Field Dressing
-
With
deer on its
back make a
shallow cut
through the
skin just
below the
breastbone.
Make sure
that you
start your
cut well
away from
the brisket
allowing
plenty of
uncut skin
for your
shoulder
mount.
Insert two
fingers of
the free
hand,
cradling the
blade, to
hold the
skin up and
away from
the entrails
(Figure A). -
Cut straight down the belly and around the genitals, separating but not severing them from the abdominal wall. Slit the belly skin all the way to pelvic bone (Figure B).
-
Cut deeply around the rectum, being careful not to cut off or puncture the intestine.
Pull
to make sure
the rectum
is separated
from the
tissue
connecting
it to the
pelvic
canal. Pull
the rectum
out and tie
string
tightly
around it to
prevent
droppings
from
touching the
meat. Lift
the animal's
back quarter
a bit, reach
into the
front of the
pelvic
canal, and
pull out the
intestine
and
connected
rectum into
the stomach
area. -
If you want to make a full shoulder mount, do not cut open the chest cavity. Cut the diaphragm away from the ribs all the way to the backbone area. Reach into the forward chest cavity, find the esophagus and windpipe, cut them off as far up as possible (Figure C), and pull them down through the chest.
-
Roll the deer onto its side, grab the esophagus with one hand and the rectum/intestine with the other. Pull hard. The deer's internal organs will come out in one big package with a minimum of mess.
Many trophies are ruined in the first few hours after death. As soon as the animal dies, bacteria begins to attack the carcass. Warm, humid weather accelerates bacteria growth. In remote areas, or areas not near your taxidermist, a competent person may be required to cape out the hide in order to preserve it.
Skinning Life-Size Big Game
There are two major methods of skinning for a large life-size mount such as deer, elk or bear. These methods are the flat incision and the dorsal method.
The Flat Incision
The flat incision is used for rug mounts and for a variety of poses. The areas to be cut are shown in Figure 1. Make these slits (cutting the feet from the carcass) and pull the skin off the carcass. The head is detached as with the shoulder mount.
The Dorsal Method
The dorsal
method of
skinning
involves a long
slit down the
back (from the
tail base up
into the neck).
The carcass is
skinned as it is
pulled through
this incision.
The feet/hooves
and the head a
re cut off from
the carcass as
with a shoulder
mount explained
later. Only use
this method with
approval and
detailed
instruction from
Free Spirit. Use
this method only
when the skin
can be frozen
quickly after
skinning.
Caping for a Shoulder Mount
-
With a sharp knife slit the hide circling the body behind the shoulder at approximately the midway point of the rib cage behind the front legs. Slit the skin around the legs just above the knees. An additional slit will be needed from the back of the leg and joining the body cut behind the legs (Figure 2A and 2B).
-
Peel
the skin
forward up
to the ears
and jaw
exposing the
head/neck
junction.
Cut into the
neck
approximately
three inches
down from
this
junction. Circle
the neck
cutting down
to the
spinal
column. After
this cut is
complete,
grasp the
antler bases
and twist
the head off
the neck.
This should
allow the
hide to be
rolled up
and put in a
freezer
until
transported
to Free
Spirit.
These cuts
should allow
ample hide
for the
taxidermist
to work with
in mounting.
Remember,
the
taxidermist
can cut off
excess hide
but he can't
add what he
doesn't
have.
Note: When field
dressing a
trophy to be
mounted, don't
cut into the
brisket (chest)
or neck area. If
blood gets on
the hide to be
mounted, wash it
off with snow or
water as soon as
possible. Also,
avoid dragging
the deer out of
the woods with a
rope. Place it
on a sled,
rickshaw, or
4-wheeler. The
rope, rocks or a
broken branch
from a dead fall
can easily
damage the fur
or puncture the
hide. If you do
not need to drag
it out with a
rope, attach the
rope to the base
of the antlers
and drag your
trophy
carefully.
Small Mammals
Animals, coyote
sized or
smaller, should
not be skinned
unless by a
professional.
Don't gut the
animal. Small
mammals,
especially
carnivores, will
spoil quickly
because of their
thin hide and
bacteria. If you
can't take a
small game
animal
immediately to a
taxidermist, as
soon as the
carcass cools
completely, put
it in a plastic
bag and freeze
it. With the
epidemic of
rabies evident
in many areas of
the country take
every safety
measure
necessary when
handling your
game.
Birds
Do not gut the
bird. Rinse off
any blood on the
feathers with
water. Take the
bird immediately
to your
taxidermist or
freeze it. Put
the bird into a
plastic bag for
freezing being
careful not to
damage the
feathers,
including the
tail. If the
bird's tail
feathers do not
fit in the bag
do not bend
them. Let the
tail stick out
of the bag and
tie the bag
loosely.
Fish
Do not gut your
fish. If you can
not take your
fish immediately
to a
taxidermist,
wrap it in a
very wet towel
and put it in a
plastic bag,
making sure all
of the fins are
flat against the
fish's body (to
prevent
breakage), and
freeze it. A
fish frozen with
this method can
safely be kept
in a freezer for
months.
Note: A fish
will loose it's
coloration
shortly after
being caught. A
good color
photograph
immediately
after the catch
may enable the
taxidermist to
duplicate the
natural colour
tones of that
particular fish.
Important
If a freezer is
available, we
suggest the head
and feet be left
intact as in
most cases this
delicate work
should be left
for a qualified
taxidermist.
Trophy Care Is Your Responsibility
It must be
remembered that
the secret of
success lies in
the skinning out
of all parts
that can be
skinned, and the
attention given
to the process
of salting, or
freezing,
particularly in
the early
stages.
Other Tips
-
Always have appropriate tags with your trophies when you take them to your taxidermist. Do not cut the ears for attachment.
-
For situations where you are hunting with no available taxidermist or freezer, ask your taxidermist about techniques to skin out the entire cape (including the head) and salting the hide. This is the only method in remote locations that can preserve your hide for later mounting.
Note: Because of the various diseases that wild game can transmit to humans, always use extreme caution when handling the carcass. Use rubber or latex gloves and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling.