OK you Taxidermy guys ??????

R Buker

R Buker

New member
I'm the proud owner of a new lynx hide. I was dropping off some videos at a sporting goods store this morning and they had a bunch of hides tanned and hanging there. Tanned coyotes for $65, Bobcats for $80.00 and an unmarked lynx hide. I asked the guy how much for the lynx and he didn't know. Said he'd look it up in his book. He returned and said he couldn't find it but said he'd give it to me for $65.00. So, I bought it.

It appears to be be done very properly with feet on, claws intact, etc. My question is: Can this cat be mounted now? Or is there a certain way they have to be skinned and tanned in order to be mounted?
 
As long as all the parts are there, it can be done . As long as you have a competent taxidermist. some prefer to have them skinned a certain way, but if their worth their weight , then they should be able to work with what you have.
 
Crapshoot
you sure put the presser on. it is true that if its all there it SHOULD be O.K. to mount. heres where the SHOULD comes from, if the lips, nose and eyes have not been split it can be a real challenge. also if its been tanned for any lengh of time it may not soak up and stretch like a fresh tan would. there are many ways around many problems, if the nose isn't right thety make cast ones that could be used ect ect. so if you find some one worth their weight it SHOULD be O.K. to mount. good luck
Sportingly
Cracker
 
LOL, I don't know if I should respond to this or not.
I'm no taxidermist by any means, but I CAN say this; just because it has fur on it and it came from an animal doesn't mean it's mountable.

Boy...that didn't sound good at all did it? :eek:

It's tough to say without seeing it Buker. Yes a good taxidermist can cover a lot of mistakes, but what needs to be mentioned here is that taxidermists are good at covering their own mistakes. And they should be.
Now you take a trapped speciman that was skinned and put up by a trapper that had absolutely no concerns what so ever for a mountable skin...and man, they have no idea what to expect.

To put it simple...the skin should be able to be put back together around a from in the shape of THAT speciman with no flaws. Does it look as though that would be capable? (hint) the fewer cuts the better
The in-house taxidermist I hade working here a few years ago made one cut in everything he skinned to be mounted. That cut went right down the center of the animals back. Roughly 3 inches from the base of the neck to roughly 2 inches from the base of the tail.
The entire carcass was peeled and pulled out of that slit. See where this is going? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tough call to make Bud...got any photo's?
 
Sorry Cracker. Didnt mean to come out that way. I was just trying to say that most good taxidermists can effectivly hid their stitching if the cuts are in the wrong place. Of course, like you said, age, weather or not the lips have been split or are there at all, ears turned , all play a part. I was only refering to where the cuts were made for skinning. No harm no fowl? Peace brother! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I can get some pics up here probably tomorrow. It is case skinned with short slits down each leg. The eyes, ears, nose and mouth look perfect. A very good job of skinning.

(Edit) Jim, those pics are on their way to you. Let me know if you want different views, angles, etc.

Randy
 
Where the incision is made is usually a function of the pose chosen by the customer. For example, a ventrl, or belly, cut is good for an animal that will be lying down. A dorsal cut is good if the back will be hidden. Case skinned hides are rarely used, but it's not a deal breaker by any means. That seam can be sewn back and a new one opened up after you determine the pose you want.

Not having the eyelids, lips or nose turned isn't a biggy either. Eyes and lips can be fleshed with a rotary tool quite easily to get them thinned. Eyes don't necessarily require skin to tuck, and the lip line can be handled by using an open mouth form. Even a closed-mouth mount is good with today's epoxy adhesives. Opening the ears can be a challenge, but if the taxi takes his time, its do-able.

My only concern would be the risks in not knowing how it was tanned and how easily it will rehydrate. Your taxidermist will no doubt do the work only after you sign off on knowing that the cape could fail in the rehydration. As far as price, if he's offering bobcats at 80, I'd think the lynx would be at least 100-120, so I think you got a good price.
 
I do taxidermy and any taxidermist should be able to tell you by looking at it if it was prepped for mounting or just tanned.

Another thing to consider is it could have been garment tanned which makes it unsuitable for mounting because the might fall apart when hydrated.

Personally, I think you are out of luck, you don't know what kind of tan it had, when it was tanned and doubtful that it was prepped for mounting and then just sold instead. Also, in my opinion, it is hard to make cats look lifelike even with a good prepped cape.

Any taxidermist should be able to track down a properly prepared hide if you really want a mount. It could cost you though.
 


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