MAMMAL FIELD CARE GUIDE
A quality taxidermy mount starts with you, and it begins prior to your hunt and the minute you harvest the animal.
Whether you're hunting locally, or hunting abroad, remember that shot placement matters. Be sure to never drag your animal, and never cut the throat. When skinning, be careful and minimize unnecessary damage, and keep the blade in contact with skin only (do not cut hair). Please keep intact all anatomy of the animal. Unfortunately, time, temperature, and location are your enemy.
You may have heard the term hair slippage. Hair slippage occurs when excessive bacteria growth has taken place causing the hair to fall out, rendering a hide that is not mountable. Bacteria starts growing the minute you harvest your animal. The warmer the temperature, the faster the process takes place. While replacement hides can be found, for some trophy animals the cost is great! Just know you do have options.
If you're hunting with an outfitter, confirm with them what type of field dressing services they offer. Many will only skin the animal and expect you to freeze it immediately. While some outfitters will skin, flesh, and salt your hide to prevent bacteria from forming, which allows your trophy to travel without damage. If you are hunting without a guide and are new to field care, please reach out to our studio and we can talk in detail about what you will need to do to ensure a quality mount.
Below are skinning tips for your reference. Please do not ship game animals to our studio without contacting us first. Once your trophy is received, we will evaluate and discuss all options available to you. We're here to help you.
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Caping for a Shoulder
or Pedestal Mount
​With a sharp knife, make an incision circling the body at the midway point of the rib cage behind the front legs for a shoulder mount, or just in front of the rear quarters for a pedestal mount (refer to the caping diagram). Then, make an incision around the legs just above the front knees. From the middle of the back make an incision up towards the head and stop just behind the ears (keep this incision straight and do not cut hair). Next, skin the hide and tube the legs, working the hide forward exposing the head/neck junction. Cut into the neck meat approximately three inches down from the head/neck 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. After the hide is removed, it should be taken to our studio or frozen immediately. Remember, the taxidermist can cut off excess hide but he can't add what he doesn't have.
The Ventral Cut
The ventral cut is used for rug mounts and life-size mounts. Follow the diagram to make the cuts as shown. Its imperative for a quality mount that you keep all cuts straight and do not cut hair (only skin). Once you have skinned the hide all the way down to the feet, you then cut all four feet at the hinged joint just above the pads, leaving the feet in the hide. When the feet and head are free, you can remove the hide from the carcass. After the hide is removed, it should be taken to our studio or frozen immediately.
