Animal Care Before and
After Mounting
Trophy Deer Field Care
First, shoot the animal through the chest. A carefully aimed
shot just behind the shoulders is best, because it ruins less
meat and will not damage the cape allowing the taxidermist to
create a more lifelike head mount. Don't finish off the animal
by shooting it in the neck or head, instead, finish it off with
a shot through the chest, which will better allow it to bleed
out.
Taxidermists certainly appreciate a cape that was cared for
property. Please don't slit the throat on the deer as this leads
to unnecessary cape damage. When field dressing the animal,
don't cut past the sternum. Be gentle while recovering the animal
from the woods. Avoid dragging it on the ground; better to use
a Jet Sled or ATV to get him out and protect the hide.
For the best mounting quality, take the deer straight to the
taxidermist or processor for skinning ASAP. If you must hang
your deer, please don't hang it with a rope around its neck,
instead, hang it by the antlers or hind legs. Keep in mind that
hanging the animal by its antlers will cause the spread of the
rack to narrow slightly reducing it's record book score.
Make sure to tell your deer processor or butcher that you want
the animal skinned for a head and shoulder mount. If you skin
the deer yourself, be careful not to make any unnecessary cuts.
Tube the skin up the chest and neck, leaving plenty of hide
behind the shoulder for the taxidermists.
Cut the front legs off at the knee and tube the skin off the
legs without any cuts. Cut the head off at the base of skull
being careful not to cut the hide with the saw. To avoid freezer
burn, roll up the cape, skin side in; put it in a garbage bag
tying it off between the antler bases to cover the ears, eyes
and nose; then freeze it.
If you can't freeze the cape, roll it up inside a burlap bag
or commercial game bag and then store it in a cold, well ventilated
place. For best mounting results, get the cape to the taxidermist
ASAP.
Caring For Your Mount
Transporting:
Lay the mount down with the nose facing upward resting on the
back of the antlers and the upper base of the neck. Place the
mount on a padded surface and pad the area sufficiently to prevent
the mount from shifting during transport. Pillows work well.
Always carry the mount with two hands: One hand should grasp
each antler or better yet, one hand can gently hold the throat
with the other hand on the brisket.
Hanging:
The mount should be hung from a sturdy nail or screw, which
should be firmly anchored into a wall stud. Never trust your
mount to a drywall hanger. It looks neater to tuck the hair
at the base behind the back of the mount.
Do not hang your mount in an area prone to excessive heat or
temperature swings. Your mount will last longer if displayed
in an area where the humidity is kept between 30% and 70%. Avoid
a display area with direct sunlight. Smoking or other airborne
pollutants can result in "yellowing" and cracking
of the mount over time.
Cleaning:
Go over the mount regularly with a feather duster. Clean the
eyes with a quality lens cleaner using a Q-tip.
If dirt builds up on the antlers or fur, a soft cloth dampened
with water can be used to gently clean the mount. A light application
of Pledge to the fur and antlers will restore faded luster.
Spray the Pledge on a soft cloth and wipe the hair with the
grain avoiding the painted areas around the eyes, nose, mouth
and inside of the ears.
The hair of the mount can be groomed with a standard comb or
better yet a hairbrush. Make sure to brush the fur with the
grain and avoid brushing around the eyes, nose, mouth and inside
of ears (painted areas).
