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Helpful Tips

Taking Care of your Trophy in the Field

Like everything else, quality taxidermy requires a good foundation; and the quality of your mount will, in great deal, depend on the care that was given to the animal when it was harvested. When you spend a couple of days in the bush working hard to get your trophy, spending one extra hour doing a nice skinning job is well worth the time. Wolf, cougar, coyote and bear all have to go to your taxidermist A.S.A.P. If you leave the head and paws attached to the skin and you have to freeze it, make sure not to wrap the head and paws in skin -- it takes longer to freeze and longer to thaw out. It is also worth getting a bag of fine salt from a feed store and bringing on your hunting trip. Never use coarse salt and don't freeze a salted hide -- salt won't freeze.

Game Animals

After the animal has expired and the field dressing process has begun, do not gut past where the chest cavity starts. Keep blood and dirt from getting in the animals fur the best you can, especially the face. Never slit the throat as this will ruin the cape for mounting. If possible, never drag the animal over fallen trees or bushes as this can damage the animal's hide. Once you have the animal hung follow the sketches and directions drawn here and take the animal to your taxidermist as soon as possible to avoid any spoiling.

Birds

Smooth the feathers out with your hand. Place a wad of tissue paper in the mouth to prevent blood from getting on the feathers. Prevent dirt and debris from getting in the feathers. Place the bird in a plastic bag being careful not to bend the feathers or the tail. Freeze the bird as soon as it has cooled down.

Tanning at Owner's Risk

We have no control over skins prior to us receiving it from tanning. Many factors affect the final result of tanning; climate, temperature, time of year and the care given to the animal when it was harvested.

Hunter Responsibilities

For protected birds and animals, a permit is required from the local Department of Fish and Wildlife. Game birds and migratory birds require the hunter's license number and signature. Game animals require the hunter's hunter number, tag number and wildlife certificate number. Do your best to take care of the animal in the field. After all it's your trophy.

Skinning for Shoulder Mounts

Once the animal has been hung the skinning process can begin. Make your first cut around the entire body eight inches behind the front shoulders. Remember when the animal is hanging the skin is stretched, so be sure to leave enough cape as it will shrink. Be careful not to cut holes in the hide and leave as much meat and fat as you can on the carcass. Skin down to just below the ears and cut the head off as shown in the diagram below. Take the head to the taxidermist as soon as possible.

Skinning for Full Mammal Mounts and Rugs

When life size mounting an animal, we prefer to skin it out ourselves if possible, and we need to take certain measurements. Keep the animal cool and bring it to the taxidermist as soon as possible. If you must skin the animal out please follow the instructions on the sketch. This method will give you the option of a life size mount or a rug. Begin by making your incision four inches from the tip of the chin. Cut down the throat, chest, belly, and around the genitals to the anus vent. Sever the neck at the base of the skull. Do not skin out the head or feet. Your taxidermist will do this. Remove as much flesh and fat as possible from the hide. Bring the hide to the taxidermist as soon as possible. If the hide cannot be delivered to the taxidermist fold the hide skin to skin, roll it up and place it in a garbage bag and freeze it, after it has totally cooled.