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Field dressing n skinning for a shoulder mount
I had put some pics of some hogs as I had been asked about using box-cutters to skin a hog. On this thread I was asked why did I have the hogs FDed and it made me remember a topic that needs to be adressed. As a ex Taxidermist we used to get 20-30 mounts a yr that the cape is ruined from improper Field Dressing and skinning. I have been filmed by a Dr on the proper way to gut a animal and have been filmed caping out a head for a shoulder mount for some guys that hunt in Mexico and guys that hunt in Co also. Lots of hunters will cut up thru brisket when gutting a deer and end up having to buy another cape. I will cut up to (not thru) the cartlidge in the brisket area and stop there and reach inside and grab the throat and pull while cutting it free and when you pul the heart, lungs will come to. Their is no need to cut any farther and will be no need to see what your doing after a cpl of times. With the way manikins are made now they most all include lots of brisket showing and when skinning this is easily messed up. This errow is made when 'marking' before skinning. Most people will cut down the inside of front legs and across to the other>>>WRONG<<< if you look you will see a dividing line of white hair on inside of foreleg and brown leg hair on outside. You should cut down this and back to where you stopped at brisket, and same on other side. Just remember cut down the back of front legs (not inside)and back to brisket. Bootlegg down to head and cut off, when you get good you can take it down to the last joint and cut thru joint with your knife as you would do with legs. I would highly recommend you STOP there and leave the hide all in one piece dont attempt to cut back off as chances are you mite cut it short. The next deer we take will try and include a few pics. You should be able to go from step 1 to finish with nothing but a pocket knife and that would include gutting, skinning and 1/4 unless you want to save ribs then you mite need a saw. Hope this mite be a little help and perhaps save you 50-75$ for a cape. WW
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