This is were it starts. The hides are shipped to the studio. I will inspect the hides then ship to my tannery. It is very easy and affordable to ship the hides to the studio. In this box were 2 wolf and a lynx.
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Picture of the hides back from the tannery.
This is when the real work starts! After test fitting the skin It wasn't close to fitting. The problem with wolves, there's not a lot of forms, poses, or sizes to chose from. I had a form similar in pose but didn't fit AT ALL! Let the alterations begin.
I start by changing the leg length. You can see the 1.5" taken out of the front leg.
I sent him pics from the internet and he sent me several he found as well. Between these examples we came up with the general idea for the pair.
I sent him this view of the corner of the room and the top of the closet where the wolves will go so he can gauge the correct turn of the head to get the black wolf looking at you below him.
Well, I guess I have in the past, but not this time.
I sent Dennis a sketch to make sure both wolves would fit where we intended them to go.
The strutting Merriam's is going to move. That will set off a chain reaction starting with the moose next. Flying turkey may also need slight re-positioning.
I keep telling my wife we have lots of room (prompts eye roll and head shaking)
But really, we do have.........
The next few pics will be reinforcing the areas I cut. Anytime you alter the legs you cut through the support. I run steel back through the cuts for support and also fiberglass rods in the cut areas.
I an going to go into the 2nd wolf now. I will leave out all the hide prep details as well as the form prep. I will focus on the open mouth and the custom welding.
Sorry of the elk and cougar picture... not sure how I posted them. trying to get this done before the steeler game!
They don't have any precast jawsets with the gum line in that I'mm aware of so you need to make your own for a wolf.
I did and will post a time lapse to this as soon as I get time to edit it.
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Lucas, I didn't mount the lynx yet but will post a pic when done.
Best of Luck, Jeff
There are a few animals I don't cut down the back like cougar and most african.
You do an AWESOME job!!!
welcome to the loser bracket with my eagles...
3 days AFTER dropping off the hide in early Oct of 2013, I had to leave work for 3 months, the bear was on the back burner.... The entire summer and winter was loss after after loss, emotionally and financially. Having to take a much lesser paying job......Dennis just kept saying "family comes first".
Well my wife and kids picked up the bear for Christmas. It's-IMHO, a fairly common mount but with uncommon details. Most bear mounts I Looked at online had a smile or looked like a human in a bear suit. Not at Razzas.
If you think he's talented as a Taxidermist, and he is, he is better as a man of character . Thanks Dennis!
It's something to also see how wrong alot of these forms manufacturers are. At least they get it close to a starting point for a true artist to take over.
I will be dropping off the three capes and rack in about a week!
All I can say is AMAZING!!!!! I have never seen a wolf mount so life like.....
Steve
200 miles closer???? If I had a wolf to be done I would be figuring out the details to get it to him and I am in Alberta. It is rare to see great work like this.
Dale is right. If I would have to guess I would say almost 50% of my work comes from out of the area or shipped. I would guess the box in the first pic with the 3 skins cost around $50 to ship.
I had a wolf done in 2012 (one of the very first harvested in MN's modern wolf hunt) and it looks like a giant turd. In fact, I still haven't picked it up 3 years later, even though it is paid for, because it hurts just to look at it.
I wasn't on the Bowsite back then, but I sure wish I could turn back time and send it to you! It was a tough lesson learned, for sure.
Thanks for posting these, they are some of the best threads on here. I should forward it to the guy who did my wolf!
Dennis , quit fooling around on the Internet and get them done! I'm kidding but I just booked a wolf hunt and would like to look at some options. See you next weekend.
Chief, It's a cattle dryer for grooming show cattle. You can also use a shop vac on reverse. I like to clean and fluff mounts the same way. Just blow the dust off. I would do this outside and start from a good distance back and move closer working back and forth over the mount. The hair will set itself.
Do not use a tip that has a tight air stream or it will just draw lines in the hair. Needs to be an open tip.
Good luck.
I plan to pull a trailer to PA tomorrow to bring the mounts home. Looking forward to seeing them in person.
Edit: Sorry about the large pic, I thought it would be a small pic coming from text message
Those are scary lifelike alive...
You are a gifted artist for sure.
Good luck, Robb
Please post a photo of the animals once they are up on the wall.....
Will definitely post a few pics. I have to wait for my sons to help me move a few things around this weekend, especially need help on the moose.
He rode on the sleeping bag with a couple wood blocks placed underneath to keep him from moving around.
That's my coffee cup setting there on the pic above....not Dennis' :)
Still have a bit of work to do replacing crown moulding around the top of the closet.
I am very pleased with the finished product.
The tape between them was extended to 74".
BTW: Dennis will be at the P&Y Convention and will be at the Meet and Greet!
I was texting back and forth with Dennis and told him I was pleased/surprised the running wolf fit so well.......the habitat was flush with the corner and the tail was 1" from the wall.
He said he figured it would be...he actually made a cardboard demo of the corner and checked the fit.
The man is very, very good.
Dennis Razza's Link
Here is a link to the trapline thread were the wolves were taken.
True artistry......
Mark
rock50's Link
My teenage granddaughters enjoy them too........they lead their friends into the room, eyes closed, have them lie on the floor facing up and then open their eyes to see the wolf lunging at them.
Great fun, but then is usually doesn't take much to get a 15 year old girl to scream about something.
This is the thread for our trip............the one imbedded above is the year after ours.
I don't mind promoting Lloyd and Jack for such a great trip:)
my best, Paul
Bring the bow and at least one arrow............still a few good bucks being seen here :)
