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Caping for a Shoulder Mount
With a sharp knife, slit the hide circling the body behind the shoulder at approximately the midway point of the rib cage behind the front legs. Slit the skin around the legs just above the knees. An additional slit will be needed from the back of the leg and joining the body cut behind the legs. DO NOT GO INTO THE ARMPIT OR BRISKET. This cut will go in the junction of the brown hair and white hair on the back of the leg.
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Peel the skin forward up to the ears and jaw, exposing the head/neck junction. Cut into the neck approximately three inches down from this junction. Circle the neck, cutting down to the spinal column. After this cut is complete, grasp the antler bases, and twist the head off the neck. This should allow the hide to be rolled up and put in a freezer until transported to us. |
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These cuts should allow ample hide for us to work with in mounting. Remember, we can cut off excess hide, but we can't add what we don't have.
Note: When field dressing a trophy to be mounted, don't cut into the brisket (chest), armpit, or neck area. NEVER SLICE THE THROAT!
If blood gets on the hide to be mounted, wash it off with snow or water as soon as possible.
Avoid dragging the deer out of the woods with a rope. Place it on a sled, a rickshaw, or a four-wheeler. The rope, rocks, or a broken branch from a deadfall can easily damage the fur or puncture the hide. If you do need to drag it, keep the front shoulders off the ground to avoid drag marks (bald spots). When in doubt, leave extra hide!
The pictures above are good for a standard shoulder mount. However, I recommend leaving at least six more inches of hide on the rib area to leave room for sharp turns, pedestal mounts, and mistakes. The picture leaves very little room for error.
Always feel free to call us in a situation where you cannot freeze your hide or get it to us immediately. We can explain the process of skinning out the head and the necessary salting procedures. Please call 707-254-9441 or 707-738-0064.
Skinning Life-Size Big Game
There are two major methods of skinning for a large life-size mount, such as deer, elk, or bear. These methods are the flat incision and the dorsal method. |
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The Flat Incision
The flat incision is used for rug mounts and for a variety of poses. Make these slits (cutting the feet free from the carcass) and pull the skin off the carcass. The head is detached as with the shoulder mount.
Note: If you can't take your hide immediately to us, freeze it in a tied garbage bag. |
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The Dorsal Method
The dorsal method of skinning involves a long slit down the back (from the tail base up into the neck). The carcass is skinned as it is pulled through this incision. The feet/hooves and the head are cut from the carcass as with a shoulder mount explained later. Only use this method with approval and detailed instructions from us. Use this method only when the skin can be frozen quickly after skinning.
Small Mammals
Animals, coyote-sized or smaller, should not be skinned unless by a professional. Don't gut the animal. Small mammals, especially carnivores, will spoil quickly because of their thin hide and bacteria. If you can't take the small game animal immediately to us, as soon as the carcass cools completely, put it in a plastic bag and freeze it. With the epidemic of rabies evident in many areas of the country, take every safety measure necessary when handling your game.
Birds
Do not gut the bird. Rinse any blood from the feathers with water. Take the bird immediately to us or freeze it. Put the bird into a plastic bag for freezing, being careful not to damage the feathers, including the tail. If the bird's tail feathers do not fit in the bag, do not bend them. Let the tail stick out of the bag and tie the bag loosely. Do not ring the birds neck. Try not to let your dog fetch the bird if you think you may want to mount it, especially if your dog has a hard mouth.
Fish
Do not gut your fish. If you cannot take your fish immediately to us, wrap it in a very wet towel and put it in a plastic bag, making sure all of the fins are flat against the fish's body (to prevent breakage) and freeze it. A fish frozen in this manner can be safely kept in the freezer for months.
Note: A fish will lose its coloration shortly after being caught. A good color photograph immediately after the catch may enable the taxidermist to duplicate the natural color tones of that particular fish.
Tips
- Always have appropriate tags with your trophies when you take them to us.
- Do not cut off the ears for attachment.
- Songbirds, eagles, hawks, and owls are protected by federal law and cannot be mounted, unless with special federal permit.
- For situations where you are hunting with no available taxidermist or freezer, ask us about techniques to skin out the entire cape (including the head) and salting the hide. This is the only method in remote locations that can preserve your hide for later mounting.
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