The 14 month wait is over...

[rmk800]

I got my 2008 WT back from the taxidermist and I thought I would post a few pictures.
I havent put the tape to him yet...any guesses on gross score?
I would say 150ish?
5x4 with a split brow tine...so im not sure if you could call it a 5x5.
WMU 250 near Bon Accord.

[James M]

Nice looking deer.......and yes it's a 5x5.

[Rigby]

Nice deer! I would call that a 5x4 with a kicker. I think he might go 140 gross.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

who did the taxi work?
i would say 143 gross

[Family Hunter]

Nice deer.Gross 147.FH

[Tonto]

135ish

[rmk800]

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

who did the taxi work?
i would say 143 gross

Not sure if it will be considered an "advertisement"...but Starkey's in Edmonton did the work for me.

[alittlej]

nice looking deer ... congrates on getting it back...maybe he can get my mounts done now.... it is now 14 months and counting

[Rockymtnx]

Congrats on your buck.
Its going to be damn close to 133"

[buckmaster]

Originally Posted by rmk800

Not sure if it will be considered an "advertisement"...but Starkey's in Edmonton did the work for me.

Nice buck! I am still waiting for my 2008 buck from starkys!

[crazyfish]

looks good ! i say 4x5 with a kicker !

[Rob Miskosky]

Originally Posted by rmk800

Not sure if it will be considered an "advertisement"...but Starkey's in Edmonton did the work for me.

Starkey's is an Alberta Outdoorsmen advertiser and as such Brian Starkevich's name and work is more than welcome to be shown here.

[yamaha 1]

I would say 144 gross and a 5 x 4 with a kicker. By the way nice deer

[bonedogg]

nice deer! average mountears are uneven, ears are too far back, ear butts are too big, eyes just are not right, brisket is poorly done. I would be upset waiting 14 months for that!! Trying not to rain on your parade, just being honest.

[rmk800]

Originally Posted by bonedogg

nice deer! average mountears are uneven, ears are too far back, ear butts are too big, eyes just are not right, brisket is poorly done. I would be upset waiting 14 months for that!! Trying not to rain on your parade, just being honest.

No worries..
I welcome complements and criticism.
The Brisket appears strange in these pictures because the mount isnt the standard "straight on" form, where the body of the deer would be directly behind the neck and head, with only the head turned. Instead more of the deer's left shoulder is visible than the right, as though the body of the deer would be angled off behind and to the deers left, allowing you to see the deer's entire left side if he were standing there, not just standing dead on. This kinda makes the brisket appear crooked in the pictures.

does that make any sense? tough to describe what im talking about

[Rather Be Hunting]

Great looking deer and a mount you will always be proud of.
Well done

Can a taxidermist here explain maybe why the eyes don't look right to me? Is it the actual eye that he is using that doesn't look right?

[nube]

Barry, I noticed the eyes in it right away and asked myself the same question. I don't know much about it but I would guess to say that there was not enough build up of clay around the eye area and the skin looks like it is flat and has no eyebrow. Eyes are the hardest part of a mount to get right. I also noticed the ear buts were off but it could just be the picture angle as well though. I don't know the taxidermist so i can't comment on experience level but I would hope that not a lot of money was paid for it.
Rmk800 as long as you are happy with the mount which it sounds like you are it does not matter. I guess your deer around 140". It would have been nice if he used a bigger form as in the picture it looks like he had a heck of athick neck compared to the form he used.

[j-ROC2]

nice buck im not going to coment on the mount because im not a pro my self but i can see some stuff that my self i do diff if you check out my heads i did i duno people may say that they are no good i have no clue i did nto get many coments on them yet but its not my place to say any thing but if if you are happy with it thats all that matters i would say around 132-135 for a score

Well I am a bit concerned because he has my deer Phil, haha

[bonedogg]

I'm no taxidermist but here is my go at the eyes. I think the antlers were set too high. Imagine the buck if he shed his antlers, his pedicles (where the antler attaches to the skull) would be high. when this is done, even by as little as a 1/4 inch, the result can be the eyes being pulled up somewhat when they sew it up around the pedicles and finish the Y at the back of the head. Needs a brow as well. Maybe the taxidermist nailed the "deer iin the headlights" look

[whitetailsheds]

Nice buck rmk! And a huge thanks for showing some of Starkey's work.....

[nube]

Barry, I am going to get you a bigger one this next season anyways. In a few year your buck this year will be hanging in the garage

[rmk800]

Well I sure am thankful for the comments. I have often wondered about why some mounts seem to have "buggy" looking eyes when compared to others. Overall, I am happy with the mount, the price and my experience dealing with starkey. I have seen worse mounts. Maybe for my next mount i will try somewhere else and see if there is a difference. I figure taxidermy must be a difficult job, as it would be difficult to please everyones tastes, especially when you are trying to keep up with the workload.

It must be difficult to get the mount to look exactly identical to what it was when living. Ever look inside an open casket and see an embalmed body? I think they always look bad compared to "real life". Luckily we dont have to hang uncle hank on the wall!

Hahah that is funny, the thing is you are probably right... I am still REALLY happy with that deer though; I am looking forward to next year too.