Pre - Hunt Information
Overseas:
It is an amazing experience going overseas to hunt, and it is really important that your animals come back in great condition. Please give us a call before you head away, Mark can give you additional information specifically related to the preparation of your animals for mounting. We also like to provide you with written material to take with you.
Hunting at home:
Before you go on a hunt contact us for skinning and cape preparation instructions. However, for basic skinning information please look at the post hunt information provided below.
Post - Hunt Information
As a hunter you want your Big Game Trophy to look its best when you get it back from your taxidermist, in order for that to happen it is important to talk about trophy care. As soon as your trophy is on the ground it's important that it is handled in a careful manner. I will outline a few points to remember as well as outline the necessary steps to remove your cape or hide to give your taxidermist everything they need to make your trophy look its best when it comes back to you.
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NEVER cut the throat of any trophy to bleed it.
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Keep blood off the antlers/horns if at all possible (especially white hides)
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Leave enough cape/hide for your taxidermist to do what you are asking
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NEVER cut past the brisket bone and your trophy when field dressing
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If your trophy has characteristics you would like reproduced, take pictures to show your taxidermist what you see
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Always try drag your animal from its head (if you have to) dragging from the feet goes against the natural lay to the hair and can cause damage
Trophy Skinning Tips
This shows where to stop your cut when field dressing your trophy, notice the cut is stopped when the rib cage is encountered.
This shows you where you need to stop your cut for your shoulder mount, notice how far behind the front legs the cut stops. The front legs are either tube skinned or split down the length from the back of the leg. If you are
careful there is a hair pattern to guide you where to cut.
This shows where to cut the head free from the rest of the body this will allow you to get the most out of the neck meat from your animal