How to Store for a Taxidermist

Keep any taxidermy specimen fresh and clean.

Getting a mammal, fowl or fish to the taxidermist quickly is important. Search for a professional before you go hunting. Gutting and field dressing the animal first may only be necessary if the taxidermist is not close by. Caping is the process of removing the head for mounting. Be certain to leave at least 1 1/2 feet of excess skin for the taxidermist. He can cut away any extra skin that is not needed.

Things You'll Need

• Butchering knife
• Skinning knife
• Plastic bags
• Freezer

Instructions

Field Dressing

1. Place the animal on its back and cut below the breastbone, just through the skin.

2. Move your knife down the belly to the pelvic bone, encircling the genitals.

3. Separate the rectum from the pelvic connecting tissue. Tie the rectum off with a string to keep the contents from contacting the meat. Pull the intestines and rectum into the stomach cavity by reaching into the front of the pelvic cavity.

4. Detach the diaphragm from the ribs, moving down to the backbone area. Reach your hand into the chest cavity to find the windpipe and esophagus. Cut them as high as possible so they can be pulled down and out of the chest cavity.

5. Take the esophagus in one hand and the rectum in the other. Pull the internal organs out with a hard pull.

6. Wrap the animal in two garbage bags to store it in a freezer. An animal with freezer-burned ears, lips or nose cannot be mounted.

Caping

1. Cut the hide from between the ears to the middle of the rib cage and around the entire body.

2. Slice the hide on the back of the legs and make a circular cut around the elbow. Remove the legs at the elbow joint.

3. Slit the hide behind the legs where it joins the body.

4. Skin the animal up to the skull. Peel the skin up to expose the neck junction. Cut into the neck, 3 inches below this junction, making a circular cut around the neck.

5. Cut down the spine. Grasp the base of the antlers and twist the head off the neck.

6. Freeze the hide, cape and head, if necessary. Fold the skin sides together to avoid freezer burn. Leave the hair on the outside.

Fish

1. Wrap the fish in a very wet towel, not newspaper. Paper draws moisture from the fish and causes it to get freezer burn.

2. Place the towel-wrapped fish inside of two garbage bags.

3. Place the plastic bags of towel-wrapped fish in a freezer within four to six hours of the catch.

Tips & Warnings

• Tan the cape with salt, if it needs to be stored for an extended time.

• Take a picture of your game catch, especially fish, so the taxidermist can see the original colors.

• Small game, fish and fowl should not be gutted, but taken directly to the taxidermist. Make certain that fins or feathers are arranged in their natural positions against the body, if they need to be frozen.

• Do not submerge any animals or fish in water.

• Use rubber gloves because of possible transmitted diseases.

• Wash your hands with soap after handling any carcass.

References

• Wimberly Taxidermy: Animal Care
• Elk 101.com: Preparing for Taxidermy; Russ Meyer; January 31, 2011
• Still Life Taxidermy: Capturing the Natural Beauty of Wildlife": Field Care