FIELD CARE AND TAXIDERMIST SELECTION
HELP YOUR TAXIDERMIST CREATE THE PERFECT MOUNT
Many hunters believe taxidermists are magicians and can "fix anything"; it just isn't so. High powered rifles, and magnum loaded shotguns can do unrepairable damage to big game animals or delicate feathered birds. The mount will only be as good as the specimen presented, so use common sense and eliminate hard feelings and misunderstandings later. Some things just can't be fixed.
Many trophies are ruined in the first few hours after death. Bacteria will attack your specimen in just a short time. Whitetails and all large game should be skinned by a competent person, leaving the head intact and a large cape. Refrigerate the head/skin or freeze solid. Get the specimen to the taxidermist as soon as possible.
Be sure the fish remains wet and out of direct sunlight while in the field. When arriving home, wrap the fish in a wet cloth, then in an airtight bag and freeze immediately. DO NOT GUT!!
Blood is another troublesome agent. Blood left on white feathers or white hair may stain the specimen permanently. wash blood off immediately with wet paper towels or anything available. The key here is immediate attention; this applies to all species, not just light colored ones.
Photographs of fish, habitat, and anything pertinent to the desired finished mount are very important. Don't trust your memory - photograph it! This will help the taxidermist and insure you will get a mount more like you had pictured.
Smaller animals, as well as birds, should be left intact and never field dressed. Simply wipe all blood from them - keep tails, feathers, and fur smooth and tucked into the body. Wrap the specimen in several layers of regular freezer wrap and freeze flat or in a natural position. Specimens can also be wrapped in sturdy plastic bags after the body heat has dissipated. (NEVER wrap in newspaper first) Squeeze out as much air as possible and close the bag tightly. Again, the animal should be shipped or taken to the taxidermist as soon as possible.
Use common sense and keep in mind that the taxidermist might be good, but he's no magician - he just can't "fix" everything. Present the taxidermist with a good quality specimen and he will do there best to return a life-like professional mount!
HOW TO CAPE A BIG GAME ANIMAL
Hunters should give some thought to the animal they are hunting before the hunt begins. If I shoot a particularly exceptional animal will I want to save him for mounting? What type of mount? Full shoulder? Head? Full body? Nothing successful ever happens without a plan, think about it. It's a very good idea to have a taxidermist chosen before the actual hunt and see if he will be available in the event you need him for advice.
Once on the hunt and the animal is down, you and your guide will ultimately have the task of skinning or caping the animal. NEVER cut the throat or make any unnecessary cuts on horned or antlered game. This could virtually ruin your trophy. With a very sharp knife, make an incision from the base of the antlers or horns in the shape of a "V" into the center of the skull. This ""V" cut will intersect at the top of the neck and continue down the spine into the shoulder. Always leave plenty of cape for the taxidermist to work with. The cut should always extend beyond the front leg. Once this is accomplished, the cut will simply circle the body cavity.
The cape is slowly inverted all the way down the neck to the skull. In most cases, hunters simply elect to cut the neck off near the skull and let the taxidermist finish the delicate job of cutting around antlers, nose, eyes, etc. Don't attempt this unless you are an experienced skinner. Some outfitters do have qualified people for this and if any problems do come up don't be afraid to contact a taxidermist. The basic caping is not a hard job, but it must be done carefully and with thought of the finished mount. Once caping is accomplished, freeze the trophy or transport it to the taxidermist as soon as possible.
CHOOSE YOUR TAXIDERMIST CAREFULLY
We've all heard the horror stories about how a friend shot this beautiful, enormous whitetail. He takes it to a guy down the street that assures him "he can handle the job" of turning this thing into a life-like, wall hanging, trophy. The hunter finally gets his deer mount back and swears it is not the deer he shot! To make matters worse, the deer begins to "shrink" once hung in the den and within months, the wife is threatening divorce if the "eye-sore" is not retired to the attic!
Choosing a taxidermist is sometimes like playing the lottery; there is always a chance you could choose the right one. A few suggestions may help sportsmen decide if the taxidermist chosen is the right one for them
(1) Is he licensed by the State? In Pennsylvania, a taxidermist must be licensed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission in order to have in his possession taxidermy specimens belonging to another person. In the case of waterfowl or migratory birds, a taxidermist must also hold a federal taxidermy license.
(2) Reputation. Simply put, "Have you heard anything bad about the guy." If so, check it out thoroughly. A taxidermist can never please everyone, but it's not out of line to ask for a client list and simply call a few of these and ask them if they were satisfied with the taxidermy work.
(3) Don't be afraid to ask questions. Will you guarantee your work? How much expertise do you have? May I see some examples of your finished mounts? Do you have insurance in case something happens to my trophy? Which insurance company is it?; N.T.A., Safari Club, or an independent insurance company. Above all, go and look at the individual's work, DON'T just shop for a cheap price and quick turn-around over the phone. Make an appointment with the taxidermist and ask him your questions directly.
(4) Price. Price of the finished mount is always a tough call and sometimes hunters get hung up on the price alone. Consider price carefully and always remember the saying, "you get what you pay for," wasn't dreamed up yesterday. If one taxidermist is mounting deer heads for $150.00 less than most others, be suspicious of the quality going into the work. Buy the best quality you can afford. After all, you may have waited a lifetime for this special trophy. Picking your taxidermist carefully will assure your trophy really will last a lifetime.