The Whitetail Deer Head Book for the Taxidermist

By Leon Pray

“The Whitetail Deer Head Book For The Taxidermist” is a complete guide to the taxidermy of deer. With simple, step-by-step instructions complete with detailed drawings and diagrams, this volume constitutes a complete how-to guide for novices and those with more experience alike. Contents Include: “Introduction", "Deer Heads, Good, Bad and Indifferent", "Head Forms and Ear Liners, As Mostly Found Compared With Nature", "Posing the Deer Head for Expression", "Judging Deer Antlers", "Measurements of Whitetail Heads and Shape of Head Forms and Ear Liners", "Pedestal Deer Heads", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on taxidermy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: May 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781473388147

Book preview

THE WHITETAIL DEER HEAD BOOK FOR THE TAXIDERMIST

By Leon L. Pray

INTRODUCTION

It is doubtful if more interest is felt for any other product of the taxidermic art than that which a fine Whitetail Deer Head brings forth.

In point of abundance this species appears to outnumber most other American large game.

He sneaks around in the fringe of civilization and even in its midst, thriving and multiplying in situations that would discourage other less adaptable mammals. His palatable flesh and his fascinating antlers furnish two attractions in hunting him that never cease to interest a large army of keen sportsmen of all ages.

Not the least, and probably the greatest part of the Whitetail’s drawing power with hunters is the vision of bagging a truly great head on the next hunting trip. However many times the gunner may fall short of taking the perfect buck head, he is not discouraged but goes to the forest each season with hope undimmed and determination unflagging.

Sometimes, throughout a long lifetime of annual deer hunting trips, the trophies may run through a list of small, medium and large freak and semi-freak antlers, with but one or two gorgeous, large normals of eight, ten or twelve points. Apparently such an experience is the average all over the North American whitetail ranges. Freaks and semi-freaks appear to be the rule.

From a collector’s viewpoint all antlers are interesting; all well prepared scalps have value. Multiple-tined freak racks of antlers with good balance are handsome and striking decorations for a sportsman’s den when set up on well mounted heads.

Small and medium sized antlers of graceful conformation are not to be despised.

But a poor job of mounting will spoil the charm and effect of the best set