handling a cape after the harvest??

[GRANDSLAM]

Question for the Taxidermist??, when you finally get that bruin of a lifetime, Deer! or Elk! or Bear! any you decide to put em over the mantle, is it better to salt the cape right off the bat to prevent hair slip?? or what can be done to prevent it?

[Grunter]

I'm no pro but I've been told to salt is ASAP and get it rolled up and frozen ASAP.

[394-NTELK]

NO,NO,NO if you are going to salt your hide DO not freeze it,reason being the salt is to draw the moisture out of the hide and if you where to do both the liquid from the hide would now be rolled up and spoiling your hide in the freezer.
I would say if you don't know how to turn the ears and split the lips and eyes then don't salt just remove as much fat meat and blood as you can roll up and freeze I'll worry about salting.
Hair slip is caused by bacteria that starts to grow the second the animal is killed,So take your pictures skin it out and get it to the taxidermist as soon as possible or get it in the freezer.I know how bad you want to drive around town and show off you trophy but the longer it stays out of the freezer the greater the risk of loosing your hide.

[GRANDSLAM]

Thanks for the advice 394-NTELK!, good thing to know.

[calgarychef1]

What about if you're in a remote location? What then? I'm especially wondering about bear, they are so hard to fles out without cutting/tearing the skin. But if you don't flesh them the hair slips very soon. Does the salt prevent grease burn even if the skin isn't cleanly fleshed?

thanks

the chef

[394-NTELK]

If your in a remote area I still would say do not salt unless your going to flesh and turn.Reason being if you do not turn the ears and split the lips and eyes the salt will not penetrate anyway.Chef don't worry about the odd cut you will get better the more you skin just do your best not to cut the face area as thats the hardest to hide. now if your in a very remote area and can't get out for a few days I would strongly suggest you look into the basics on capeing out a animal.If your going to salt it you need approx 20kg of salt, salt should be about a 1/4 inch thick all over the animal let sit (on an incline so fluids can drain)for 12-24hours shake off and re-salt for another 12-24 shake off do alittle more fleshing now that the left over fat has had a chance to tighten up roll it up get home and get it to the taxidermist.

[GRANDSLAM]

Hey 394-NTELK!, are you in the Calgary area??, and if so can you recommend a good starter course/school to take to start the learning curve on Texidermy?, thanks for all of your advice.

[394-NTELK]

No sorry I'm in Winnipeg,Manitoba.I don't know of any courses to take I personally was self taught by ordering video and books,Why not go to your local taxidermist and ask him/her if you could watch the process involved in preparing a hide/head for tanning I would see no reason why they would not let you.Heck the better prepped the skin the less work for them and there still going to charge you the same for the mount.
The best,simplest and easyest to understand videos I have found are from Research Mannikins,Order videos
V-M1 Skinning &Caping $14.95
V-M2 Mounting a Whitetail $19.95
V-M3 Finishing a Whitetail $14.95
(These are U.S prices)Everything you need to know is in these tapes.
WWW.rmi-online.com 1-800-826-0654

[Mikey]

No sorry I'm in Winnipeg,Manitoba.I don't know of any courses to take I personally was self taught by ordering video and books,Why not go to your local taxidermist and ask him/her if you could watch the process involved in preparing a hide/head for tanning I would see no reason why they would not let you.Heck the better prepped the skin the less work for them and there still going to charge you the same for the mount.
The best,simplest and easyest to understand videos I have found are from Research Mannikins,Order videos
V-M1 Skinning &Caping $14.95
V-M2 Mounting a Whitetail $19.95
V-M3 Finishing a Whitetail $14.95
(These are U.S prices)Everything you need to know is in these tapes.
WWW.rmi-online.com 1-800-826-0654


Thats some Awesome Info .... I am not a big fan of full head mounts I prefer Euro mounts ...But that being said My Dad had a bear skin rug on the wall of our rec room while I was growing up .... when he moved he gave the rug to one of his buddies ....
I want one for myself now ... I so happen to be going bear hunting this year too

[GRANDSLAM]

No sorry I'm in Winnipeg,Manitoba.I don't know of any courses to take I personally was self taught by ordering video and books,Why not go to your local taxidermist and ask him/her if you could watch the process involved in preparing a hide/head for tanning I would see no reason why they would not let you.Heck the better prepped the skin the less work for them and there still going to charge you the same for the mount.
The best,simplest and easyest to understand videos I have found are from Research Mannikins,Order videos
V-M1 Skinning &Caping $14.95
V-M2 Mounting a Whitetail $19.95
V-M3 Finishing a Whitetail $14.95
(These are U.S prices)Everything you need to know is in these tapes.
WWW.rmi-online.com 1-800-826-0654



Thank you very much!, good idea to ask the Texidermist on watching the process!, I will also check on those Vid's.

Thanks again.

[RubberDuck]

HAHAHA GrandSlam your classic. Hey I was going to ask Mark at Select Taxidermy about the course this week. He told me that they need usually 4 guys to do the weekend course and its $400 a person that includes Supplies and cape you just need to supply the antlers.

[GRANDSLAM]

HAHAHA GrandSlam your classic. Hey I was going to ask Mark at Select Taxidermy about the course this week. He told me that they need usually 4 guys to do the weekend course and its $400 a person that includes Supplies and cape you just need to supply the antlers.


Nice!, let me know as I will be first in line to be one of the 4 guys to take the weekend course. Not a bad deal including the supplies and cape!, I will just have to borrow a set of your antlers to finish the deal!.. o.k. I'll get my own! :), Let me know for sure.