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Be sure to use the information found on this page before you go on that next hunting or fishing trip. At
the bottom of the page you can download the file to save to your hard drive and print at a later time.
Proper field care is essential for the best quality mount
If possible always select the best specimen for mounting, large healthy prime animals are best.
Avoid ones with missing or broken hair, unprime animals. Fish with bad body scarring, and facial deformity. Birds with pin
feathers (Summer, Fall) missing and broken feathers.
Important do`s and dont`s
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Do not leave trophy in direct sunlight
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Do not wrap in plastic, unless on ice or in a freezer
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Avoid over shooting (excess damage)
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When dragging out your trophy, use care to avoid damage to hair. If possible carry out the
trophy.
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Freeze trophy, or get to the Taxidermist in a timely manner outlined below.
How to cape for a full shoulder mount
Using a very sharp knife make a cut along the circumference of the body 6 inches behind the
back of the front leg, next make a cut around the front legs, 6 inches beneath the body.
(see figure 1)
Next, make a cut from the leg cut to the circumference cut, following the hairline, where the
white hair meets the brown.
(see figure 2)
Next, make a cut along the spine, starting at the base of the skull, make one long,
straight cut to the circumference cut.
(see figure 2)
Now you can start skinning out the body, go slowly if needed to avoid cutting deeply into the
hide or through it, a deep "nick" could turn into a hole at the tannery. Once you get to the base of the skull the head can
be cut loose.
Keep in a shady cool place, or in a cooler with ice, take to the Taxidermist within 24 - 48
hours, or place in plastic trash bags and freeze.
Gamebirds
Select the best possible specimen for mounting, pin feathers, broken and or missing feathers
will make a leeser quality mount. Avoid gutting if at all possible!
Keep your specimen in a cool shady area, or in a cooler with ice, take to the taxidermist within
24 - 48 hours or place in plastic bags and freeze. Avoid bending or breaking the tail feathers.
Fish
Never gut a fish for mounting, once caught keep the fish wet and in a cooler with ice, take
to the taxidermist within 24 -72 hours, or wrap in a wet towel, place in several trash bags and freeze. For reproduction fish,
take several pictures from different angles, along with the total length and grirth measurment.
Small Mammals
For animals Coyote sized and smaller; never gut the animal, Skinning should only be attemped
by a qualified individual. For Foxes, Coyotes and Bobcats, take to your Taxidermist within 24 hours, or place in plastic bags
and frozen immediatly after harvest. Predators will begin to spoil very soon after harvesting, hairslip on the ears and stomach
will occur if not properly taken care of, it will become evident during the tanning process. All other small mammals should
be frozen or taken to the Taxidermist within 24 - 48 hours.
Large Lifesize
Skinning for a full body mount should only be preformed by an experience individual. One should
only attempt if you are in a remote area or for whatever reason you have no other choice.
Contact me in advance if this might occur and you can stop by and go over in detail how to
skin for a full body mount.
Flat incision method
This is the incision that should be used for making a rug mount, and most full body mounts.
Non-antlered big game (bear) should be cut as follows; make one long straight cut down the middle of the stomach, from
the base of the tail to middle of the front legs. Next make a cut from the ankle joint to the stomach cut, repeat on the remaining
legs. Remember the cuts should all be one straight continous incision, do not stop and start the knife.
(see figure 1A)
Now proceed skinning out the body avoiding any deep cuts or nicks. Cut loose the feet, tail
and head as you come to each.
For antlered game; one additional cut must be made from the base of the skull to the base of
the neck, this cut should be made at the middle point at the top of the spine.
(see figure 2A)
Now skin out to the base of the skull and cut loose the head.
Dorsal incision method
With this method one long straight cut is made from the base of the skull to the base
of the tail, the next cut is made from the ankle joint to the knee joint, repeat on remaining legs. Compeletly skin out
the body along these cuts, free the head, feet and tail.
Tips for out of State hunts
Contact the local meat processors and Taxidemists in the area of your hunt, They all have freezers
usually for a small fee they will freeze your Trophys until you leave. If you are staying in a Hotel buy a small 3 - 8 cu.
ft. freezer and keep in the room. once unplugged they will stay frozen for 2-3 days. Locate an airmail service, U.S.P.S.
UPS or FedEx and ship back home overnight.
If using an outfitter contact them and find out what they do to keep the trophy in good condition.
If your trophy cannot be frozen then it must be completly skinned, turned and salted. If this is the case contact me well
before the trip and I will go over the steps for this.
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