FIELD CARE

1. Try not to shoot the animal in the neck or head area. (I know sometimes this can’t be helped especially a trophy class buck. I know that if that’s the only shot you have then by all means BUST HIM!! )

2. After the animal is down DO NOT CUT THE THROAT.

3. When field dressing a buck that you are planning to mount stop your cut at the start of the rib cage do not cut any further than that. You can reach into the heart and lung area from this point. Just take a knife up inside the rib cage and cut the windpipe loose and pull every thing down. There is absolutely no reason to cut any further than the rib cage.

4. If you have to drag a deer out of the woods make sure you pull with the horns and keep as much of the cape area off of the ground. Any rocks or logs you pull the deer over could pull the hair out or break it off and make a bad spot. DO NOT DRAG A DEER YOU’RE GOING TO MOUNT WITH AN ATV. Try to get the deer up on the racks of the ATV and tie him down with bungee cords. This will save your taxidermist a lot of trouble and aid in producing a quality mount for you. I know that deer are large animals and if your by yourself this may not be possible but all I’m saying is to keep from dragging the cape on the ground if at all possible.

5. I live in Missouri and the past few deer seasons have been very warm. If the temperature is 50 degrees or warmer then you need to get the animal to a cool place to hang and skin. Your showing off the animal time should be very short get the animal skinned and to a taxidermist ASAP. (If you are bringing an animal to Jordan Taxidermy you can skip the capeing out and just bring him on over I will cape the deer for you at know extra charge.) If you can’t get to a taxidermist very quick and you’re not familiar with capeing out a deer yourself then click on the link for capeing deer and I have easy 123 steps to follow.

6. If you cape a deer yourself keep the hide as clean as possible. Do not let a cape drag or fall to the ground.  Clean off as much blood as you can, especially on antelope or any other animal with white hair or fur.

7. Do not place a warm hide in a plastic bag. Let the hide cool down first then place in a bag, placing a warm hide in a plastic bag will not let the heat escape making a warm damp place for bacteria to grow which will cause the hair to slip and ruin the cape.

8. If you want to mount a turkey, do not run out and stand on his head. This could pull the feathers out on the neck. I like to get up close and keep the shotgun ready incase he gets up and tries to get away. I just let him finish flopping around on his own. Do not try to pick up a gobbler that you just shot their spurs are very sharp and they could cut you wide open quick.

9. Carry the turkey out by the feet keeping the wings from hanging on brush.

10. You need to take turkeys to your taxidermist immediately do not try to skin yourself. If you can’t get to a taxidermist very quick then try to place the whole bird in a freezer to keep cool.

11. Just use good judgment when out in the field and you will make your taxidermist real happy.