Wildlife By Chip Taxidermy
Kentucky
ph: 931-808-2854
wildlife
Proper care in the field
To have a great looking mount it is essential that the animal is properly taken care of.
Hair slippage will occur from bacterial growth. Animals should be kept cool and dry. Never put a hot animal into a plastic bag. Let the animal cool down first. If the hide is not frozen and sits in a cooler for more than a week it will also slip. Have you ever left meat in the refridgerator for more than a week, it will start to smell and turn green. The blood and meat on the hide will do the same. Try to get the animal in the freezer as soon as posible.
I've had deer hides come from the processor that sat in a cooler for more than a week have slippage around the eyes and in bloody areas.
Never gut the fish. Put all fish in 2 plastic bags and place in the freezer untill you can bring it to be mounted. Wrapping it in a very wet towel then putting it into a plastic bag is also a good way to prevent freezer burned fins. Having good pictures of the fish always helps. The color on fish starts to fade right away. Never wrap fish in news paper.
Never gut the bird. Rinse off any blood on feathers with water. Place birds in a plastic bag that is big enough to not bend the tail and break the feathers. If they are too long, let them stick out of the bag and tie the bag loosely. Lay the head along side of the body and place in bag and wrap up and put in freezer untill you can bring it to be mounted.
Always hang your mount with a drywall screw in a stud.
Dust your mount regularly, go in the direction of the hair or feathers. Use a feather duster or Swifer duster.
Keep mounts out of direct sunlight to reduce fading.
Don't hang over a heat source like a fireplace/heating vent or a high humidity area like an aquarium. Both could cause the mount to crack around the eyes and mouth. Even though the hide is tanned it will shrink and swell.
Keep out of reach of small children.
Cut the hide around the body about 4-6 inches behind the shoulder.
Cut around the leg right above the knee. leave as much leg as possible.
Make a cut up the back of the leg to the previous cut around the body.
Peel the skin forward towards the head.
Cut through the neck and spinal column 3-4 inches below the head/neck union.
Never cut the throat, briscuit or neck.
Never drag the animal if possible. Keep the head, neck and shoulders off the ground if you have to.
Copyright 2011 Wildlife By Chip Taxidermy. All rights reserved.
Wildlife By Chip Taxidermy
Kentucky
ph: 931-808-2854
wildlife