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How
to Skin your Trophies for Mounting
 Heads and Shoulder Mounts - Skin heads as shown in diagram. Make initial
cut along back of neck and a second cut forming a "T" running to the base
of the horns. Cut carefully around the horns or antlers and cut the skin
away from the base. On antlered game a heavy screwdriver is useful in prying
skin loose around the antlers.
 Heads - Cut ear cartilage from skull on the inside and clean meat away
from the base of ear. Skin down the skull, being careful not to cut through
the skin, especially around the eyes. Use the fingers of the free hand
as a guide on the outside to be certain you are not cutting into the lids.
Lips - The lips should be cut close to
the skull, leaving the lips attached to the skin. The inside of lips should
then be slit.
 Scalps - Make sure that scalps are cut long enough for the type of mount
desired. Scalps for these mounts should be cut BEHIND the forelegs in order
to include enough of the brisket for a full shoulder mount. It is best
to have the whole front half minus the feet. It is not necessary to clean
the skull. The top of the skull with horns or antlers is all that is needed.
Merely saw off the top of the skull through center of eyes after skinning
is completed.
Salting - Remove ALL flesh and fat, salt
well - rub salt into scalp - and roll up overnight; then turn scalp flesh
side out, resalt, stretch, and semi-dry in shade; when all liquid has drained,
roll up for shipping flesh side out.
Do not let skins dry in folds, as hair
will slip. Fine dairy or table salt is best. Ship as soon as possible.
- Six (6) pounds of salt are needed for the
average deer hide.
- Eighteen (18) pounds of salt are needed for
elk skins and scalps triple (3x) of the above.
Skinning for Lifesize
Mounting
Cut the skin open by a clean, straight
cut in the middle of the under surface of the body. Split the legs open
throught the center of the hairline down each of the legs. The incision
of the front legs should meet the belly cut in the center of brisket. Rear
should meet 3" (inches) below anus. Always cut around genitals - NEVER
through them. Always make a clean even cut. With the grain of the hair
and never against it.
Leave scalps, hooves, and paws attached
to the hide. Take measurements of the body. Clean hide of all flesh and
salt heavily. For skinning head, and care of hide, see instructions above.
Don't skin small animals like squirrels,
mink, marmots, etc. Please freeze whole and ship frozen as soon as possible.
(We use the carcass for reference in mounting.) |
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