Trophy Care
Preserving Your Trophy For A Lifetime
Game Heads • Do not shoot animal in head or neck area. • Do not slit ear for tag. • Do not slash throat. • Do not drag animal long distances. (wrap in tarp or use a cart) • Do not hang by neck. • Do not get fur wet. • Do not hang for long period of time. (sun & wind will dry eye lids, ears and nose) • Do not cut brisket area. • Head should have complete hide attached or well behind the shoulders. • Do not salt hide. • Put head & hide in plastic bag and freeze.
Birds • Birds with excessive pin feathers or badly shot up, such as broken flight feather or wing bones make poor mounts. • Birds left out all day in warm weather may begin to slip and lose feathers. • Wipe off blood and smooth feathers. • Put your trophy bird in a nylon sock. (keeps feather from damage) • Place in double plastic bag and freeze. • Birds that will be in freezer for 6 months or more, wrap beak & feet in wet paper towel and put head under wing. Double plastic bag and freeze.
Full Body Mounts • Small & medium mammals should not be gutted, but brought to taxidermist immediately or frozen whole, sealed in double plastic bag. • Large animals such as bear, wolf, coyote should be skinned immediately, as hair may begin to slip. • Cut off carcass at ankles and wrists, leaving feet in skin. • Leave skull in fur for future measurements.
Mount Care • Dust your mounts frequently with feather or fleece duster in direction of hair. • Mounts with hair can be brushed with a soft dog brush. • Mount with heavy hair can be cleaned with air compressor. • Lemon furniture oil on antlers. • Window cleaner on q-tip for glass eyes. • Avoid placing mount above extreme heat source such as a fireplace. • Avoid placing mount near strong sun light. • Tobacco smoke and grease smoke will rapidly yellow mount.