Taxidermy. How to get it done
- Thread starter S2sosmart
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.as a shoulder mount.
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
Don’t bleed it.
Cut around the body at the halfway mark and peel away the skin, take more than you think you will need and then add a bit more.
Skin the front legs down to the knees and pull the skin free.
Skin the neck like a big stocking and roll it up to the atlas joint. Cut the head off at the atlas
Get it into a freezer or straight to your taxidermist.
Cut around the body at the halfway mark and peel away the skin, take more than you think you will need and then add a bit more.
Skin the front legs down to the knees and pull the skin free.
Skin the neck like a big stocking and roll it up to the atlas joint. Cut the head off at the atlas
Get it into a freezer or straight to your taxidermist.
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
The above is Bob on, but If your a complete novice as stated, one would assume you’ll be being guided for said buck, and I would hope your guide would know what to do, but worth having the conversation with them before hand as it’s very easy for a knife to get stuck in the front of the throat to bleed before you’ve had chance to say stop post shot. Autopilot often kicks in.
Also, don’t go out with a view to finding a wall hanger, there’s nothing wrong with wanting one, but go and enjoy the stalk you might well find your “buck” is a young pricket which would still be a great memory to keep but might not be worthy of the investment in taxidermy, a simple skull mount to preserve the memory would probably be more apt. Keep an open mind and enjoy above all else, wall hangers come with time.
(You may of course be going specifically to target a large buck in which case ignore the above, but still enjoy the moment rather than focusing on what you want on the wall!)
Also, don’t go out with a view to finding a wall hanger, there’s nothing wrong with wanting one, but go and enjoy the stalk you might well find your “buck” is a young pricket which would still be a great memory to keep but might not be worthy of the investment in taxidermy, a simple skull mount to preserve the memory would probably be more apt. Keep an open mind and enjoy above all else, wall hangers come with time.
(You may of course be going specifically to target a large buck in which case ignore the above, but still enjoy the moment rather than focusing on what you want on the wall!)
Should have added. Novice to prepping for the wall. Got a lovely set from my first Roe buck which will always take some beating. Been shooting since just before Covid and had plenty of doe’s in the seasons but a new permission and a lot of bucks holed up before the rut just got me to thinking.
Thanks for the advice. Not chasing anything, just in case really. Trying to fill another gap in my knowledge.
If I get out and don’t get to pull the trigger, I’ve still had a good days walk regardless. Can’t understand people who don’t share the same attitude.
Si
Thanks for the advice. Not chasing anything, just in case really. Trying to fill another gap in my knowledge.
If I get out and don’t get to pull the trigger, I’ve still had a good days walk regardless. Can’t understand people who don’t share the same attitude.
Si
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Great, apologies for misunderstanding the post! But hope the sentiment of mine was well received, they’re all important in their own right, good luck finding a nice wall worthy fallow!
Further to my inquiry above.
My shooting partner took a mature buck still in velvet today but didn’t want the head. Is it possible to take the top of the head and antlers off for the wall or do I need to remove the velvet ?
I get velvet is skin but if I do need to remove, best method please ?
Si
My shooting partner took a mature buck still in velvet today but didn’t want the head. Is it possible to take the top of the head and antlers off for the wall or do I need to remove the velvet ?
I get velvet is skin but if I do need to remove, best method please ?
Si
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Perfectly doable but they take a bit more care, the velvet comes off with blanching very easily but you’ll need to hang it upside down once clean so that any remaining blood in the bone can drain out. You may lose the tips if the haven’t hardened properly but if they are gristly just let them dry and they will be fine. You then might want to colour them up otherwise they will be very pale
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Is it worth taking a photo or two of the actual animal before skinning, only brought this up as I saw a recent gold medal muntjac that had a rather shocked look on his face and the antler position looked a little off
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
Couldn’t hurt.
Something that nobody EVER mentions is.......... ASK TO SEE SOME OF THE TAXIDERMISTS PREVIOUS DEER WORK ! You wouldn't dream of giving a painting commission to an artist, without checking his work, and making sure he is good, but loads of people seem happy to hand over their deer trophies to the first taxidermist they find, often with "Mixed Results " Doing Deer mounts for deer stalkers is often a bit like doing birds of prey for falconers.
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