Sportsman's Taxidermy © 2009
Small Mammals
Animals, coyote size 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 carcase cools completely, put it 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.
Sportsman's Taxidermy
221 W. Pine St.
Junction City, Ks. 66441
785 238 1236
taxiderm@cox.net
Trophy Field Care
Birds
Do not gut the bird. Rinse off any blood on the feathers with water. Take the bird immediately to your taxidermist or freeze it. Put the bird in a plastic bag being careful not to damage the feathers, including the tail. If the birds tail feathers do not fit in the bag do not bend them. Let the tail feathers stick out of the bag and tie the bag loosely.
Fish
Do not gut your fish. If you can not take you 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 safely be kept in the freezer for months.
Note: A fish will loose 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 the particular fish.
Tips
Always have appropriate tags with your trophies when you take them to your taxidermist. Do not cut the ears for attachement.
- songbirds, Eagles, Hawks and Owls are protected by Federal Law and can not be mounted unless with special Federl permit.
- For situations when you are hunting with no available texidermist 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 tha can preserve your hide for later mounting.
2.
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 in mounting. Remember, the taxidermist can cut off excess hide but he can't add what he does not have.
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 in mounting. Remember, the taxidermist can cut off excess hide but he can't add what he does not have.Skinning Life-Size Big Game
There are two major methods of skinning for a large life-size mount such as deer, elk or bear. These methods are the flat incision and the dorsal method.
Field Dressing
1.With the deer on its back a shallow cut through the skin just below the breastbone. Make sure that you start your cut well away from the brisket allowing plenty of uncut skin for your shoulder mount. Insert two finger of the free hand, cradling the blade, to hold the skin up and away from the entrails (Figure A).
With the deer on its back a shallow cut through the skin just below the breastbone. Make sure that you start your cut well away from the brisket allowing plenty of uncut skin for your shoulder mount. Insert two finger of the free hand, cradling the blade, to hold the skin up and away from the entrails (Figure A).2.Cut straight down the belly and around the genitals, separating but not serving them from the abdominal wall. Slit the belly skin all the way to pelvic bone (Figure B).
Cut straight down the belly and around the genitals, separating but not serving them from the abdominal wall. Slit the belly skin all the way to pelvic bone (Figure B).Caping, the process of skinning out a trophy animal, is best left to the taxidermist. Their experience skinning, especially the delicate 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, are areas not near you taxidermist, a competent person may be required to cape out the hide in order to preserve it.
Every taxidermist has a preferred method of caping a hide. Contact your taxidermist prior to your hunt in order to get instructions their caping requirement. However, the following techniques are generally acceptable.
The Flat Incision
The flat incision is used for rug mounts and for a variety of poses. The areas to be cut are shown in Figure 1. Make these slits (cutting the feet free from the carcass) and pull the skin off the carcass. The head is detached as with the shoulder mount.
The Dorsal method
The dorsal method of skinning involves a long slit down the back (from the tail bone up into the neck). The carcass is skinned as it is pulled through this incision. The feet/hooves and the head are cut off from the carcass as with a shoulder mount explained later. Only use this method with approval and detailed instructions from you taxidermist. Use this method only when the skin can be frozen quickly after skinning.
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 deep 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 do need to drag it out with a rope attach the rope to the base of the antlers and drag your trophy carefully.
Caping for a Shoulder Mount
1.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 leg and joining the body cut behind the legs (Figure 2A and 2B).
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 leg and joining the body cut behind the legs (Figure 2A and 2B).3.Cut deeply around the rectum, being careful not to cut off or puncture the intestine. Pull to make sure the rectum is separated from tissue connecting it to the pelvic canal. Pull the rectum out and tie string tightly around it to prevent droppings from touching the meat. Lift the animal's back quarter a bit, reach into the front of the pelvic canal, and pull the intestine and connected rectum into the stomach area.
Cut deeply around the rectum, being careful not to cut off or puncture the intestine. Pull to make sure the rectum is separated from tissue connecting it to the pelvic canal. Pull the rectum out and tie string tightly around it to prevent droppings from touching the meat. Lift the animal's back quarter a bit, reach into the front of the pelvic canal, and pull the intestine and connected rectum into the stomach area.
4If you want to make a full shoulder mount, do not cut open the chest cavity. Cut the diaphragm away from the ribs all the way to the backbone area. Reach into the forward chest cavity, fine the esophagus and windpipe, cut them off as far up as possible (Figure C), and pull them down through the chest.
If you want to make a full shoulder mount, do not cut open the chest cavity. Cut the diaphragm away from the ribs all the way to the backbone area. Reach into the forward chest cavity, fine the esophagus and windpipe, cut them off as far up as possible (Figure C), and pull them down through the chest.5Roll the deer onto its side, grab the esophagus with one hand and the rectum/intestine with the other. Pull hard. The deer's internal organs will come out in one big package with a minimum of mess.
Roll the deer onto its side, grab the esophagus with one hand and the rectum/intestine with the other. Pull hard. The deer's internal organs will come out in one big package with a minimum of mess.The following information and illustrations have been provided by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply. www.mckenziesp.com
