The Black Stag

Remember these photos from back in June? Well, here it is! Here we have what I have dubbed the Black Stag. This creature is a combination of an elk hide dyed black (SO MUCH HAIR DYE) fitted over a red stag form with elk antlers stained black, a whitetail tail, and a mane made up of 1.5 icelandic sheepskins with naturally black wool. The antlers are removable. (Also, we went through the installation of two sets of antlers and three sets of different-colored eyes before finally settling...)

Needless to say, this is the biggest single project I've ever taken on. Frankly, I don't know that I would do it again unless I had some serious help. I stand about eye-level with the top of this deer's head, so it's quite large and very heavy. I can't move it more than a few inches at a time by myself.

Now, because my client is out-of-state, getting this big boy out of the shop is the next challenge. Taxidermy transport, here I come.