Care of your trophy begins as soon as your animal has been taken.  Here are a few do's and don'ts to help you realize a beautiful mount!

Don'ts:

 

Do NOT slit the throat of any animal you wish to mount!

 

Do NOT hang by the animals neck.... this damages the hair and stretches the skin abnormally.

 

Try NOT to drag your prize out of the woods.... a game bag works wonders and prevents your hide from being worn off by sharp objects. 

 

Remember that your taxidermist can't work miracles and if you blow 1/2 the face off with your

'finishing' shot..... I can't regrow it! 

 

Do NOT drive around all day with your prize in the back of your truck or across the hood!  Snap a couple of great pics and get it delivered a soon as feasible.

    

Do's:

 

Bring your animal in to your

taxidermist  ASAP.....

   

Field dress promptly and take

care not to cut the hide full of

holes!

 

If you are not able to bring

your animal in promptly,

ensure that you cool off and/or

freeze your cape to slow

down or stop bacterial growth.

This begins at the moment of

death and WILL cause

irreversible damage to the   

hide/hair if it is allowed to

continue to grow!

 

Bring your state seal/ tag

and your hunting license

when you deliver your mount.

 

I CAN NOT accept ANY

specimen without the proper

tags!

 

    

                                                    Afterwards........

 

What to do with your finished mount?  Here are a few hints to help keep your trophy looking great!

 

Remember that this is a piece of ART.... treat it as such :-) 

 

Don't hang it over a fireplace or in direct sunlight. 

 

When your mount becomes dusty, GENTLY dust off with a dry duster and clean your eyes

with a Q-tip dabbed in a tiny bit of windex. 

 

Try to keep your environment stable..... large swings in temperature and humidity will cause problems with cracking... just as it would with the finest furnatures and cabinetry!

 

 

 

When caping your deer:

Cut around forearms and

slit up the back elbow area.

In the armpit, angle your cut

towards the deers midsection

until you reach your field

dressed incision.  At this point,

cut your cape around the deers'

barrel.  Peel the hide down over

the shoulders and over the neck.

When you reach within 2-3 inches

of the deers head, remove the

entire cape with the head still

intact.  Do not attempt to skin

out the horns or head, as these are

important measurments your

taxidermist needs to recreate your

mount as accurately as possible.

 Cut Here