Gutless method and caping for a mount

[iccyman001]

For the people who have caped an elk for a shoulder mount, did you use the gutless method or did you gut it first?

Meat preservation will always be #1 priority, but I can imagine that you really want to take your time when you are caping the elk head for a shoulder mount.

Do you just gut the animal first to help cool it down?
Do you start with the gutless method and then finish with the cape?
Or is it all dependent of the situation and how hot it is?

 

[cnelk]

I took the cape up to the base of the neck and then did the gutless method.

I didnt do a shoulder mount, but was going to sell the cape to a taxidermist.
When I gave it to him, he didnt want to pay me for it as he said I didnt take enough hide.
Then I showed him these pics and he said he \'lost\' the cape.

Never again

 

[bnsafe]

i started out caping mine out and using the gutless method. the first side went well with not real issues. it was awkward and slow but worked. but, turning him over to finish didnt go well and i ended up just cutting the head off. its doable but hard and takes time.

 

[WW]

You should post the taxidermist name and the name of his business so others can avoid him!

 

[iccyman001]

That is horrible, Brad!
I\'m sorry to hear that.

Stuff like that drives me nuts.

 

[bowhunter]

You should post the taxidermist name and the name of his business so others can avoid him!

X2

 

[Eyeeyecaptain]

Only critter I have ever caped I gutted first. I would assume if you did like Brad, you would have plenty of time to do the gutless method and not worry about spoiling.

 

[dapper]

Did the gutless on mine and it was caped for a shoulder mount. I\'ve always skinned my animals with the idea more hide is always better than less, the taxidermist can always trim.
My hunting partner/son got into taxidermy while in college so he could spend more money on hunting and less on taxidermy bills. So he pretty much told me where to make my cuts and while I boned the second side he was skinning the head/ears/eyes just the way he wanted them. He always prints out a form on the species we hunt that tells him what measurements he needs and always carries a cloth tape measure to get these. He has done a bear and elk for me and you can\'t tell the difference between them and the animals I\'ve had done by full time taxidermists that I consider good at their craft. However the first thing my son ever mounted, a squirrel, looked like it got zapped by 13,000 volts as it run across the power line, fell to the pavement and was run over by a school bus. And I told him so, my wife thought I didn\'t need to be so blunt, but it made him strive to be better. I would add pictures, but I\'m not that computer smart.


Dan

 

[iccyman001]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[Guest]

Iccy.......... Have you found a giant ?? :dance2:

Are you holding out on us ???? I sure hope you found MR. Huge !! :train:

You got my attention now ! :tease: