Why do African skinners belly cut everything ?

[jeff]

I think the hair is a little shorter and not as thick on caracal as bobcat. I also think cougar is better belly cut as you don't have to try and fight a hair line up the center of their back.

 

[harden]

I didn't think you were ever going to chime in Dennis As I stated in my first post, I was pretty sure it was related to the salting process. I certainly don't have the experience you do with African animals but I'm no novice to taxidermy itself. Other than the salting reasons, not sure how a caracal and bobcat are that different with respect to the techniques that would be used in mounting. Coyote= jackel etc. Glad I don't have to mount those belly cut skins for a living !!
For informational purposes- do you prefer the NA lifesize stuff also belly cut ?

Yes I vent cut everything, even NA.... No dorsal cuts at all wanted. It saves nothing but a few minutes sewing, AND the back fur and hair is always PERFECT that way.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

By ventral cut, do you mean a cut from the chin, down the belly, to the vent? I knew that's the way to skin bear and beaver, but always thought deer, elk, moose, sheep, etc., should be split down the back of the neck and back, then two vertical cuts down and around the forelegs, for a head/shoulder mount. Dennis, are you saying this is wrong?

 

[buck wild]

Roland- this thread was about LIFESIZE skinning for taxidermy. What you described towards the end of your post was for a shoulder mount. That's a whole other debate about how to cape those

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

Thanks for your valuable input, but I don't read the thread so narrowly. From the OP's second post here:

"Ok, I'm specifically talking about lifesize animals and to some regard shoulder mounts."

Also, the word "everything" is used in the title and elsewhere.

 

[buck wild]

yeah sorry about the confusion there Roland- I am the OP I was venting at the time and wrote the original post too simplistic as if I were on the taxidermy forum and not hunting forum. I made an assumption that folks would understand I was referring to lifesize skinned animals for mounting. Definitely my fault and I apologize for the ambiguity.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

Thanks for the explanation, and sorry for not recognizing you as the OP. Re-reading the thread, I can see that this is a taxidermy 640-level class, and I'm only ready for taxidermy 101. Sorry for not keeping out of your thread and just observing. Please carry on, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[buck wild]

Roland- consider yourself taxidermy 201 for just reading this thread If nothing else, maybe it will cause a discussion with your preferred taxidermist and some good will come of it.

 

[Phil S]

Other than sheep or goats a ventral incision is really a better way to go. Especially with predators and straight haired game such Impala.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

I did talk to my taxidermist, and he said to have the skinners cut down through the mane on kudu and other antelope with a mane.

 

[Beans]

I would never in my life want ANY african animal skinned dorsal. EVER !
Well you just ran into a world champion and state champion and someone that has mounted game for over 45 years that ONLY wants long incision capes also......
Test fitting is easier, salting better shaving is easier, tanning is easier, thinning is easier,and no slipping. I get sheep every year that slip because dorsal skinned skins cannot be salted as well as flat open ventral cut skins.
Lifesize african dorsal cut it's way harder to hide a seam going ll the way down the back that hiding the sticking behind the leg and for and fit and refit when testing the form. You will test fit an african life-size 4 5 times before it's right. You'll spend hours getting the skin on and off during that time and you save nothing in sewing time.
Taxidermists today simply think it's less sewing and just wan to hang skin. Sewing is an ART an new taxidermists won't take the time to learn it.
I have mounted thousands of life-size African and would not want ANY dorsal cut. Ever.
If I get a Dorsal cut in I charge MORE for the extra time needed to do the extra work.


Warthogs Jim have to be done that way or they can't get the skull with large teeth out of the skin.

Well said Dennis, that has all the questions answered.

 

[harden]

Yes, try altering and having to test fit a skin many times,,,Dorsal is not for me., I don't mind sewing it's the job.