You would be suprised how many people try and present taxidermists with screwed up capes for their pride and joy.
Thay slit up the throat of their deer trophy ("as that how we always deal with the deer")and remove the windpipe. THEN decide its a good one and they would like it set up
It is about two-three hours EXTRA work using micro stitches and tiny needles and fishing line to try and do an invisible mend on the throat if the client insists on using the ruined cape. These repairs are always visible to a greater or lesser extend as inevitable hair is cut if the normal throat slitting is done
Better to always reach into the chest cavity and cut the windpipe and gullet within the body, bleed the animal out through the diaphram. As a guide I always deal with all deer that way now and once back at the larder, the windpipe is removed if the cape is not required.
Most taxidermists save good summer capes this time of year, to replace moulting spring capes for next years trophy's
The collecting period for A1 summer Roe capes is only June to August as the hair starts to get loose again by late August.
Hunt out your local taxidermist and see if he might interested to buy good adult summer roe capes. Maybe worth it?? They might pay £15-20 each for good capes, but they must be fresh, ideally left with the skull antlers attached. If the supplier wants their trophy back it is best for the taxidermist to skin off the face.