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Making Money At Home Doing Big Game Taxidermy Mounts |
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Deer Hunting Tips - Whitetail Deer Hunting - Mule Deer Hunting
Taking a BIG buck, a trophy buck, is a dream to most hunters. To be able to do it consistently is what separates the experts from the wanna-bees. That, my friend, is what this is all about!
Author: Vin
Not only is it possible to make big game trophy mounts at home, but it can be profitable as well. The reality is, no project is too big, if you have the space and ability. Big game mounts may be a bit intimidating to the novice taxidermist though. Truth is, they don't need to be worried. It's all a matter of measurements, technique and the right forms. It is possible and you can do it.
There are three different types of taxidermy that can be done on large game species. Each one presents its own special challenges and each one can be done for profit. Head mounts, full-body mounts and antler or hoof mounts are the three most popular types of large game taxidermy.
The type of mount you can do will, of course depend on your space limitations. If you have the space, you can accomplish a full-body mount of a bear or deer or other large animal. If you have a restricted space, head mounts or antler and foot mounts will be a better fit.
Large life-size mounts of bear, moose, deer and elk are ambitious projects for any taxidermist. The diy taxidermist can easily create these mounts in a moderately set up shop. As with all taxidermy projects, the process starts with accurate measurements and an eye for detail. Big game mounts call on the taxidermists basic carpentry and metalworking skills as well.
Assuming that the animal has been carefully skinned and the hide has been properly prepared, it's time to assemble the new framework. Keep in mind the final pose of the animal and prepare the frame to suit. Large animal mounts need to be braced so that the mount is secure when finished.
Once the frame is complete, it's time to start forming the mass of the body. Once the body has been stuffed and the soft tissue areas created using clay, the muscle structure of the body can be created. Reference photos of the animal are useful at this point. Those all-important measurements are also a key to accurate work. Once all of the body has been properly formed, the entire surface is covered with paper. The paper won't absorb oils and moisture from the skin and fur. This keeps everything durable, making it less likely to crack.
Finally, the skin is put into place and sewn closed. A good taxidermists knows that it's important to hide the seams in the fur as much as possible. Your clients will appreciate the time you take to make sure that each and every stitch is secure and accurate. The idea is to present this animal as it looked in life. Your customers are paying for a piece of art, make sure you give them what they pay for.
Finishing touches such as inserting the eyes are done next. If necessary, paint the nose and varnish the antlers, horns, hooves or claws of the animal. Then, set the piece aside to dry. Keep in mind that a large game mount will obviously take longer to dry thoroughly than a small game mount will. Keep a dehumidifier in the drying room and periodically check on the dryness of your mount.
Typically it'll take 2-3 weeks for drying to be complete. Head mounts are less of an undertaking than full-body mounts for the diy taxidermist. Thousands of hunters every year get a head mount made up for them. You can make a good income by just doing these. By using pre-made head forms, the job's not as difficult as it sounds.
Just remember to get the right measurements and to leave some extra skin to work with when doing the initial skinning. Leaving yourself short can make it impossible to finish the work properly. The last thing you want is to disappoint a client by not finishing his head mount properly.
With some real life practice, big game taxidermy can be a profitable full or part time business. For any hunter or outdoors-man, the ability to do taxidermy mounts, especially big-game is a superb thing! Your hunting buddies will be thrilled to have you do the work and you'll make some excellent cash for yourself!
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