Caping out trophys, How to?

[Bowmancam]

Was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on caping out critters like deer and goats. I'd love to get future trophys mounted but have never been sure what u actualy take to the taxidermist. I have read a few things on this topic but got alittle confused when they started talking about the ear cartlidge.
Any help would be appreciated aswell as a good taxidermist in southern NSW.

Cheers Cam

[Trophy Bowhunts]

Cam

I've got a heap of photos from one we caped out last week...I'll try and post and explain...they are a bit bloody so we may only leave up for a little while...we'll see what everybody thinks..

Mick

Here Goes:

First remove as much cape as you think so go back to at least 1/3 way down animal back and down forelegs. cut down middle of back and skin to approx 3inches behind a line between antlers...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture017.jpg

then cut down inside of antlers to make a v back to the cut along back so Taxidemist can stitch flap back behind antlers...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture018.jpg

Use a screw driver to lever around the antler as it is blunt so you should not cut accidently the skin arround the antler.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture019.jpg

slowly cut along the muscle of the ear until you reach the end of it, where the cartlidge meets the muscle it will make it easier later...





http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture020.jpg

now cut down and remove the ear and muscle...cut through ear as close to skull as possible..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture021.jpg

Now put your finger in his eye so you can gauge where to cut as you have to get all of the eyelids and eye lashes...eyelids are the black lined skin around the eye...cut very carefully as close to the eye socket bone and you should get it all...



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture022.jpg


now use srew driver again to prise out the tear duct below the eye..this is one of the hardest things to do so go slow...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture023.jpg

now skin down to the muzzle as far as you can go....


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture026.jpg

now cut around gum line as close to the teeth as possible so lip will be availble for the mount...






http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture027.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture028.jpg

now recommence taking off the cape making sure you take all of the inside of the mouth that you have done in previuos pictures...you must make sure you get the inside of the cheek as this is used to make the mouth more natural...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture029.jpg

now make sure you cut the nose off right where the cartlidge meet the bone yuou will need the nostrils later...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture030.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture031.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture032.jpg

NOW IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE TRYING THE REST YOU CAN FREEZE THE CAPE STRAIGHT AWAY FOR YOUR TAXIDERMIST TO COMPLETE OR

now you need to split the lips by cutting very carefully between the lip skin and the rest of the face skin...imagine splitting your lip from the gum line to the outside of the lip without cutting through the lip...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture033.jpg

now you need to remove the cartlidge from between the nostrils this is made easier if you can use your fingernails to prise the nostril skin away from the cartlidge...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture034.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture035.jpg

The only thing left is to split the ears...I have not got any photos as they stuffed up but..

you cut all meat off the base of the ear so you only have the ear with the catlidge going down the middle...you can now use a blunt object like a round steel or back of a spoon to prise the shin away from the cartlidge from the back of the ear.. you should be able to turn the ear inside out when finished.....and not have any holes through the skin along the edge of the ear cavity....

You must then salt the whole cape pushing the salt into all the cavities and split lips etc....use approx 4kg of salt per cape.....

resalt after 24 hours making sure that all old salt is shaken off...

Then get to your taxidermist asap..

[Sparra]

Great post TB...We should leave it in here somewhere but thats up to you guys...after all this is a bowhunting forum and caping is part of it...
Regards...Sparra

[adam]

Im fine with those pics. Thanks tb. My hints are don't wait till you shoot a huge animal to put this to test. I've caped out goats, pigs, deer and foxes some for practise some for the wall.

[maxy]

Yeah good post TB.

And as Adam said dont wait for the big trophy to practice the caping out.

If you do shoot the big trophy and you arent confident in caping the skin from the head my advice is to skin the meat off the body up to the head and cut the head off then freeze and get it to someone who can cape the head out for you (or show you how).

If you do skin the head out but arnt sure how to do the splitting then just freeze the cape without doing the ears, nose and lips. That way the cape can then be defrosted and have everything split at a later date and then be salted in the normal way. We have had fallow and dingo capes in the freezer for over 10 years and they have been defrosted, tanned and mounted and they look great.

Oh yeah and when you cape pigs dont cut the skin down the back - just go round the girth and sock off over the head.

Maxy

[Bowmancam]

Thanks a heap boys, some realy good pics there T.B. very handy not only for myself but also for other users on this forum.

Thanks again for your input guys. 8)

Cheers, Cam

[Barry]

Thanks TB that is a great post and one I learnt a lot from.

I dont have any problems with those pics either. There is always going to be a balance of public relations vs bowhunter eduction.

I dont like game pics with arrows hanging out of them and general messyness that could easily be cleaned up for a 'respectable photo'. But these photos are totally educational and there are few better ways of showing respect to an animal harvested with a bow to have it mounted.

[woodstoka]

yer i think we should keep it its great :D

[Piggy]

Having never caped out a goat, could you tell me if you remove the cape from around the horns in the same manner as a deer then boil the horns out ?
Cheers

Paul

[aussiehunter]

i totally agree,this is a bowhunting site.caping out etc is a vital part of info,and the same as dressing out game..i think we should have a section purely for this,just have a clear warning up front etc..

too easy...dont enjoy it , dont enter..

jmho

pat :)

[HOOD]

[quote="Trophy Bowhunts"]
now recommence taking off the cape making sure you take all of the inside of the mouth that you have done in previuos pictures...you must make sure you get the inside of the cheek as this is used to make the mouth more natural...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/trophybowhunts/Picture029.jpg

Mick or anyone else can you be more specific as to what you mean by removing the check?
Does this refer the the skin inside the mouth?

[Garden Gnome!]

Hood wrote;
Mick or anyone else can you be more specific as to what you mean by removing the check?
Does this refer the the skin inside the mouth?


To the first Not sure, but I think he means to skin it out for the mouth as some mounts are done with the mouth open as in roaring, therefore the more realistic natural look as aposed to haveing to make fake. Hope I got this right.

To the second, yes.