RE: mounting head
When we bring one to the taxidermist we skin it without cutting the hide in half so the taxidermist gets the entire skin. We don't slit up the back either we just ease it down over the neck as far as we can skin, then cut off the head with a saw and bring it to him.
At a guided hunt I was on last year, the guides caped out an elk and cut the hide several inches behind the front legs.