• Avoid dragging the animal if possible.
• If it is an antlered animal, drag it by the antlers. Do not put a rope around the neck and drag. This will damage hair.
• Do not tag in the ear.
• Do not cut the throat.
• If having your trophy aged, do not cut the cheek open.
• When skinning the animal cut down the back of the leg, not inside the leg. Skin up to the head, cut off the neck, keeping the hide attached to the head. This is a good way to deliver the animal to your taxidermist.
• If you're having it processed, inform the butcher that you're having it mounted.
• Place the hide & head in a plastic garbage bag and freeze or take to your taxidermist as soon as possible
• Never salt the hide, this causes hide to pool moisture and may deteriorate the hide.
• Freeze it right away, if you can't get it to your taxidermist ASAP.

Caping

Caping, the process of skinning out a trophy animal, is best left to the taxidermist. Their experience skinning, especially their nose, mouth, eyes, and ears, is invaluable toward producing a quality mount. Damage to a hide is costly to repair. Some types of damage simply can not be “fixed” by the taxidermist. Many trophies are ruined in the first few hours after death. As soon as the animal dies, bacteria begins to attack the carcass. Warm humid weather accelerates bacteria growth. In remote areas, or areas not near your taxidermist, a competent person may be required to cape out the hide. Contact your taxidermist prior to your hunt in order to get instructions on their caping requirements. However, the following techniques are generally acceptable.

Skinning Life Size Game

There are two major methods of skinning for large life size mount such as deer, elk or bear. These methods are the flat incision and dorsal method.

The Flat Incision - is used in rug mounts and other variety poses. The area to be cut is shown in Figure#1. Make these slits (cutting the feet free from the carcass) .The head detached as with the shoulder mount.

The Dorsal Cut - (For life size only). This is skinning the animal down the back. From base of tail to back of head. Then it is cut down and peeled off the carcass. Skinning down legs and cutting leg and leaving foot& leg bone in. Also leave the head and skull in hide. Taxidermist will skin these out. Then take it in or freeze ASAP.

Shoulder Mounting - With a sharp knife slit the hide circling the body behind the shoulder at approximately the mid-way point of the rib cage behind the front legs. Slit the skin around the legs just above the knees. An additional slit will be needed from the back of the legs (Figure 2 and 3). Peel the skin forward up to the ears and jaw exposing the head / neck junction. Cut into the neck approximately three inches down from this 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. This should allow the hide to be rolled up and put in a freezer until transported to the taxidermist. These cuts should allow ample hide for the taxidermist to work with mounting. Remember, the taxidermist can cut off excess hide but can't add what he doesn't have. Note: When field dressing a trophy to be mounted, don't cut into the brisket (chest) or neck area if blood gets on the hide to be mounted, wash it off with snow or water as soon as possible. Also avoid dragging the deer out of the woods with a rope. Place it on a sled, rickshaw, or 4-wheeler. The rope, rocks or a broken branch from a deadfall can easily damage the fur or puncture the hide. If you need to drag it out with a rope, attach the rope to the base of the antlers and drag your trophy carefully. 

Small Mammals - Coyote sized or smaller, should not be skinned unless by a professional. Don't gut the animal. Small mammals, especially carnivores, will spoil quickly because of their thin hide and bacteria. If you can't take the small game animal immediately to a taxidermist, as soon as the carcass cools completely, put in in a plastic bag and freeze it. With the epidemic of rabies evident in many areas of the country take every safety measure necessary when handling your game 

Birds - Do not gut the bird. Rinse off and blood on the feathers with water. Take the bird immediately to you taxidermist or freeze it. Put the bird into a plastic bag for freezing being careful not to damage the feathers, including the tail (Sliding the bird head first into a nylon stocking is also very effective for protecting the feathers and keeping them in order). If the bird's tail feathers do not fit in the bag do not bend them. Let the tail stick out of the bag and tie the bag loosely. 

Fish - Do not gut your fish. If you cannot take your fish immediately to a taxidermist, wrap it in a very wet towel and put it in a plastic bag, making sure all the fins are flat against the fish's body (to prevent breakage), and freeze it. A fish frozen with this method can be kept in the freezer for months. Note: a fish will lose its coloration shortly after being caught. A good color photograph immediately after the catch may enable the taxidermist to duplicate the natural color tones of that particular fish.

Fish Reproductions - Take plenty of photos. Measure overall length of fish ,nose to tail, and measure girth at the widest point. Weight of fish is also beneficial.

Tips 
Always have appropriate tags with your trophies when you take them to your taxidermist. Do not cut the ears for attachment. · Songbirds, Eagles, Hawks, and Owls are protected by Federal Law and can not be mounted unless with special Federal permit. For situation where you are hunting with no available taxidermist or freezer, ask your taxidermist about techniques to skin out the entire cape (including the head) and salting the hide. This is the only method in remote locations that can preserve your hide for later mounting. 
NOTE: Because of the various diseases that wild game can transmit to humans, always use extreme caution when handling the carcass. Use rubber or latex gloves and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling.

©2000 McKenzie Taxidermy Supply

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