Thank you sir!

Too many bad capes coming your way?

You should do a tutorial on skinning out the head and splitting it also.

Straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

For me that’s the worst part. Not hard just meticulous.

If you’re gonna err, cut too far back and give him more brisket than he needs! I hate getting them with no brisket or armpits!!

If you are going to skin it...... just skin the whole thing. Just saying.

The newer taxidermy forms go farther back so you need more cape to cover them.
No need to skin a whole deer to get the cape, just cape it.

Most taxidermists say the NUMBER ONE mistake is not cutting far enough back, don't cut just behind the shoulder- go much farther back.

The taxidermist I have used said to cape as shown above but don’t skin the head. He would rather do it himself than have to make repairs in skin.

M

My taxi said the same. And I will gladly leave that part to him.

X3. Also agree for the newer forms showing more body and more horizontal to the wall need more cape back towards rear quarters. Taxi can always cut it down but harder to add from another cape

Won't be long before you won't have a choice in the matter, Ask him to show you how to do it. Here is why.


1)most important ---New CWD state regs, I highly suggest researching if anyone hunts out of state. Not just the state of harvest. Research all states being traveled through. A lot of States don't allow for any type of brain material. Has to be boiled or capped

2)It's much easier to put a cape in a cooler than a whole head. Therefore you severally lesson a chance of Sept/Oct and even a hot Nov cape slipping.

3)You can store a folded up cape for along time in a freezer before going to taxi.

4) good capes are a commodity (barter or cash).

5) It only takes an additional 5-10min to cape out a skull

Only thing a havalon is good for IMO. I keep a havelon and flat head screw driver in my mule. On elk I use handle of my spoon for bases.

True but I don’t like the taste of fur so, someone has to skin it at some point.

How long is a cape good for in the freezer?

Depends on how sealed it is, it will freezer burn also. Not sealed I had a few make 4 years, but that’s ears turned etc, I roll mine up now and vacuum seal.

Roll the cape up with the face/ears inside the hide before placing in the freezer. This protects the ears from freezer burn. It is next to impossible to "turn" the ears if freezer burned.

Also, when cutting the antlers off the skull, saw thru the eye sockets and auditory canals. This gives plenty of skull plate to work with.

I too preferred to skin the head myself......fewer face/lip repairs, fewer stitches on the neck.

Appreciate it gents! I've never kept one in the freezer more than a month or so. Has anyone ever tried to trade /sell a cape to taxidermist as a backup?