Diagram 1 - Make a cut on the backside of the leg where the brown and white hair meet. Start at the knee joint and follow it to the arm pit.
Diagram 2 - Cut around the knee
Diagram 3 - Make a body cut about a foot behind the front legs all the way around the body. Then connect the cut in the arm pit to the body cut.
Diagram 4 - Start skinning hide from the leg.
Diagram 5 - Continue removing the skin being careful around the arm pit area.
Diagram 6 - Skin down the neck to the base of the skull.
Diagram 7 - Remove the head and hide at the base of the skull.
Trophy care is a must to obtain the best possible mount. Proper care in the field will achieve this. If you can, visit us before you go on your hunt, so we can instruct you on proper caping instructions. Below is our recommendations and guidelines to follow.
BIRDS AND WATERFOWL - Again, care in the field is a must. Badly shot up birds, because of the skin structure, can make them impossible to repair. Never gut a bird. If it cannot be brought in right away, place in plastic bag, being careful to keep the feathers straight, then freeze.
FISH - After fish is caught, keep separate from other fish so it won't get scarred or fins torn. Do not gut fish. If it cannot be brought in right away, wrap in cloth or paper towel, wet fish in towel and place in plastic bag. Then freeze, being careful not to fold or bend fins. Once frozen, handle it with great care as fins are very fragile. Take several pictures of the fish as soon as it is caught for reference photos.
MAMMALS - A professional taxidermist should skin coyote-size and smaller mammals that are intended for taxidermy mounts. A poor skinning job will ruin the hide for a mount. If the outside air temperature is below 40 degrees, the animal can be left unfrozen if it will reach the taxidermist in less than 1 day. If the temperature is above 40 degrees or it will be several days until the animal is taken to a taxidermist it should be immediately frozen. Do not gut the animal. Allow the animal to cool in the freezer for a couple of hours, then double plastic bag the animal and return it to the freezer. If you are planning a hunt for larger mammals such as bear or mountain lion, please contact me, and I can advise you on proper skinning procedures for your trophy.
