Hotspotoutdoors

This has not been a issue for me in the past but just in case my luck turns and I take a buck worthy of the taxidermist, what are the steps that need to be taken to ensure the deer is delivered in the best possible manner?

Do not slit the neck. When you gut it, don't run your knife up past the brisket between the front legs.


Skin it out and leave the head attached. Then get it to the taxidermist.

What HL said is right. Better to take too much to the taxidermist than too little.

DD

Ditto, if you're concerned, take the whole dang thing to the taxidermist and let him cape it. Then you can see what he does for the next time around. Just don't cut past the brisket when field dressing.

If it is possable I have brought mine right to the taxidermist to let them cape it out and take what he needs. Also most meat lockers will cape them for you but like harvey said stop at the briskit and dont slit the throat.

One bit that also helps skin down the legs. Cut at the "ankle/Knee" around it. If you just slice down it you can screw up the base depending on mount. Word of advice if your wanting to mount don't skin past middle of the ribs. Try to skin as far as you can into the head as you can. Makes your taxadermist happy.

Don't drag the deer on the hide. Load it on a sled or game cart and drag it out that way. Even with snow you will break some of the hair on the shoulder if it is a long drag. Draging over frozen ground will take the hair off in a very short distance.

Good Luck

Steve

all great tips! And don't put the tag through the ear. (it happens often)... Leave atleast 6in of cape behind the front shoulders but its better to have more.

i wont even split the ribcage when field dressing a mounter! u just getter a little "redder" when removing entrails!

A lot of great info here.
Hopefully I will be able to put it to use.

With how big some of the mannequins are getting to be its not a bad idea to start at least halfway between front shoulder and hind leg, then you know your taxidermist has plenty to work with. It will make him happy.

All of the advice is great.

Again, don't split the rig cage, hang the deer upside down and skin from the back legs to the head. once you get to the rib cage, TAKE YOUR TIME. Go nice and slow and in small increments. When you get to the front legs, cut them off at the joints, you will be able to pull the cape through like taking a shirt off a kid. once past the front legs and you get to the neck, again, take your time and skin as far up as you dare. I tried to get all the way to the base of the head. Hopefully it looks like this.

Also, try to rinse out as much blood as possible from any white hair areas. Deer are not nearly as bad as antelope when it comes to the hair soaking up the blood, but can stain the white hairs brown. Cold water, and a rag does the trick.

RULE NUMBER ONE:

Don't be one of those idiots that drives around with a dead buck in the back of the truck for a week "showing it off" !!!!!


Something that is VERY IMPORTANT is to get the hide COOLED as soon as possible. If this is not done "slippage" can/will occur. This is caused from a decaying hide letting hair loose from the folicles.

After caping the deer, put the hide in the freezer, NOT rolled up! Allow it to cool down for a while, then roll it up and place a bag over it.

If your taxidermist is open for business, you can simply drop off the hide after caping, or have him/her show you how it is done.

All these mentioned tips above, are nothing short of excellent to ensure your doing "your" part in the mounting process.



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Thanks for all the info guys.
I put it all to use today as I was very fortunate to take my first mount worth deer- a 10 pointer.

All great info. above. ABSOLUTELY no rope around the neck PERIOD!!! Also don't drag the deer any farther than you have to as the farther you drag it the more likely hair will get damaged on the neck.

Brian

a guy is better off taking the properly gutted deer to the taxi. It's part of the price you are paying for the job. Besides, if he goofs up he's liable for a cape or, they can say "who ever caped it did it wrong but I can sell you a cape". It's pretty interesting to see how they punch-out your hide and record it to insure you are getting yours back from the tanner. I watched a guy do a few of them.

if you cape it yourself, take eye to eye and eye to nose measurements.

I would say that one should leave the skinning of the head and the measurements to the taxidermist as one may not measure it correctly and then there could be issues with getting the correct sized form for the mount.