How to do skinning for cape, step by step?

[mark-hunter]

The subject says it all.
I tried to search around the forum but could find such thread?

1) How to skin the cape?
2) What is next skin preparation, on the field?

Somehow, I dont think it is salting?
The raeason is to prepare cape, during remote DIY hunt.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

If you forget the golf ball, a small rock will work...........

 

[JPbowhunter]

I'm definitely going to leave something out, as i do it without really thinking these days and it's much essier to demonstrate than explain but here's a rough description.

1. Insert the blade under the skin at the base of the skull and work down the dorsal stripe. For a shoulder mount it's safest to work at least 6" past the shoulder/crease. For a pedestal i go two thirds down the belly. Just allows for your mistakes and taxi mistakes.

2. From the end of the cut, cut around the sides and meet on the belly side.

3. Work the skin toward the legs.

4. If you haven't had experience with caping its easiest to "sock" the leg. Basically at the elbow joint of each leg cut all around. Then slowly skin your way down on the inside of the leg. Once you make it down to the cut on the elbow you can push the hock through.

5. Keep working until you've made it to the end of the neck/start of the jaw top and bottom.

6. With the skin rolled forward toward the head so you dont damage it rock the head back and forward. You'll notice the pivot point at the base of the skull where it meets the neck. If you drive your blade through that central part you'll go straight through and sever the spinal cord. From here cut all the way around getting all the meat, sinew, oesophagus etc. Cut. At this point twist the head around once or twice and itll break. After that should be good.

If you want to face cape its a little finnicky. I work my blade up from the base of the dorsal cut to a few inches before the antler/horn then Y off to each antler/horn. Once there work around with either a screw driver or knife to pry away the skin.

At this point start working down the face. When you get to the eyes and pre orbital gland be very careful and take your time.

Keep working down and it's easiest to just take everything of the nose with some cartilage.

You will need to turn the ears and split the lips but if you're getting it to your taxidermist within a day they'll be fine. Neither is hard but is tedious.

Main thing is to be careful on the neck, armpits and face as it's very thin skin and easy to cut through.

I'd reiterate being careful around the eyes and pre orbital glands. Just take your time. Ideally use a scalpel or a fine sharp blade.

Except for the cut around the elbow for socking always cut from the inside of the skin, cutting from the outside cuts the hairs and it gets everywhere on your meat.

Ask me any questions you have for clarification or for more info. It's one of those things that's easy to leave detail out without thinking to include it.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Here is a great post by @The Artistry of Wildlife on that subject:
Your Going On Safari Somewhere, Anywhere, Things To Watch From A Taxidermist View…: https://www.africahunting.com/threa...ings-to-watch-from-a-taxidermist-view….16533/

A few more articles which you may interested in:
- A Good Example Of What Can Happen When Your Trophies Are Not Cared For Properly: https://www.africahunting.com/threa...ur-trophies-are-not-cared-for-properly.17466/
- What Goes Into A Quality Taxidermy Mount: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/what-goes-into-a-quality-taxidermy-mount.21308/
- Care Of Your Mounted Trophy: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/care-of-your-mounted-trophy.507/

 

[IvW]

The subject says it all.
I tried to search around the forum but could find such thread?

1) How to skin the cape?
2) What is next skin preparation, on the field?

Somehow, I dont think it is salting?
The raeason is to prepare cape, during remote DIY hunt.

What animal are we talking about?

 

[mark-hunter]

What animal are we talking about?

Roe deer, mouflon, chammy, aoudad (barbary sheep), and very remote possibility brown bear, but bear is not going to be exactly tommorow... maybe sometime in the future. (so, european game)
While above game I can arrange hunt fairly easy in my country, on my wish list is also tahr in new zealand, diy hunt... which is more complicated, but skinning will be part of process, for sure, when i get there.

Btw, thanks for asking!