npaden. Not sure if its any help or not, might be. Wont be much help if a European mount is in mind. For deer or elk I seldom carry the actual head out for the weight of the head and ackwardness of having the horns attached to the head. If the cape is kept I cape it out in the field put in a garbage bag and put in my pack, cut the horns off strap to my pack, and leave the head behind. I carry a Wyoming saw or hatchet to do this and is also nice to have in case I get stuck on the mountain over night too.