Taxidermist question

[BowSlayer]

I'm supposed to go on an axis hunt next weekend and i will want a shoulder mount if i get one. Am i supposed to skin the head and cut off the horns in order to get it iced down? I don't want to mess it up but i know i can't get horns and all in a cooler and with this heat i don't want the hair to slip.

[Spener54]

Who did you decided to hunt with?

[BowSlayer]

Who did you decided to hunt with?

A good friend of mine and fellow tbh ' er cut me a deal i couldn't pass up. He has a low fence lease in Mason that has lots of Axis and Blackbuck.

[Spener54]

Cool deal. Glad you got a hunt lined up.

[BowSlayer]

Thanks! Just a little worried about what to do after the shot.

[Spener54]

It was hot when I shot mine and we caped him out and left the horns attached to the skull till I got to the taxi and just dropped the whole skull with him. The cape went into the freezer over night then into a cool full of ice till we got back to Crowley.

[wtx223]

Skin to back of skull and cut off there. Put in walk in cooler like that or into ice chest with lid open and cover with ice as best as possible. As long as it stays cool it will be fine for day or two. They also sale some soft flexible cold bags that will fit everything besides the horns, but you can leave them sticking out and fill with ice. Good luck.

[Texantax]

Once the body heat has dissipated from the hide and face, double bag it in heavy trash bags and place in cooler with the lid open and keep covered in ice. Leave the drain plug open so the hide does not get wet. You can cover with towels or an old blanket to keep the ice from melting so fast.

[BowSlayer]

Thanks for the replies. I'll do the best i can.

[Chance Love]

Do NOT skin out the head unless you know what you are doing. You will want to keep the head and cape as COLD and DRY as possible. Don't be scared to spend some $$ on ice.

[Jrmhunting]

I used a cheap cooler and broke the hinges off, cut the lid and fitted it around the antlers and taped it up after filling it full of ice . It worked but wasnt very pretty. I didnt wanna take any chances of damaging the cape not knowing how to fully cape it out.

[buck_wild]

yep- ice is fine but as Chance said try to keep the skin DRY. I see guys constantly just throwing the cape in the icechest with the ice with no barrier and the cape gets soaked. Moisture, even cold moisture can lead to hide damage.