Extended hunt

[jozwiak22]

Hey all, looking for some help. I'm prepping to take my first extended elk hunt (10 days) with some family. I think I'm ready in every aspect except how to care for the cape and or skull if I get one early during the trip. Can anyone help me out with this?

Do I skin the skull or leave it?
How to care for it until I can get it back to a taxidermist?

Any resources would be much appreciated! Thanks everyone!

 

[Hilltop]

Welcome to the forum- Please head over to the new members section and leave an into.

As far as care for the cape- In your shoes I would seek the advice of whatever taxidermist you plan to use. My taxidermist has always asked me not to salt my capes and to get them frozen as soon as possible- folded flesh side to flesh side. I have however heard different opinions on this so please seek the help of your taxidermist. Good luck on your hunt!

 

[Tim McCoy]

As far as care for the cape- In your shoes I would seek the advice of whatever taxidermist you plan to use. My taxidermist has always asked me not to salt my capes and to get them frozen as soon as possible- folded flesh side to flesh side. I have however heard different opinions on this so please seek the help of your taxidermist. Good luck on your hunt![/QUOTE]

Ditto.

If you want to keep it 10 days in the field, you are going to have to know how to deflesh it and salt the hide. To do it right, you have to pull and turn ears and lips I think they call it. Way more to it than I'd want to tackle in the field. If you want to mount it, you should be able to make a trip off the mountain and get it froze or to a Taxidermist I think.

 

[brianboh]

I am a taxidermist. If you are going to keep it that long skin, flesh, turn lips nose eyes and ears and salt with borax or non iodized salt. It would be best to pack it out. As for the skull of you want to do a skull mount just get head off and that's it. After 10 days it will stink but will not effect the integrity of the skull mount

 

[jozwiak22]

Thanks for everyone's input so far! Every bit of info I can gather is greatly appreciated. I guess I should have given more info in my first post.

I'll be hunting about 5 hours drive from my hometown. Not a quick trip to take it to the taxidermist I plan to use. I guess I may have to find a good taxidermist closer to the hunt area. Seems to be the best option. brianboh, two questions for you. How quick do I need to get the cape to the taxidermist? And are there any good videos out there you could recommend for skinning the skull for a mount?

 

[brianboh]

You do not have to do it asap. Keep water and blood off the hair as it accelerates bacteria growth. Shoot me a pm of your number and I can talk to you about it. A lot easier.