Field Care

Big Game: Big game animals that are to be shoulder mounted, rugged or life-size mounted require immediate skinning and cooling to prevent bacteria growth that will cause “slippage” of hair or fur.  Do not cut the throat of any animal that is intended for mounting.  Do not delay delivery to the taxidermist, especially in mild weather.  Do not leave your trophy in direct sunlight. 

Shoulder mounted animals should be caped out with enough hide (approximately 12-inches behind the shoulders) for the taxidermist to work with.  Animals intended for life-size mounting should be skinned dorsally (up the spinal column to the neck juncture).  Animals intended for rugs should be skinned ventrally (up the belly and down the arms and legs).  Do not salt a hide or cape if the skull, feet, tail or hooves have not been removed from the hide.  WMT prefers that you do not attempt to remove the skull, feet, tail or hooves from a hide or cape if you are not skilled in doing so.  Every effort should be made to freeze your hide or cape (in plastic bags) if delivery to your taxidermist is delayed.

Small Game:  Small game animals that are to be shoulder mounted, rugged or life-size mounted require immediate cooling to prevent bacteria growth that will cause “slippage” of hair or fur.   Do not gut or cut the throat of any small game animal that is intended for mounting.  Do not delay delivery to the taxidermist, especially in mild weather.  Small game animals intended for mounting should be wrapped tightly in plastic bags and frozen.    WMT prefers that you do not attempt skinning of small game that is to be mounted. 

Birds:  Once harvested a bird is to be handled carefully to prevent damage to or loss of plumage.  Do not field dress/gut a bird if you intend to have it mounted.  Birds should be cooled as soon as possible to prevent / minimize bacteria growth that will eventually spoil the specimen.  Birds should not be left in direct sunlight prior to transport to the taxidermist.  If you cannot deliver the bird to your taxidermist the day of harvest, it should be placed in a plastic bag and frozen immediately.

Fish:  Fish to be skin mounted should be kept cool and wet if delivery to your taxidermist will be performed the day of harvest.  If delivery to the taxidermist is delayed, fish should first be wrapped in a water saturated cloth towel, then wrapped in plastic and frozen to prevent scale loss prior to skinning by your taxidermist. 

Fiberglass reproduction/catch-and-release mounts require a length and girth measurement as well as color photographs of your fish upon capture,  if available.

 
Wild Memories Taxidermy is happy to provide field care consultation if you require additional information, unsure of  the  guidelines described above or are unsure of the field care methods for the trophy mount your looking for. 

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Website maintained by: MCH Outdoor Web Design
Wild Memories Taxidermy
(516) 993-2634

Email
[email protected]
Mount By
Fred  Barilla
2015 
World Silver Medalist