Immortalizing the Ghost Pending state record bowkill sika. gross 75 5/8 net - 70 5/8.
Taxidermy allows me the opportunity to express my appreciation of the animal and the hunt.
This past October I received a call from a local sika hunting outfit wanting information pertaining to full body stag mount. They said it was a big stag but I did not realize just what they had til I seen it myself. I drove down to camp and picked up the deer, for the warm conditions meant immediate actions. After getting the tags and mounting info from the hunter my process started right away with caping the animal for a full body mount. Once the hide is removed it is necessary to take many accurate measurements of the entire torso to ensure a correct finished animal the way he lived.
Due to the small expanse of this species of sika located only here on Marylands Eastern Shore, variety in forms are minimal; however correct mannikins do exist. I often use different mannikin parts from different suppliers to achieve accurate representation for a full body mount. Some suppliers have better bodies while others have "correct" head shape, combined make an accurate mount.
Once the Mannikin arrives in my shop there is numerous hours involved in mannikin altering. Shaving down parts and adding to other parts is definately necessary to duplicate a mature sika stags massive, bold character. Most times its necessary to remove mannikin head and reposition in a monor that better suits his posture or expression. After the mannikins measureing, altering and postureing is complete its now ready for the stags cape and mounting process... Eyes are the soul of every life is my motto..get the eyes right and that will bring your mount to life!
What a pleasure it was to do full body mount on the new pending Md state record stag with a bow. What an animal.
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