I think he just doesn't want to mess with it. I saw some stuff to rehydrate the freezer burnt areas but I also saw it can be done with water but take a bit longer if I remember right.

I have a doe in thefreezer from 2 years ago and a buddy said he would have no problem with mounting it even if it had freezer burn.

Do what you want to do but I would want to keep my original cape. After all it is your deer that wore that cape not some other cape....