Choosing a moose mount form

[popeshawnpaul]

I'm going to be at the point where I'll have to pick what type of form to mount my moose.  For those of you that don't know, it's an Idaho Shiras bull. 

I was thinking straight on.  That would give me the flexibility to put him almost anywhere.  I plan on always keeping him on the big central fireplace in any home I ever move to.  While I don't have super high ceilings, I don't want one sticking way out into a room.  I was leaning toward the more upright position.

I know many of you have moose mounts and have had to live with them over the years.  What is your suggestion?  Anything I'm not thinking of?

Shawn

[Michelle_Nelson]

Shawn,

Personally I don't care for mounts on a streight form.  They look expressionless!  They look stuffed!  Don't take me wrong here.  I do what ever the customer wants.  It's their animal and they are the one's that have to look at it forever! 

To me a turn adds character and a little bit more of an expression! 

You really don't want to store a mount over a direct heat source.  It can can cause damage to them over time.  It can cause mounts to start cracking over time.  Especially if the taxidermist mounted it on a form to big.

Depending on the size of your moose you may be required to use a full sneek.  Sounds to me like you are wanting a Semi-Sneek!

[boneaddict]

I'm going to stomp on Michelles opinion for a moment.  Moose are the exception to the rule.  First of all, a moose is so large you have to have lots of space for it and an upright mount is crazy, so semi sneak to fuill sneak is almost the general rule.  Second a moose is best viewed from straight on.  If you don't believe me, notice how many styles of mounts most taxidermy catalogs contain compared to deer.  Semi- sneak straight on is about the best for a moose.  My moose opinion.  I have two completed in my house and one other form in the shop waiting for sheds.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Have at it boneaddict!  I'll stay out of it.  I will take my opinion somewhere else.

[Hunting Cowboy]

I usually won't chime in with an opinion on a topic like this just because I believe in the theory "to each his own."
I also don't personally have a moose mount (yet). For what it's worth, I generally prefer a slight turn on most mounts, but with a moose, I think a straight pose looks best.

I agree with boneaddict that they are best viewed straight on. I prefer the look of a full sneak or semi sneak on a moose (High ceilings or not) For me, the one exception on the straight pose on a moose is if it is mounted on a pedestal. I've seen some pretty amazing mounts at a some taxidermy competitions and shows. Not everyone has a place for a pedestal moose mount though. I hope you post some pictures popeshawnpaul once you get your moose mount completed! Congratulations!

[boneaddict]

You know I love ya Michelle, but for the first time in my life disagree with your taxidermy opinion.

[popeshawnpaul]

I appreciate people chiming in because I don't know what I want and other opinions is what I value.

The next issue is I don't even know what a semi sneak is.  I'm sure I can do an internet search and figure it out.  If anyone has some pictures of their straight on semi sneak posting them would be great or point me in the right direction.  I've seen your mounts in another thread Bone, are yours semi-sneak?

Shawn

[boneaddict]

Yes.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I'll forgive you, but it's gonna cost you if I draw a Moose tag! 

[boneaddict]

In all fairness I put a very slight turn in one of my mounts.  Just because I knew where it was going to hang.  Its still basically straight on, but just a tad of a turn.  I modified it from a straight form.

[Michelle_Nelson]

In all fairness I put a very slight turn in one of my mounts. 

NOW the truth comes out!

[Coasthunterjay]

Have at it boneaddict!  I'll stay out of it.  I will take my opinion somewhere else.

you  guys are funny....they are correct that a semi-sneek or a full sneek will probably be best and a huge pedestal with a right or left turn in one of your corners would look amazing also. easily movable but remember ............

THE END RESULT HONESTLY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE ALL SAY IS UP TO YOU......

take a look at a couple taxidermy form magazines, get a look at what the demensions are going to be, look at how the poses are going to be......(if you need a number to get a free magazine then just PM me)
your going to put the head where ever you want.....it is also your MOOSE, mount and do whatever you want.......

when you get the finished result you will have a couple spots that you think are big enough for it and you will soon find out that your moose head is bigger than you think........

get what ever you want, moose hunting is a once in a lifetime thing(atleast it would be for me) and they are expensive as *censored* to mount so DO WITH IT WHAT YOU WANT!  ITS YOURS......

[popeshawnpaul]

I started looking at some moose mounts, and I like the look of the semi-sneak but I also like the look of the upright.  Timber has his moose mount posted on here and it looks like his is upright.  I guess I'll have to figure out between those two poses what's best.  I'm not even sure I can get it through the door to my basement...  I barely got my couch in there and I had to take off all the door jambs.

While I'm mounting it on the fireplace, we don't actually make fires in it anymore.  We recently discovered that you can heat your home with gas and something called a "furnace?"  Crazy new invention. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea beside the fact that the heat will destroy your mount..

[dbllunger]

I have all my mounts in the same position they were in when shot including ears.  My daughters this year will require the Taxi to use two different forms and cut and paste to make it work.  A good Taxi will do this to get the customer what they want. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

Got you moose officially scored by B&C, P&Y, or SCI.  However you want to do it.  Than you can make the antlers removable!  It will make it easier to move.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I have all my mounts in the same position they were in when shot including ears.  My daughters this year will require the Taxi to use two different forms and cut and paste to make it work.  A good Taxi will do this to get the customer what they want. 

What does he need 2 forms for?  I bet your paying extra for it too, if it's an extensive modification!

[dbllunger]

Nope nothing extra in charge.  500 bucks plus tax.  Again a good Taxi IMO takes that cost in stride to turn out top quality products.  Keeps the customer happy and coming back.  Again just my opinion.    He could not find the right MD mount, but a WT was really close.  So he is using the two mounts together.  If I remember correctly he is using the WT base, then cutting off and grafting on the upper neck and head off from a MD mount. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

 

Nope nothing extra in charge.  500 bucks plus tax.  Again a good Taxi IMO takes that cost in stride to turn out top quality products. 

That's an easy modification.  Only 15 minutes worth of work.  He is buying a whitetail form and a Mule Deer change out head.  A lot of taxidermists do that.  Usually taxidermists don't charge extra for that.

If you want a pose that is not available for your deer and it takes me longer than an hour to modify a form I'm charging extra for it!  That is time that I could be working on another mount. 

Yes changing out heads and modifying the eye to nose length is petty modification and I don't charge for it.

 If I have to put a radical turn, change the pose, turn a wall form into a pedestal I charge for it.  This is my business.  I have to make money to pay bills.  I charge $35 an hour to make radical modifications.  I do not do it for the sole purpose of gouging people.  It's like any doctor, lawyer, or mechanic.  You are paying them for their experience and expertise.

The same thing with unnecessary damage to capes and skins from poor field care.  Like splitting the brisket, cutting the throat, skinning a rug out wrong.  First time no harm no foul!  I will do the absolute best I can to fix it for free.  Unless it requires a replacement cape.  Than I charge for a cape. 

I will tell the customer what they did wrong but I will praise them for what they did right.  I will then educate them on proper field care and how to properly skin their animal.  If they continue to bring in the same type animal with the same problems I charge to repair them!

I mean what other option is their?     If just telling them and showing them does not work?

I go out of my way to try and help and educate people about proper field care.  If a customer does not know how to skin an animal or cape them I invite them to the shop and I will show them how to do it for free (usually me skinning).  Than I usually und up 1/4 ing it for them if I have time.  I tick Scott off quite often when I call off my plans to meet with a customer at short notice.

If I was in it for the money than I would not bother trying to educate people on skinning and field care.  I could make a lot of money just doing repair workbif I charged for everything.

I try to get as many extra capes as I can while seasons are open.  So when a customer needs a cape I don't have to pay another taxidermists mark up and pass it on to the customer. 

If anyone thinks I am off base ask boneaddict or hunting cowboy.  Both of them will be up front with anyone oh here!

[boneaddict]

Not off base at all.

[dbllunger]

I hope you did not think I thought you should work for free.  Absolutely not and I understand that and my Taxi would charge and does charge for peoples boned up stuff.  Totally fair to me.  No one should work for free period.  I don't.

[Hunting Cowboy]

Michelle makes some excellent points here and is right on the money as far as extra charges are concerned IMO. Also, I want to agree 100% with Coasthunterjay with regards to his comment about being up to YOU regardless of what others say or think. Whatever makes YOU happy is the right pose! I was just giveing my personal preference which is what I thought Shawn wanted. Hope you post a picture when you get that moose done Shawn! Good Luck.