MULE DEER FORMS

The reason I started sculpting mule deer forms is because of a flaw I noticed after mounting a buck on a form from a popular supply company. I don’t remember which series it was, but I could just tell something was off. I had noticed other “problems” with their forms, but there aren’t any mule deer forms on the market without some anatomy problems so they didn’t bother me much. This problem was a vertical head measurement between the pupil to bottom of the jawbone. It was too deep through there and had an odd look to it. I thought, “I can do better than that”!

Two years later I painstakingly came up with what I consider a “better”, more true to life, mule deer head. Prior to my latest mule deer head, I sculpted a few forms with my first mule deer head, neck, and shoulders. Those forms are on the market and make a nice mount, but, being the anal person that I am, I took some advice from friends like Roger Sambueso, and Drew Mundo and chased the idea of creating the “perfect” mule deer head. I also received some great advice from Derek Ekdahl who is more anal about anatomy than I.

With this new mule deer head I hope to create a new, better mule deer line. It is slow progress as I’m also working on ear liners, nose casts, and artwork, and doing all this in my spare time as I do taxidermy for a living.

One thing that always bothered me about other forms was the lack of symmetry. After sculpting my forms I noticed that there were discrepancies in the symmetry. So I went to the extra cost and work to have them scanned with 3D imagery and cut out on a CNC machine. This way I had two mirrored halves to put together for “perfect” symmetry. The reason for the parenthesis around the word perfect is because I still had to cut out some areas by hand. But, I can assure you these are the most symmetrical mule deer head forms on the market, and in my opinion the most anatomically accurate. There’s a PDF file on this website you can link to to see the 3D image if you’re interested.

I’ve spent countless hours and more money than I want to admit on this project, and hope that you’ll find a reason to try out these new forms and give me some feedback so I can further better my work. With my deer heads you’ll find you don’t have to clay in the tear ducts, and the nostrils fit without forcing the skin back. Also, the hair patterns line up and the only real clay work needed is around the eyes. Try them out ‘cause you have nothing to lose.

At this time I only have 3 mule deer forms and one size mule deer change-out head. I will update this site when more become available.

Antlers West Taxidermy
c/o Steve Tait
7592 S. 2350 W.
West Jordan, UT. 84084
Phone#: 801-694-1553
Email: awtaxidermy1@hotmail.com