Carl 9.3x62
Well-known member
How many of you do your own taxidermy?
I have always loved taxidermy work. Been boiling and picking skulls for a long time now, but just recently finished (well, almost) my first shoulder mount of a mule deer. I went with the "just survived a scuffle with a mnt lion" look, and it turned out alright. I told myself that the only way I could fail at this project was if I didn't try. Looked at it as more of a learning experience than anything, and just a fun project to do. I used a kit from Van Dykes, that included a rub-on liquid tan. Fleshing and thinning was probably the hardest part, and maybe turning the lips and nose (kind of butchered those areas). I did have a taxidermist friend of mine help shave the hide a bit, and give a few pointers here and there, but I wanted to do it myself as much as possible. I really enjoyed the process and am happy with how it turned out, even though though it looks like a "western" mount, as another friend put it. Looking forward to doing another.
P.S. One good thing about getting divorced is I can now mount a deer in my dining room, haha.
I have always loved taxidermy work. Been boiling and picking skulls for a long time now, but just recently finished (well, almost) my first shoulder mount of a mule deer. I went with the "just survived a scuffle with a mnt lion" look, and it turned out alright. I told myself that the only way I could fail at this project was if I didn't try. Looked at it as more of a learning experience than anything, and just a fun project to do. I used a kit from Van Dykes, that included a rub-on liquid tan. Fleshing and thinning was probably the hardest part, and maybe turning the lips and nose (kind of butchered those areas). I did have a taxidermist friend of mine help shave the hide a bit, and give a few pointers here and there, but I wanted to do it myself as much as possible. I really enjoyed the process and am happy with how it turned out, even though though it looks like a "western" mount, as another friend put it. Looking forward to doing another.
P.S. One good thing about getting divorced is I can now mount a deer in my dining room, haha.