I always cut way behind the shoulders, about half way to the back. That leaves alot of hide to work with. I also pull the legs out, instead of cutting up the legs. The guy that did my last mount told me it would stay good for atleast a year.
I wish I had more customers like you. You wouldn't believe how many short capes I get.
As long as your deer head is wrapped up well and remains frozen it will "probably" be ok. Freezer burn starts appearing after six months or so and makes caping the head a lot harder especially when trying to turn the ears. Even though a lot of taxidermists won't get your mount back to you in less than a year you can bet that most of them will do the preliminary work like caping, splitting the lips, and turning the ears ASAP. Once the cape has been fleshed, salted and tanned it will keep for a very long time in the freezer.
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Radiant Silver SE K/C 4X4, Big Tow, Off Road Pkg, Utility bed pkg., Prefered with Captains, Factory step rails, Factory bug deflector.
2005 Xterra,Canteen Green, with Power Pkg. Utility Pkg.
2001 Polaris Sportsman 500.
I wish I had more customers like you. You wouldn't believe how many short capes I get.
As long as your deer head is wrapped up well and remains frozen it will "probably" be ok. Freezer burn starts appearing after six months or so and makes caping the head a lot harder especially when trying to turn the ears. Even though a lot of taxidermists won't get your mount back to you in less than a year you can bet that most of them will do the preliminary work like caping, splitting the lips, and turning the ears ASAP. Once the cape has been fleshed, salted and tanned it will keep for a very long time in the freezer.
I am trying to save up for a .50bmg, I have wanted one for years. That is the only reason it is not already at the taxidermist. I guess I just need to get off my arse and get it to someone.
As long as it's frozen "hair slippage" is not to bad of a problem, but yes your right, it can happen. A lot depends on the condition of the head before it was frozen. Hair slipage is most often caused by bacteria. You wouldn't believe the condition I get some of my heads in. I'm a taxidermist not a miracle worker, but some people think that taxidermists can fix anything. The deer i'm working on now was shot through the neck with a 12 gauge slug, you can imagine the amount of damage that occured. Bullet holes can be repaired but to fix them properly I have to cut a larger hole to take out any damaged hide and any cut hair. This makes the neck smaller and a lot harder to slip over the form. I could use a smaller form but i'm sure the customer wouldn't be very happy about that.
I had one guy bring in a head and wanted a full shoulder mount on it. After it thawed out I discovered it was just barely long enough to make a neck mount. The newer forms take a lot of hide, I just wish I could skin the whole deer out myself, it would sure make my job a lot easier.
If you paid $250.00 for your mount you got a bargain. Looks like he did a very, very good job on it. That's what I charge, and if I were to break it down on how much per hour I would just be making around minimum wage, lol. Thankfully I don't depend on my taxidermy money to put food on the table, but it does pay for my hunting lease every year, plus a little "she money" if you know what I mean.
I know a couple guys that do taxidermy and have listened to a few HORROR stories. I think the best one was when a guy brought in a head and wanted a full shoulder mount and when my buddy asked to see "what he had" he couldn't believe his eyes. Turns out after the guy got to his deer and it was still alive so he decided to finish him off BY CUTTING HIS THROAT!!!! Damn near cut the entire head off. I have seen quite a few with the "BRISKET" cut all the way through and half way up the neck. I can imagine some of the things you have seen.
After I got done decorating this Buck like a christmas tree I stabbed it with an ice pick in the neck .lol Tempting but no. If the kids were not there I probably would have.
After I got done decorating this Buck like a christmas tree I stabbed it with an ice pick in the neck .lol Tempting but no. If the kids were not there I probably would have.
Is that really you? If it is how did you get that buck to do that? Did you raise it?
Is that really you? If it is how did you get that buck to do that? Did you raise it?
My guess he is in a park somewhere. Not saying all PA deer are stupid but when I visit up there for the wifes family and we hot some of the parks like Valley Forge the deer are dumb as dirt. They travel is herds and they are around the parking lots they are coming at cars before you even get out.
My problem is that the poor buck has antler dressing and the rest of the bucks are make fun of him.
My thoughts exactly. Or in some other "protected" area. We have a place in the Smokies called Cades Cove, the deer there haven't been hunted in many, many years and they have lost all fear of humans. They will come up to cars looking for handouts, which of course is against the law. It certainly isn't typical behavior, and even these "tame" deer can become aggresive and harm or even kill humans during the rut. It also gives these "city" folks a false impression of how truly wild deer behave.
I live in a private development, These deer are so tame that they will approach you even if you don't have food. They are looking for food. I don't make it a habit to feed wildlife but sometimes the kids want to see them up close, not to close though they stay on the deck. My property backs up to state game land. I could actually walk out in the morning in my slippers and take one. On the game land of course. By no means are they protected in my area you just have to take them in the gameland which I am fortunate enough that people feed them on a regular basis so I just wait for them to come down the path leading to the development the death trail I call it. I know it's probably not sporty enough for some, But it fills my quota and my freezer. You think being close to a buck is cool wait till I dig out the Bear pictures, That's some sick Sh!t. My problem is that the poor buck has antler dressing and the rest of the bucks are make fun of him You think he is a Rudolph, There is a buck running around here with a arrow sticking out of his skull. I been trying to get close to him to pull it out but he's a little skidish.
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05-13-2008, 05:28 PM
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