This article is a basic introduction to trophy care. We will be covering skinning and caping. It is important to understand that a properly cared for skin is the foundation of quality taxidermy.

There are many types of damage that can occur to a skin, all of which will have some negative out come in the overall appearance of a finished mount.

Most animals carry with them some sort of "natural flaws". These are generally caused from fighting or encounters with predators or prey. Natural flaws are nobodies fault and are sometimes referred to as "character". Bullet and broad head damage can sometimes be even more devastating. Nobody tries to shoot the face off of a trophy animal but it happens. Often even a well placed bullet will cause an animal to fall in such a way that it will cause irreparable damage to the skin. Horns and antlers are easier to fix than the muzzle of some animal that has felt the kiss of sharp rocks. Adrenaline based damage is sometimes caused by carelessness, but often bad luck plays a part I'm sure. Broad heads at bad angles and high velocity bullets have contributed to my thinning hair.

Poor skinning is the one type of damage that no excuse in the book will smooth over. Even spoilage sometimes can not be helped. I'm not talking about the occasional skinning cut here when I refer to poor skinning. I'm talking about jagged incisions with cut hair or fur, leaving the anus and scrotum on the carcass because "it's gross down there" or cutting out eyelids so that a hockey puck could easily pass through the eye opening.

This is incorrect.
Probably the most common
mistake made,
cutting the brisket out.

I would encourage you to consult your taxidermist before setting off on your next adventure. There are several different schools of thought on how to skin an animal. Your taxidermist will gladly tell you how he likes to have it done. The old saying" there's more than one way to skin a cat" is only true if you talk to more than one taxidermist. If you were to ask me I would tell you there's only one way to skin a cat. MY WAY! Talk to the guy who will be sewing up the critter, he knows best.

I have included some diagrams with this article. These visual aids should help in showing where the knife blade is allowed to travel. I have excluded and illustration for the dreaded dorsal incision because I've tried to discourage my clients from using it, however, your taxidermist may instruct you differently. In some cases I will accept a dorsally skinned animal, but most species I will not mount if they are skinned that way.