that discusses the pre-mounting procedures. I would take a look at those as there is a process to that as well. BTW that is a very nice looking buck, congrats. I hunted in the SE corner of Ohio this year but didn't see any of the big ones I have normally seen the past few years.

 

If you get it back wet tanned, measure then refreeze until you are ready to mount, you can repeat this cycle, as long as you freeze it. When mounting it can be refrigerated for a couple days, once thawed. Nice buck

 

I’m not sure what you guys are doing but I take a raw just skinned measurements and they fit , after tanning should be the same as before sometimes even bigger , say a buck just when thru rut , he was all swollen up and prime , after he is worn down and flabby the skin is going to measure the full rut size and is what I order form wise . 8 inch eye to nose is a big face , that usually converts to a big neck but not alway. I take 3 measurements e/n then at the ears then 3 inches down, if the last measurement is 3 inches bigger then the ear measurement then it’s a rut form . Again I will say it again , a raw measurement will not change after being tanned if you measured it correctly and it’s tanned correctly, you just have to stretch it out , get it done as a wet tan and you won’t have as much of an issue as a dry tan on stretching it out .

 

Awesome deer! Public land bow hunters dream! If you don’t trust the butchers measurements you should take them post tan, then freeze. Next time take measurements for yourself and do your own caping.

 

Because of the CWD he had to take it to the butcher I believe any way he said because of the law. As alwayed said measure twice cut once in this case measure twice order once. And only 2 measurement were taken not 3.

I say kudos to TheReelCowboy trying to get it right.

 

I don’t know of any law saying you can’t cape your own deer out. It’s a transportation law. County and state.

 

Cowboy best of luck with the mount. A lot of different methods out there, but you can't go wrong with Fallenscale's recommendation. It is the same recommendation I have always been given as well. Measuring after the shaving and tanning of the skin will give you the most accurate results and aid you in picking out the right form.

Food for thought. I harvested a Nebraska deer that had a long nose that symmetrically wasn't in line with the neck measurements on any forms I could find. I had to pick a form that either fit the eye to nose or the neck measurement. A lot of different methods for this, but if you run into that scenario take a look at altering the form with a change out head. If you run into this give me a shout and I will let you know what I learned doing it the hard way. I looked at Ben's catalog he gave me and he has a semi sneak with an 8" A measurement. (8 x 26 x 23.5). Thats pretty big. Ben also sells a change out head with an 8" eye to nose measurement, so you could order the form that fits your neck measurements and use the change out head to fit your eye to nose measurements. Call Ben and speak with him on his recommendation. He is a great guy and won't lead you in the wrong direction.

Good luck and again heck of a deer.

 

So what some of you are saying is if you carcass’s cast an animal you better make the form smaller because after it’s tanned it will be smaller and won’t fit , we all know that’s BS a hide is what a hide is and dead or alive it will measure the same . That’s how forms are made , off the measurements taken off the dead animal. Cowboy you don’t need a stretcher, just pull and twist a little if tanned correctly you will get it back to size . If you still have , thaw out and measure then flesh , if your sending to tannery to flesh ask them to take measurements for you .