Modify taxidermy or leave it natural??

I got a decent Aoudad last year and his hair was in great shape with no bald spots but he had a blonde spot on his shoulder you can see in the harvest pic. Just got him back from taxidermy and before I picked him up the taxidermy guy was wanting me to let him dye the spot to blend in more evenly. He thought it would make it look better. I just couldn’t see changing it from how he was when I harvested but I know some guys have and sometimes replace missing points and stuff. What are your thoughts on altering game after harvest for taxidermy?

Nope, that’s part of the character and the trophy. Leave it!

I would have done exactly as you did and left it exactly as it was. Seems strange to do otherwise as it sets your animal apart and makes him your animal.

Looks great as it is. I’d leave it too

Another vote for natural.

And another

Like the way he looks and makes him a bit different than the rest. Some of my favorite animals over the years have been the odd balls

congrats. nice trophy. was right decision to leave natural. I have a 10pt white tail with a broken of right g2. they asked if i wanted it "fixed". no way. Au natural.

Leave it.

Beautiful, leave him as is. Forrest

No way would I change it. Like others have said, it sets yours apart from others and it's part of his character.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


THIS...exactly! You did well!

Heck no. Natural is best if possible.

First buck I had mounted looked different when I picked him up. Pulled up a picture and sure enough he was very dark. Called taxy guy who said cape went bad and put new one on him for free. Little hacked off due to him being very dark and unique but maybe I left it out too long and ruined it... Problem is he never told me after a year of waiting so seemed weird. Was only outside for 5 days in freezing weather. Really think he gave it to someone else for some reason since I wasn't told until 16 months later.

More than likely your cape was fine until the tanner or the taxi made a mistake. He covered it with a lie and didn't bother to let you know in advance. Would be my last business with him.

Natural is definitely best. If you break something loading him I might feel differently, but he should go on the wall the same as he went to the ground, IMO.

Totally agree. Broken tines, fighting scars,cuts on the face from fighting, natural birthmarks...I want all of that on the Taxi mount. The only thing that I would want fixed would be the bullet hole from me or something that I broke after the fact.

Leave it. I got a nice 8 years ago that had a broken tine and the taxi volunteered to fix it. I declined. The way I want to remember it is the way it was when he went down.

Mount what you hunted and killed, not something altered.

Very nice, leave it.

I say leave it the way it is.

Looks good as is.

Looks great, definitely leave it.

Leave it