Tell him to find another hobby. I have had capes brought in that had thousands of ticks, literally when he set it on the table it looked like grey water running off it. Sick really. Freeze it for a week and bye bye ticks. Excuses are easy, good taxidermy is hard. Any good taxi worth his salt would be able to fix tick problems. The hide isn't the problem. Tell him to join his state taxidemry association and attend the many fine seminars put on each year and learn.