I'm planning way ahead of myself, but I've been thinking about how I want to have my ibex mounted. I really like the running uphill poses, much like this sheep is and think it would look great for an ibex. I'm just curious how it is supported. From the picture it looks like a rock base will have to come up behind it with some sort of rod concealed in the rock thats attached to the ibex. I'd like to know how the action poses are supported since not all four legs are on the ground to stick a rod in, and secondly do the mounts start to bend or lean over time from the weight? (This is assuming the mount is supported from a rod coming from the back leg traveling the length of the body.) I appreciate your help. I'm very excited to get something in a life-size pose and I'm just curious how they are supported.



Sevens

The Ibex will make an awesome lifesize mount. As far as posing goes just dig up as many photos as you can and bring them to the taxidermist you choose to use. Also think of a base. Google image search has a few action photos. A good taxidermist will not limit your pose to what form is availible. As far as supporting the mount, what I do is order the form with NO rods. After altering the form to fit the speciman and postion, I ream out the legs and install steel tubing, basically replacing where the leg boes would be. By using steel tubing you can make the mount separate from the base to allow easier transporting, and it will not bend over time.

Thanks Wildlifedesigner,



I have been looking at google for ideas. What did you type in for the search? I found a picture of an ibex running uphill like that sheep form and really liked it. The other pose I thought that would look nice is right before an animal begins to run, when it sort of crouches down and all its muscles flex. I feel very confident that my taxidermist can do whatever pose I want as he has been very good catering to my choice of poses. I normally use my artistic abilities and draw out what I want then he looks it over and sees what he can do. He has always been able to find (or make) a pose that suits my liking.



Sevens