Field Care
Game animals are typically brought to our shop caped from the neck down. If you are not confident in your ability to cape off the head of a game animal, please do not attempt it. Repairs made on the face of an animal require tedious work, and may still be visible after repair. We will finish caping off any animal that is brought to us for no additional charge, but it is important that they are kept cool and dry and brought to us in a timely manner.
Improper handling of game in the field can adversely affect the quality of the tan, and may result in hair slippage and rot. It is important that the hide is removed from the carcass and cooled as soon as possible after the taking of an animal. Please also be careful to not cause damage when skinning off an animal - excessive holes and repairs may result in an additional charge from your taxidermist.
Game animals are typically brought to our shop caped from the neck down. If you are not confident in your ability to cape off the head of a game animal, please do not attempt it. Repairs made on the face of an animal require tedious work, and may still be visible after repair. We will finish caping off any animal that is brought to us for no additional charge, but it is important that they are kept cool and dry and brought to us in a timely manner.
Game animals are typically brought to our shop caped from the neck down. If you are not confident in your ability to cape off the head of a game animal, please do not attempt it. Repairs made on the face of an animal require tedious work, and may still be visible after repair. We will finish caping off any animal that is brought to us for no additional charge, but it is important that they are kept cool and dry and brought to us in a timely manner.
If you find yourself on a backcountry hunt with no way to get your animal to us quickly, you should cape off the animal, allow the body heat to dissipate from the hide, then wrap the hide in a bag. Cloth bags such as cheese cloth or feed bags are best if you have a long hike out, but plastic bags can be used as a last resort. Once you are at camp and have access to a cooler, the hide should be placed in a garbage bag (if not already) and stored in a cooler of fresh ice. The ice should not be allowed to melt and the cape should be kept dry at all times. These methods will buy you a few more hours, but you should still work to get the animal to your taxidermist within 12 hours.
For life-size mounts, be sure to keep all genitalia intact. For shoulder mounts, please be sure to leave enough hide behind the shoulder to allow for a full, proper shoulder mount. All cuts should be made along the back of an animal - do not split the brisket. The following illustrations can be used as a guide in skinning your animal. For more detailed instructions, please watch the video linked below.
