How different do your mounts come back?

[JohnVH]

Curious, had my first deer done this year, came back looking pretty different than when it was shot, is that pretty normal?  I keep looking at him wondering...

[jackelope]

Before and after pics? I'm sure there's bound to be a little difference, but I'm also sure that it comes down to the quality of the work performed. Safe to say the buck's own cape was used for the mount?

[D-Rock425]

Pics?

[JohnVH]

Yep, same cape, Im hoping anyway, but I guess thats my question.. Ill get pics here in a sec

[JohnVH]

Im mainly looking at the ears, the double check white spots,

[jackelope]

First thing that jumps out at me is the form is much smaller than your buck. That would irk me.

Maybe one of the taxi's could chime in here.
 

[JohnVH]

yeah, also, the second white patch is fainter, the ears used to have a white line in the black outline, thats gone too...

[Hunter Dug]

I can tell you right know the taxidermist did as little work as possible to transform your animal to what it was if he had the pictures of your buck upon harvest.  The neck on your buck is clearly swollen when harvested, and this would require adding to any form to make it look as pictures, this is a very time consuming part of the process and is skipped by some who are in a hurry to process your trophy. Your finished buck is not swollen in the neck at all and that will clearly change its appearance.  This is very common on animals that are turned around in a quick manner.  I have seen several bucks killed in the rut that came back from the taxi with skinny necks and even bunched up cape on the back of the neck to fit the form that was not altered to fit the hide.   If pictures were supplied for reference I would be pissed.

[bucklucky]

I can se that the cape was cut wrong in the last picture. It was cut to the inside of the leg into the brisket..... Looks like on the mount picture that is was sewn back together in the brisket armpit area. If so that should tell you if it was your cape on the form.

[klikboom]

I had the same thing happen to me with the neck on my only buck i had mounted. The reason I wanted it mounted was it was a nice rack but big roman nose and huge neck. I had a guy mount it that i know  (non-professsional) and he did a good job but the size just wasn't there and definitely didn't look the same as when i shot it.

[HntnFsh]

I think its the same cape look at the notch in the ear.

[Hunter Dug]

The nick in the ear and the blonding around the antler base makes me think its the same cape.

[ellensburgpo]

I think its the same cape look at the notch in the ear.

 

[Natures Way]

That is your deer there are a lot of things that can make your deer come back different, tanning, form selection for anatomical accuracy, the taxidermist. Another reason is when you harvest a deer the hairs are standing on end and have moister content to them when it is mounted the hairs lay down(we call it grooming) but with the hair laid down it will appear smaller. There are even a few more reasons than this just wanted to put some basic reasons out there. Hope this helps. Nice buck

[JohnVH]

Thanks guys, I guess I didnt know what to expect, I did not take a picture to him to give something to aim for in the finished product, lesson learned, this was my first deer mount, my bear came back great.