A good quality mount starts with proper field care.
BIG GAME
TIPS:
- Never drag your animal.
- The actual caping of the animal should be left up to me.
- The more hide, the better! I can't add what I don't have, but I can cut off excess.
- If blood gets on the hide, wash it off ASAP.
- Don't cut into the chest or neck area.
- Cut in the direction of hair growth.
- Don't cut the throat to bleed the animal out.
- Never drag your animal.
- The actual caping of the animal should be left up to me.
- The more hide, the better! I can't add what I don't have, but I can cut off excess.
- If blood gets on the hide, wash it off ASAP.
- Don't cut into the chest or neck area.
- Cut in the direction of hair growth.
- Don't cut the throat to bleed the animal out.
AFTER YOU HAVE FIELD DRESSED THE ANIMAL:
1. Cut the hide just behind the ears all the way to the tail.
2. Slit the hide circling the body behind the shoulder at the midway point of the ribcage behind the front legs. If you leave 6 inches behind the front legs, that will be plenty. Do NOT cut through the fine hair in the armpit. Do NOT cut the brisket.
3. Cut the skin around the leg at the knee of both front legs.
4. Make another slit from the back of the leg and joining the body cut behind the legs. See Figure 2A and 2B.
5. Peel the skin forward to the ears and jaw which will expose the head and neck junction.
6. Cut into the neck, approximately 3 inches down from this junction. See Figure 3.
7. Circle the neck and cut down to the spinal column.
8. Grasp the antler bases and twist the head off the neck. Cut the neck off at the last joint at the skull. Too much neck can hold heat in.
9. Let the hide air out until it is cool to the touch. Then fold hide skin to skin. Keep cool. If using a cooler, place in a bag first. Transport to Owl Ridge Taxidermy.
10. DO NOT SALT THE HIDE!
1. Cut the hide just behind the ears all the way to the tail.
2. Slit the hide circling the body behind the shoulder at the midway point of the ribcage behind the front legs. If you leave 6 inches behind the front legs, that will be plenty. Do NOT cut through the fine hair in the armpit. Do NOT cut the brisket.
3. Cut the skin around the leg at the knee of both front legs.
4. Make another slit from the back of the leg and joining the body cut behind the legs. See Figure 2A and 2B.
5. Peel the skin forward to the ears and jaw which will expose the head and neck junction.
6. Cut into the neck, approximately 3 inches down from this junction. See Figure 3.
7. Circle the neck and cut down to the spinal column.
8. Grasp the antler bases and twist the head off the neck. Cut the neck off at the last joint at the skull. Too much neck can hold heat in.
9. Let the hide air out until it is cool to the touch. Then fold hide skin to skin. Keep cool. If using a cooler, place in a bag first. Transport to Owl Ridge Taxidermy.
10. DO NOT SALT THE HIDE!
SMALL GAME
Bring to Owl Ridge Taxidermy whole. I will gut and skin the animal.