Calling all taxidermists.......

pabuckslaya · 10-30-2009, 03:35 AM

I got a pretty good buck on 10/19, took it to my butchers the next morning, and just got it back last night (10/29). He caped the deer out for me as requested, however, it smells rotten and the eyes are all sunken in. Apparently, he simply placed it in a cooler and not a freezer. I spoke with a local taxidermist and he said a way to tell if the hide is still viable is to gently tug on the white hairs on the inside of the ears and if they come out easily, the hide is trashed. Well, needless to say, they pulled out easily. I placed the head and cape into a freezer, but it seems like i may have lost the cape. it appears that i will be getting a european mount now

Has anyone else ever dealt with a situation like this, and has the hide already slipped?

M.Magis · 10-30-2009, 05:03 AM

Yep, it can happen if the hide isn't handled properly. Your taxidermist could try to use it, but there's a very good chance it's not good, plus you'll be out the money for him to try. If it smells rotten, not only was it not frozen, it wasn't in a cooler either.

Kris24 · 10-30-2009, 06:18 AM

Dont panic just yet. Your taxidermist should be able to get a cape for you fairly cheap. He can also get one that will closely match your deers natural color. It wont be exact of course, but it will be close enough you wont be able to tell the difference. I tell you this from experience. I had a taxidermist screw up a mount for me once, and had to have it redone by someone else. Of course the same cape could not be reused, so I had to buy another one, but the deer looks awesome now. Hope this helps.

pabuckslaya · 10-30-2009, 10:09 AM

ok thanks for the input guys. I havent decided what i am going to do just yet. Obviously, my current cape is gone. I may either get a european mount or find another cape. Still on the fence. Thanks again!

rgswildlife · 10-31-2009, 07:10 AM

Check with some local deer butcher shops, and see if they have any extra deer capes you can get. It is well worth the time to do so.

srwshooter · 11-05-2009, 04:31 PM

yep,butcher shops are great places to get capes. i am close friends with my taxidermist ,we all save all the capes from any deer we don't want to mount . giving your taxidermist extra capes is a great way to get your mounts done alittle cheaper.