A Whitetail I just finished mounting - Pics

[Rackmastr]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to share a few pics of a whitetail I just put together yesterday.

This is the first buck I've mounted on my own (100% by myself with no instructor there). I was taught well by an excellent teacher and it felt 'different' doing work without him checking on it, advising, etc.

There area few things that I'd change for next time, and I learned a lot along the way. I tried a few things out and overall am happy with the mount. This is a set of sheds I've had for years and decided to try mounting them up. Next up is a mule deer!

Needs to dry and get finish work completed. Eyes look a bit weird as some dark pigment really stands out and you'll have to excuse the eyes/nose/etc that will be finished when dried...

Enjoy!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_5396.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_5399.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_5400.jpg

[huntingpg]

looks awsome!!

[300wsmXboltKiller]

nice work i would luv to learn the art of taxidermy

[Tikka270]

Looks very good! Are the ears different sizes or is it just the way they are turned?

[Tikka270wsm]

Looks great! Nice work

[Rackmastr]

Part of it is how the ears are turned. Since taking this picture, I have actually adjusted the depth of the one ear a bit as it stood out a bit much. But yes, the one ear is tucked back and the other is forward.

[Sander]

Looks good to me

[Tikka270wsm]

I really like the view in the first pic. Looks professionally done and you should be proud especially considering this is your first mount done on your own.

[Tikka270]

Part of it is how the ears are turned. Since taking this picture, I have actually adjusted the depth of the one ear a bit as it stood out a bit much. But yes, the one ear is tucked back and the other is forward.

Yeah that's what I thought. I wasn't slagging your work at all, it looks really good.

[Alpineguy]

Great buck and great job mounting it Rack!!

[Marlin375]

I like the "chin up.. ears working" position , very realistic. From the pics it looks like you have a nack for taxi work, keep up the good work.

[Everett]

Wow thats great with the local prices in Cranhole you could probably do a few on the side and pay for all your hunting exspenses for the year.

[Rackmastr]

Wow thats great with the local prices in Cranhole you could probably do a few on the side and pay for all your hunting exspenses for the year.

Thats the goal.... Still in the process of lining things up and getting to the point where I feel ready to take on more projects, but I've got a good handful of things lined up (my own projects and some friends) and hopefully will be ready to take on more by this hunting season. For now its a great hobby and very addicting!!

Thanks for the comments guys!

[s0ylentgreen]

very nice job

[Rams-head]

Nice looking buck!

[huntcoop]

Looks great.....and IBTL.

[abbyfireguy]

You did good man! A gifted talent to be used.

[nature girl]

You do some good work. Keep up the great work.

[Wild Images]

Looks great Trev, nice job

[d6dan]

Looks real good from here.:-D

[Crimson Viking]

Dude , That's amazing. anyone would be proud to have that hanging in their home. nice expression and realistic look . well done

[grizzlydueck]

Trev very nice ! better put on the left side of the tv room to balance out the ram ....you no, so it can dry better being up stairs ! nice work buddy

[avadad]

Excellent work! That is a very inspiring piece, really impressive that it is your first solo gig.

[hunter1947]

As good as you can get ,very nicely done for doing it yourself ,,first WT mount you did ???.

[Rackmastr]

As good as you can get ,very nicely done for doing it yourself ,,first WT mount you did ???.

Ive done 3 shoulder mounts before, all while learning from a teacher. This is my first by myself and my 2nd whitetail ever. A lot tougher without someone looking over my shoulder but it was amazing how quick it came back to me when I got into it.

[matt420]

nice work, looks great

[NaStY]

Looks great to me..............

[drewsky]

Wow! Great work! I would easily pay you to mount a trophy for me! Looks perfect.

[RENO]

nice job, pretty good for a first attempt, that's as good as I have seen by pro's, very impressive, congrats on the deer and mont.

[coach]

Great work, Rackmaster! Really cool that you were able to do that from a set of sheds. Looks like one hell of a nice buck. Did you ever spot him alive - either before or after he dropped this set of antlers?

[Rackmastr]

Great work, Rackmaster! Really cool that you were able to do that from a set of sheds. Looks like one hell of a nice buck. Did you ever spot him alive - either before or after he dropped this set of antlers?

Thanks guys!

Yea, I watched this guy a few nights on some grain in the Calgary bowzone while we were out coyote hunting. There was about 10-15 bucks that would be in the 150" range and one big guy that we guessed at the 180+ range. My buddy found his one side but we never found his matched set.

I saw this guy the night before he dropped his antlers so they were fresh the morning I picked them up. Prairie deer so not much colouration on his antlers. I had a hard time deciding if I was going to darken them but I think they match the cape good "as is".

Snagged another 2 or 3 matched sets off the same grain pile that year. It was a good cold year with snow and a very good year for shed hunting!

[wicket]

looks like a great job. if this is going to be a hobby for you try not to let all your buddies know or the freezers going to fill up with "hey can you mount this for me's":-D

[springpin]

Nice job!! Where did you get taught to do that?

[Rackmastr]

Nice job!! Where did you get taught to do that?

I was taught by a taxidermist in Alberta. He is not a 'teacher' but we came to an agreement and I hired him to teach me. I ended up doing 3 shoulder mounts with him. A whitetail, mule deer, and an antlelope. This is the first on my own now after learning over the past year.

I think I put about 20 days into learning, with a few half days and a few long days mixed in. Didnt really keep track but I think we were very close to that. Overall I'm very pleased in what I've learned and the learning curve that stuck with me. Its something I wasnt sure if I'd be 'good' at or get the hang of, but so far I'm loving it and learning more every day.

[kayjayess]

Hey Rack,

Really nice done. I like the expression and way you have the ears situated. Overall a great job. I look forward to seeing more work from you.

[Rackmastr]

Heres a few updated pics after the finishing work was completed and he hangs in the trophy room....

My first mount I ever did (with my teacher) hanging next to the first one I finished on my own....

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_0003.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_0004.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_0009.jpg

[lightmag]

nice work!!

[MFERGIE]

Those look awesome! I'm interested in trying a few mounts myself in the near future so I have to ask if you tanned them yourself or sent them out? Where did you get the forms from? And again those look great, I can only hope my first attempts go so well!

[nolimits]

All beauties.

[Rackmastr]

Those look awesome! I'm interested in trying a few mounts myself in the near future so I have to ask if you tanned them yourself or sent them out? Where did you get the forms from? And again those look great, I can only hope my first attempts go so well!

Both are professional tab jobs. I bought both of the forms from a supplier in the US but there are a ton of options out there. Just depends what you're looking for and what you like. Key for me was taking the time with a good teacher over the past year. Good luck with it, it's fun stuff.

[RENO]

Nice Job, Rack! I have always been curious about taxidermy as a hobby, or trade and if I'd like to do it, for myself or others, and even more so when I see the results, sometimes it takes to go it alone , to realize the instructing was great and we actually absorbed the instructions, I think your instructor taught you well, and you did a great job, and you know how to improve it, I'd say your ready to start doing all of ours this fall. Thanks for sharing great job again.

[Big G Hunter]

You're hired. Nice first mount.

[Rhyno]

Looks great, definitely something to be proud of! I hang that on my wall any day!

[MFERGIE]

Both are professional tab jobs. I bought both of the forms from a supplier in the US but there are a ton of options out there. Just depends what you're looking for and what you like. Key for me was taking the time with a good teacher over the past year. Good luck with it, it's fun stuff.

Thanks and once again kudos to a job well done! It's always refreshing to see a beginner taxi do such awesome work....it gives me hope lol!!

[Piperdown]

Awesome job Rackmastr, but by the sounds of the title I thought you had done something different to your whitetail :) by the way love the binocs.

[Rackmastr]

Awesome job Rackmastr, but by the sounds of the title I thought you had done something different to your whitetail :) by the way love the binocs.


Awesome to hear man!! Part of me misses them!!! The Geovids are nice but the good ol Swaro's were great to me. Glad they're workin good for ya.

[Whistler]

Looks nice !!

[MOUNTAIN MAN - TOYOTA/ATV]

I liked both of your deer. Good work!

[doubled]

Well done rmaster. Nothing like free taxi work... Well, cheaper taxi work anyways!!! Awesome job.

[hunter1947]

I just had to bring this mount back up ,,, Rackmastr I love your taxidermy workmanship its as good as I have ever saw ,,congrats to you for doing such nice work http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.png I like the mount in this pic looks like the deer is ready to ponce you did a very nice job on the ears the deer trying to figure out whats going on out in the distance..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_0009.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_5399.jpg

[Rodd]

Looks great Trev! Good work! Next your alberian 5x5.. ?

[bearguy]

Nice work.....Looks better than the first deer I did......keep it up.. :)

[MacMtnHunter]

I may be looking you up next year! Nice job man, that is some great work...and you didn't even take a course?

[Rackmastr]

Thanks for the comments guys. This guy has been repainted and isnt quite as harsh as in these pics posted. As it was my 'first' one that I'd done without my instructor it was a bit more of a challenge and learning curve!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_0004.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_0003.jpg

Here is a more recent one that turned out well. I've got 5 upcoming, including my Alberta buck from this year that I'm really looking forward to!!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_1016.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_1014.jpg

[Rackmastr]

I may be looking you up next year! Nice job man, that is some great work...and you didn't even take a course?

I trained with a very experienced taxidermist in Alberta on a part-time basis. He taught me a LOT and I learned some things that would have taken years to learn. Now I've just been working on learning more every day and growing more every day as an artist!

This Aoudad is one of my most recent mounts, and is a better representation of where I've brought myself in terms of skills and work...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_1963_zpscd3e0f3e.jpg

[guywitha270]

That is stunning!! Well done!!

[Shooter]

Looks pretty good to me. To be honest (not bashing anyone at all) it looks better than some of the taxi work I have seen from some experienced and well established guys. Keep it up they will only get better just keep your standards high and the work will line up.

[Rubberfist]

Your work rivals that of establish taxi's. Great job.

[Ruger4]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_1963_zpscd3e0f3e.jpg


wow !! very impressive , you've found your calling indeed , look forward to more pics !!

[Rackmastr]

Thanks again for the comments guys.....I cant wait to have some more pics to share with ya.

Here is an 'updated' pic of this buck. I softened the eyes and darkened the antlers so they match the cape a bit better. Think he turned out a lot better and looks more pleasing to the eye. I'll most likely bring this guy as well as a mulie, my Aoudad, a velvet pedestal whitetail and an antelope to the WSSOBC show. I'll also be donating a shoulder mount to the auction so keep your eyes out!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_2161_zpsd52748a0.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_2138_zps2621642e.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/Rackmastr/IMG_2159_zps1afc00e5.jpg

[KTownKiller]

You may have to give up your other job... :-D Nice!

[yama49]

Very nice work indeed.

[Rackmastr]

You may have to give up your other job... :-D Nice!

I wish!!! Haha.

One day maybe....a guy can dream!

[ncurrie]

Looks fantastic!!

[KTownKiller]

I wish!!! Haha.

One day maybe....a guy can dream!

I bet it would be easy, the taxis here are booked up for a couple of years!

[Tiptoe]

I think the position of the ears coupled with the turned head brings a incredible element of reality to the mount- well done!

[Hillbros_96]

You're hired. Nice first mount.
I second that, here is hoping my daughter shoots a buck this year big enough to get done up.

[rifleman]

very impressive... keep up the good work!!!