Trophy Care:

It is always best to bring your trophy in right away.  If that is not possible follow these tips.  Remember, with all animals have appropriate tags and permits with you when you bring them in.

O'Hare Taxidermy 2012. All rights reserved.

Birds:

• Do not gut, wipe off excess blood with a dry paper towel.

• If you cannot bring your bird in right away make sure none of the feathers are bent (pheasant tail              feathers), put in a plastic bag, tuck the head under the wing and freeze.

• Bring your trophy in as soon as possible to prevent freezer burn.

Life-size Mammals:

• Do not gut, wipe off excess blood with a dry paper towel

• It is best to avoid wetting or washing the fur at all.  If you cannot bring your mammal in right away freeze it.

• You can freeze your animal in a plastic bag, but be sure it has cooled off before it is bagged.

• Bring your tophy in as soon as possible to prevent freezer burn.

Gameheads:

• Gut the animal as you generally would, but do not cut the hide past the ribcage. (As seen in photo)

• Cut the hide around the front knees of the animal and up the back side of the front legs into the armpit. (These lines are marked with tape in the photos, running up the leg)

• From the armpits cut back towards the rump on the under side of the animal 8 to 10 inches. (Also marked with tape, moving front to back along the animals brisket.)

• Connect these two cuts straight across the chest of the animal, continuing in a circle around the rest of the carcass well back from the shoulders of the animal.  (Again shown in tape, the rearmost line circling the animal.)

• It should be noted at this point,  NO cuts are made in the hide foreward of the front legs!

• Being careful not to cut through the hide, peel the skin up towards the head, being especially careful around the top of the front legs, as the skin is thinner. (As seen in photo.)

• Continue skinning up the neck to the base of the head. (The closer to the base of the skull the better!)

• Cut through the neck close to the head, freeing the head and cape from the rest of the carcass. (The closer to the base of the skull the better!)

• If you cannot bring in the trophy right away freeze the head and cape.  It is best to set the head in the freezer with the cape spread out to cool for 20 or 30 minutes before bagging it and freezing it thoroughly.

• If you do not have access to a freezer keep the head and cape cool, as warmth can permanently damage the hide and cause hair loss.

• Bring your trophy in as soon as possible to prevent freezer burn.