Taxidermy-Coyotes
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Hi could I join your group please. I'm new to the site and love animals and have an interest in taxidermy and wildlife and nature
Ah, hello.
So, I feel absolutely useless, but I want to get into taxidermy as a hobby, and would love to soft mount some coyotes and foxes.
I know the basic idea but can't find and full on tutorials. I do know what I'm doing when it comes to prepping the hide, but soft mount tutorials are nearly non-existent, and even looked down on. Sites like Taxidermy.net for example, you so much as mention soft mounts and you're attacked.
I've already got the basic idea in mind for poseable rigging, but as I said I can't find any in-depth tutorials for anything. It's actually quite frustrating.
So, if you could point me in the right direction, that'd be fantastic.
Also, I see a lot of poseable soft mounts, but none that are able to open their mouths. I know that this is because normal mounting is done by using a plastic form, but I have another idea that I would love to know if it's even possible.
My idea is quite simple in theory. Take the skull, clean it(Mealworms make quick work of that), put pins in the jaw bone as a hinge, and then simply add clay to flesh it out again, painting the clay in areas such as the gums and eyelids. Could this be done, or am I stuck with static forms?
Any information is greatly appreciated.
So, I feel absolutely useless, but I want to get into taxidermy as a hobby, and would love to soft mount some coyotes and foxes.
I know the basic idea but can't find and full on tutorials. I do know what I'm doing when it comes to prepping the hide, but soft mount tutorials are nearly non-existent, and even looked down on. Sites like Taxidermy.net for example, you so much as mention soft mounts and you're attacked.
I've already got the basic idea in mind for poseable rigging, but as I said I can't find any in-depth tutorials for anything. It's actually quite frustrating.
So, if you could point me in the right direction, that'd be fantastic.
Also, I see a lot of poseable soft mounts, but none that are able to open their mouths. I know that this is because normal mounting is done by using a plastic form, but I have another idea that I would love to know if it's even possible.
My idea is quite simple in theory. Take the skull, clean it(Mealworms make quick work of that), put pins in the jaw bone as a hinge, and then simply add clay to flesh it out again, painting the clay in areas such as the gums and eyelids. Could this be done, or am I stuck with static forms?
Any information is greatly appreciated.
As you probably already know by now, when you do a softmount you mount the head exactly as you would in regular taxidermy. That is, you'd use hide paste to affix it to a 'mannikin' head form (made of rigid foam). You'd also buy standard 'ear liners' and quality glass eyes. I am completing a soft mount coyote right now, and when I ordered the above 3 items (except for the hide paste) from 'Coomb's Taxidermy' the total was around $35.00. To do an open mouth mount, you'd simply shell out more money for a 'change-out' head that either has a space for a mouth insert, or, one that already has one inserted. Beware! Open mouths are much harder to do-one little boo-boo and you can ruin the entire mount! Good Luck!
Thankyou. I do know that they're done on a traditional head mount and then the rest of the body is either armatured and stuffed or simply stuffed for a full flop. But what I was looking at doing was not simply a static mouth. I can now say I've seen this done, on a..Badger, I believe it was. A moving jaw rig, much like you'd set up in a fursuit head. I know this comes with extra wear and tear on the hide but if I get a cheap pelt that has no other use it would be neat for photographs, and a great drawing aide.
Looking back the skull idea probably wouldn't have worked as the skull would have stressed the leather but I think it's also still worth a try. I do know how to modify plastic forms as well now though, so I do still plan to try the jointed jaw when I can get a pelt. I have yet to get out in the field, no one will take me and it'll cost around $160 for all my licensing. That gets me my WIN course, certificate and card at completion, my PAL/Unrestricted firearms test and license, and my trappers test and license. Then I can help out the local farmers dealing with our pest populations and make a bit of money doing it.
My goal with taxidermy is to return them to as lifelike a state as possible. A jointed armature, moving jaw, realistic jawset ect would all help towards this. I know how to make resin eyes(Fursuiting), and if I get good at that then there'll be no need to order in specialized eyes, I can customize my own to add my own special touch to each mount I do. But this is just how I look at things.
I apologize if I come across as rude or know it all at all, I have some issues with social interaction and especially communication to be honest.
Looking back the skull idea probably wouldn't have worked as the skull would have stressed the leather but I think it's also still worth a try. I do know how to modify plastic forms as well now though, so I do still plan to try the jointed jaw when I can get a pelt. I have yet to get out in the field, no one will take me and it'll cost around $160 for all my licensing. That gets me my WIN course, certificate and card at completion, my PAL/Unrestricted firearms test and license, and my trappers test and license. Then I can help out the local farmers dealing with our pest populations and make a bit of money doing it.
My goal with taxidermy is to return them to as lifelike a state as possible. A jointed armature, moving jaw, realistic jawset ect would all help towards this. I know how to make resin eyes(Fursuiting), and if I get good at that then there'll be no need to order in specialized eyes, I can customize my own to add my own special touch to each mount I do. But this is just how I look at things.
I apologize if I come across as rude or know it all at all, I have some issues with social interaction and especially communication to be honest.
You did not come across as rude at all! I have wild dreams of combining animatronics with taxidermy pieces. There are others in the soft mount group that are ahead of me on this and are already tinkering with this idea (so its not like I'm super original!). The technology exists-and not just in Hollywood. Some high end plush toys are 'interactive' to a certain degree. Like 'Biscuit' ('Biskit'?) the puppy by Hasbro. He's a little golden retriever who can do some simple sounds and movements-like bark and wag his tail. Best of luck to you in all of your endeavors!
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Would you Alow something like this? or too Graffic? [link]
If it's a coyote, it's welcome. 
Lovely specimen by the way!
Lovely specimen by the way!