Trophy Care
Before the Hunt
Taking a once in a lifetime hunt or your yearly hunting trip out West?
Before harvesting an animal or going on a hunt please contact Creative Whitetails Taxidermy. I will advise you on proper skinning methods and measurements that will help later in the mounting process. Never salt a skin unless instructed by the taxidermist. Improper fleshing before salting can create problems and raises the freezing point which inhibits proper freezing. Only have salting done if freezing is not an option and after the skin is properly fleshed.
Remember - HEAT & MOISTURE are the two main reasons for hair loss.
ANTELOPE hunters - try to keep as much blood off the hide as possible as blood will STAIN the white hairs resulting in permanent discoloration.
Field Care Instructions
Poor care of your trophy after the harvest can mean unattractive mounts, costly repair work, or complete loss of the specimen. The amount of care you take of your trophy in the field has everything to do with the quality of the finished product. Following these guidelines will insure your trophy will arrive at my shop in good condition.
- DO NOT cut the throat.
- DO NOT hang the specimen by the neck with a rope.
- DO NOT cut down the back or up the brisket.
- DO NOT get the hide wet.
- DO NOT drag the animal if possible, especially on the shoulders.
- ALWAYS get the animal to the taxidermist immediately.
- ALWAYS freeze your trophy immediately if you can't get to the taxidermist right away.
- ALWAYS save plenty of hide. Too much is better than too little. See pictures below as an example on where to cut.
Home Care of your Trophy
Now that you have invested in preserving your trophy, here are some recommendations related to caring for you specimen.
- If at all possible, avoid placing the mount in direct sunlight.
- Avoid locations of excessive heat.
- Keep your mount in a location where it will not get overly handled.
- Mounts should be secured properly.
- Keep the mount in an insect-free environment.
- Mounts can be gently cleaned by wiping with a damp, soft, white cloth.
- Eyes can be cleaned using a product such as Windex and a cotton swab.
- Antlers and horns can be cleaned with a damp, soft cloth. Be careful not to 'clean' too aggressively, as you might remove the natural patina of the horns or antlers.
- Mounts should be placed out of the reach of pets.
- For badly stained or damaged mounts, consult your taxidermist for recommendations.
Download Trophy Care as a PDF file
Download these Trophy Care Instructions as a handy, printable PDF file...
