Mounts; simple question.
 

Is it possible to have a cape mount done with only the skull plate/antlers?

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

You bet, as long as you can find a cape. Taxidermist cuts it off like that any way.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Yes

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

yes it is possible. The taxidermist will charge you extra because he will have to buy a cape from someone elses deer and put it with yours but it can be done. Will probably cost around a hundred dollars to get a good cape.
JOE

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Alright, thanks folks.

We can't afford to have the buck I shot mounted right now, but I may decide to have it done sometime this spring/summer.

My father doesn't feel that its big enough to merit a cape mount anyhow, so I'll be paying for it myself.

Do taxidermists regularly have extra capes or how will I have to go about that?

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

You could always freeze your cape, if you didn't already cut it off. otherwise, if it is still whole, you can find how to cut it off online, or ask in the taxidermy forum, or just wait and shoot a deer during the next season when you want to mount it.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

That's a shame Dan, it's your first and very special.

Many taxidermists have extra capes, they keep them just in case or they can get you one. It's no problem to do it later, plus if you think about it, you prolly won't see it for more than a year anyway so you'll have time to pay for it even if you decide to do it now. Good luck, I wish you the best.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

I already cut it off, we don't have a large enough freezer to have stored it in.

Otherwise thats what I would've done.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Shoot another deer of similar size and take him the cape.:D

The local taxidermist here trades a handmade antler plaque ($85 value) for a large good condition cape.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Well Rob, you have to understand the fact that my dad isn't what you'd call a trophy hunter. He doesn't believe in QDM, he shoots whats legal and keeps the meat. If it's got antlers he cuts them off and they go in a pile with the rest of them.

I grew up with that, but I feel differently about it than he does. I mentioned getting it mounted the day I shot it and his reply was "Nah, he isn't big enough to have mounted. Wait until you get something bigger."

Slightly disapointing, but we're on oppisite ends of the spectrum when it comes to hunting.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

You should put a picture of ot on here

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Well, if you insist, how about I post several?







:D;)

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

What i would do is take the rack in and get it done with another cape and then keep a few capes next year and give to the taxidermist as payback. The deer i got mounted iwasn't planned so i cut the head off the cape and had it sitting in the shed, but i had a taxidermist from ontario hunting on my place who said he would do it for free as long as I would give him a few capes the next year he came up. So that was the deal.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Problem with that is we're only allowed one deer per year in Washington.

Unless I travel to another state that allows me multiple deer and I shoot one and bring the cape back, chances are I won't have any extras to give to the taxidermist.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Take the one off of next years buck then, or cape out your dads, your cousins, your neighbors etc just get a cape to replace it. Its a good idea to start caping out several animals so that when it comes to one you wanna take to the taxi you don't make it look like a chop job. [8D]

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

This year i shot a buck early season and didnt recover it that night. When i came back it was eaten by coyotes and the cape wasnt any good. Last month i killed another buck that was smaller than my first so i used the cape from it for the first buck.

See if you can get a cape from somebody you know that shot a deer that they arent going to mount or possibly a mature doe...

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

contact your local meat processor, they usually have several during deer season and most of the time will give you one. it's worth checking into

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Keep your eyes open for a fresh roadkill. I messed up the cape on my first deer, and my taxidermist picked up a roadkill he saw hit. It was the same size as the deer I shot, so he used it for my mount. Didn't charge me any extra, but I bought him and his girlfriend dinner as a 'thanks'.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

If you do decide to mount it, I want you to be aware of what time you get it done. First of all, I'm not sure how many taxidermists "stockpile" capes year round. Second of all, if you decided to get it mounted Sept. or Oct. 2007 then the cape fee might be a little higher than if you wait until Dec. The reason is, that early in the season there will be short haired capes and good ones tend to fetch a higher price than long haired capes (taken from deer in the winter months). Plus, if you wait until Nov./Dec. there it will probably be easier to come across a cape b/c of all the gun hunting going on at this time.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Washinton hunter I am wondering what part of washington you are from? From your pictures it looks like Spokane.

C

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

You'd be correct.

Pictures were taken on Mica Peak, looking south.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

That's a shame.

Anyhow, most good taxidermists will have capes and they will charge you $30-$70 for the cape in my area. I just traded the cape of my NY rifle buck to a taxidermist for his services to cut, boil, and bleach the skull for a european mount. Now he will use that cape for mounting someone elses deer. I have a rack from years ago I plan to do this with someday.........he isn't huge but will probably be the most fulfilling and memorable hunt I will ever see so eventually he will get mounted.

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

just to ad to this even though it has already been answered. yes you can. I had two remounted after getting damaged in a home fire. My taxi had extra capes he keeps in the freezer and he made them fit like a glove. you would never know the capes came from other bucks. Hope it works out.
Dan

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

I am from Spokane as well, I hunt over by the towers (browns Mt.) I have some land up there, nice deer by the way.

C

RE: Mounts; simple question.
 

Thanks. :)

Yeah, we've got some private property here on Mica that we hunt, we've also got a small piece of private land around Colville that we hunt turkeys on, I haven't ventured up there for deer yet.

We also go way north to Vulcan Mt for Mulies in September, but thats all state land. A lot like hunting private during archery season though, you're lucky to see one other truck with a hunter driving it in September.