You are going on a hunt or fishing trip and hope to get a trophy, You need to know how to care for it in order to properly get it to our shop.

Whenever possible it's alway best to take a specimen for mounting to your taxidermist while it is still freash. If not proper care and storage can insure your trophy of arriving in the best possible condition.

BIRDS: No. 6 shot or lighter is best as heavy shot does to much damage to the body and feathers. A Kleenex tissue or sonic dead grass stuffed in the beaks is a good way to absorb blood which may soil feathers. DO NOT GUT. but leave whole and keep as cold as possible, or for prolonged periods wrap securely in a heavy plastic bag and freeze.Large birds, such as a turkey, that has to be left out in warm weather for two days or more may be field dressed by making a lenghtwise incision between the base of the tail and the breast bone.

SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES: DO NOT GUT. and as with birds, keep cold or wrap in a plastic bag and freeze.

FISH: DO NOT GUT OR GILL FISH. Keep them cold and wet or for prolonged periods, wrap in a WET towel.(Turkish is best). Place in plastic bag and freeze.

GAME HEAD: Throat cutting and sticking should always be avoided, as it may cause damage that will show up after mounting and is rarely. If ever any advantage as far as "bleeding" purposes are concerned. Don't hang game by the neck as it leaves a rope burn that will show after mounting. When field dressing, end the belly incision at the brisket. For full shoulder mounts save all the hide from 6in behind the front legs including the brisket and top portion of the legs.Whenever possible, It's best to skin the entire animal from it;s hind legs down to base of the neck, making no cuts in the neck skin. Then pull the skin part way down the neck and sever the carcass leaving the head and entire skin attached. This is the cleanest way to remove a cape and we will be assured of having enough skin for a full shoulder or life mount.

Diagrams below show proper patterns for marking game head, and rugs or full body.

Never store or transport unfrozen speciments in a closed plastic bag or other airtight container. A cape handled in this manner can rot in a very short. warm temperatures where freezing or refrigeration can't be done within 24 hours, salt the fleash side of capes and skins heavily (un-iodized salt, such as pickling or all perpose is best). Fold the skin fleash side in and keep in a shaded area.