Taxidermy isn't just for hunters, but artists too.
Ways to mount an animal are as varied as the animals themselves. Expert taxidermist Craig Sandell says that mounting fish, for example, is the most difficult form of taxidermy mounting. Considering some tried and true ideas, as well as some nuances -- whether for fish or forest animals -- will help you make your mount a long-lasting success.
Preparation
Better ideas come from good observation, so know what you're dealing with, since not all ideas will work well for every animal. For example, mounting fish is more difficult than mounting other animals because part of the mounting process involves detailed painting. You must paint every detail, including the fish's individual scales and various colors. On the other hand, you can mount furred and feathered creatures more easily since feathers and fur retain their colors and shape, requiring only minimal touch-up work for mounting.
Think Small
Go big by thinking small. Mounting small game birds gives you a wide variety to choose from, and at a size more easily handled than large animals. In the book, "The Complete Guide to Upland Bird Taxidermy," author Todd Triplett says that the common notion about working with the bird kingdom is "too many species, too little time." But that's a good thing. He points out that bird skins are easier to flesh out and preserve and cost less to work with. Mounting birds also can serve as a series of stepping stones leading to mounting larger animals.
Go Big
While mounting birds and fish means mounting the entire body, larger animals can be well represented by mounting only the head, neck and shoulders. This method, called gamehead mounting, is used by many taxidermists to showcase animals such as deer, elk and pronghorn antelope, as well as bear, cougar, wild boar and mountain goats. Mounting larger gameheads usually involves using a manikin, a mass produced mold modeled after the animal. These lifelike molds, often made of urethane, allow taxidermists to fit the animal skin in a lifelike way. You still might have to shape and sculpt the manikin to better fit the animal skin you're working with, but your "going big" by mounting only the gamehead will save you time and money without sacrificing the animal's beauty.
Don't Forget the Scenery
Mounting an animal doesn't mean you have to represent just the animal. Consider accenting your taxidermy mount by recreating aspects of the animal's habitat and movement. For example, taxidermist Albert B. Farnham writes in his book, "Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit," that while larger fish should usually be mounted straight, you can mount smaller and more graceful fish by showing them in action, such rising out of water. And if you're mounting birds or larger animals, focus on the creature's habitat. Consider incorporating details such as specific rocks, grasses, mosses, tree branches and brush in your display.
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