I have a Grysbok skinned for a life sized mount. Does anybody have any unique ideas for an interesting mount?

SBT, I'm having mine done lifesize but didn't request anything special as he was only 3" in horn length and I honestly didn't spend much time thinking about the mount. The only thing I can suggest is talk to your Taxidermist. They will be the one doing the mount and Grysbok lifesize forms aren't falling off tree's, in fact, your choices are slim as to measurements and pose. A custom mount will require a lot of reshaping the form most likely, and in that case the pose is left up to your imagination. Mine was feeding when I shot him; nothing special, but I'm hoping to take a Sharp's next month in Zim. That one might warrant more thought on my part. Who's doing the mount? Good Hunting, David

As David stated it is best to get with a taxidermist. A taxidermist will show you the forms available in the supply catalogs. Also, find pictures from magazines, books, internet, et cetera, of a pose you like. With your ideas, the knowledge of the forms available and your taxidermists input, you should be able to come up with the unique mount you are looking for.

Do go into it understanding that form alteration, to create that one of a kind pose you are looking for, is going to be an extra expense beyond the regular mounting price. Some form alterations can be as time consuming as the actual mounting process.

Reference pictures or rough sketches of what you invision for your mount is the best starting point for you and your taxidermist.

Kindest regards,
Mary

Thanks you guys, but I'm not interested in just the standard forms available. I'm looking for something custom, different, a unique work of art.

My lifesize bushbuck is being done with his head lowered and scratching behind his right ear. I have an oryx that is reaching hard to his right like he's is biting at a fly behind his shoulder.

SBT,

Yes, I understood that you are looking for a custom piece. The procedure I explained to you is how 'custom' pieces are made. You need to start with a regular form and then it is altered or 'customized' into the end result you desire by cutting, reshaping and foaming it back together into the pose you want that will fit your skin.

In order to create a custom form from scratch, the carcass from the animal is needed to cast it into the position you desire. The only people I know that do that is other taxidermists who do that in the field after their animal is down and skinned( and that is numerous very detailed and calibrated measurements of the whole body). Most of these taxidermists do this for reasons to sculpt forms for resale to other taxidermists. My husband specializes and is well known in the industry for carcass casting small mammals for our customers, competition and for his form line for a major taxidermy supply company.

So...your options are as mentioned in my first post, find a picture, sketch a pose or verbally convey the idea of what position you want the animal in and your taxidermist will 'customize' a form to your specifications.

The two mounts you are having done sound really cool. Can't wait to see a few pictures of them here.

This is an example of a custom carcass cast mount. The mother mold was cast from the carcass of the specimen and a, one of a kind ,mold was poured from it.


This is a purchased form from a supply company that was altered to change it's original form to the specifications of our client.


Kindest regards,
Mary

Those are very nice Mary.

A guy that used to live in my area had his mounted with one of his leopards. The leopard was standing on a branch coming out from the wall, and the grysbok was draped on the limb as a kill.