Help please

[Chip Hammington]

Didn't see a taxidermy specific forum and searching didn't bring up any related topics so this seemed like the best place for this.

I just noticed yesterday the eyes around my muley shoulder mount have started cracking. I assume it's from the dry air this winter.


Does anyone have an idea how I can fix this? Or at the very least, keep it from getting worse? This mount was done in spring of 2015, so it's not old. It's hanging in my office, and I have been running a humidifier to try to moisten the air a bit, though with the office being large, it's not really helping much, or at all probably.

Is there anything I can do? Should I call the guy who worked on it? This thing means a lot to me.

 

[aron]

I would call the taxidermist.

 

[ndbwhunter]

Definitely call the taxidermist. If everything was done properly, the indoor air conditions shouldn't be an issue.

 

[ndlongshot]

Strange you posted this as I was about to. I have the exact same situation. Shoulder mount finished up last spring, and has similar cracking. I have two older whitetails mounts that have also cracked in the eyes. Wondering if taxidermist can touch these up.

Is it proper to go request the taxidermist to touch this up if its a relatively new mount, or is this to be expected?

I would consider my taxidermist on the upper end of quality as well (price). What to do?

 

[guywhofishes]

wow - that sucks

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call him asap

 

[Kickemup]

I would call the taxidermist.

This and If the guy won't help you out for free I would find a new taxidermist. Even with the dry air I wouldn't think it should of cracked that bad.

 

[dean nelson]

From what I just read it sounds like dry preserving the skin vs tanning is one of the most common causes of this. If you Google cracked eyes on a mount you will get allot of info on it and the first one to pop up is a bunch of taxidermist having a debate on the main causes.

 

[wby257]

Get your self a brown candle and let the wax drip on a plate and take a stiff paint brush about 1/4 wide. Dip the brush in the wax and paint over the cracks. Will look like a pro did it when your done.

 

[ndlongshot]

Get your self a brown candle and let the wax drip on a plate and take a stiff paint brush about 1/4 wide. Dip the brush in the wax and paint over the cracks. Will look like a pro did it when your done.

Did you stay at a holiday inn express last night? In all seriousness, have you tried this? Sounds too simple, haha.

 

[Perchslayer]

My buddy had this happen eventually the hole eye just shatters

 

[SDMF]

My buddy had this happen eventually the hole eye just shatters

The hole thing?

 

[Perchslayer]

Almost it took two years and he never un wrapped it from the taxidermist, he was pissed!

 

[LBrandt]

How about mink oil, they use it to soften up gloves and boots, leather is just hairless hide right.

 

[Perchslayer]

Yes, sadly it didn't work the eye is a certain kind of plastic

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The hole thing?

It shattered like a marble

 

[MathewsZman]

The hole thing?

Wholly Moly !

 

[Perchslayer]

Costs $50 to fix! I will ask if he has pics

 

[Wildyote]

This cracking is not uncommon around the tear duct just it back to the taxidermist that did it. The back of the eye crack is not common. Did the mount get dropped? I am sure he will gladly fix it. It is an easy fix. He will use a filler and when it drys he will paint the filled areas. This is caused either by the mount being dryed to fast or temperature change, humidty change.

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Yes, sadly it didn't work the eye is a certain kind of plastic

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It shattered like a marble

I have never heard of plastic eyes as every taxidermist I know uses glass eyes and the only way the break is when they are dropped on the floor.

 

[huntorride365]

Wholly Moly !

Holey Mholey

 

[Chip Hammington]

The back of the eye crack is not common. Did the mount get dropped?

Nope. Transported very carefully to my office where it's hung for the last 21 months, give or take.

Thanks guys. I'm trying to get a hold of the guy who worked on it.