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Every year many trophies are ruined by improper
field care. The following instructions will help avoid costly
repairs or loss of your hunting trophy. If at all possible, have a
taxidermist or other qualified person cape and perform the detailed
skinning around the face. If at all possible, the most important
thing you can do, is freeze your cape as soon as possible. General
guidelines for hide and cape care:
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Keep the cape as cool as possible and freeze it
if you can. Heat promotes bacteria, which can cause hair
slippage.
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Never cut the throat of any game animal, don't
cut up to the chest area, and always consider removing the cape
before field dressing the animal.
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After skinning, remove all the fat and flesh
left on the skin. Be careful to avoid cutting holes.
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If needed, wash the skin in cold water and
drain.
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If freezing is not possible, salt the skin with
non-iodized salt. Salt everything. Place on a sloped surface and
allow it to drain for a few hours. Shake out salt and salt
again.
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Leave plenty of skin on the shoulder mount.
Cutting the hide too short is a common mistake.
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Skin out paws and hoofs on life-sized mounts to
the last joint in the toes and pack this area with salt.
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Never hang an animal by the neck. This will
cause irreparable damage. If you have to drag an animal out of
the bush, use care. Don't drag against the hair.
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Deliver your cape to your taxidermist as soon as
possible.
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Always wear surgical gloves when skinning.
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Skinning for a full shoulder mount:
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Make a circular cut around the entire
animal 8 inches behind the shoulders.
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Cut around the legs above the knee. Slit
the skin on the back of the legs up to the body cut.
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Pull and peel the skin forward (using a
knife when needed) up to the base of the skull. Large
animals, such as a moose, will need to be cut from the
back of the skull, down the center of the spine to the
first cut. Always cut from underneath to avoid cutting
hair.
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Pulling the cape over the head to get it
out of the way, sever the head at the base of the skull.
The cape with head attached can now be frozen or
delivered to your taxidermist.
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Skinning for life-size mounts and rugs:
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Use the diagram below as a guide. Keep
cuts symmetrical and as neat as possible. Take your time
to avoid cutting holes.
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For a life-size bear mount, skin around
the outline of the paw on one side, leaving a quarter
inch of skin attached to the pad. For a rug mount, cut
through the center of the pad.
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Continue skinning the entire animal up
to the base of the skull. Detach the skull and leave the
detailed skinning of the head up to your taxidermist.
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If you can't freeze or deliver your hide
to your taxidermist immediately, flesh the entire cape
and salt according to the above instructions.
Note: Most taxidermist prefer to skin
small animals such as fox, bobcat, etc. Keep these animals
cold or frozen and deliver to your taxidermist as soon as
possible. |
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Email Safari Works
| Phone: (828) 448-5082 |
Safari Works Taxidermy Studio | 2170 Green
Haven Ct. | Morganton, NC 28655
