Trophy Hunt

 Most hunters believe their trophy hunt of a lifetime ends with the harvest of the animal.  In fact it is really the beginning of the most important part…The preservation of your trophy needs to become a priority!  Improper field care can and often is a taxidermist nightmare.  If your animal is not received by the taxidermist in good shape it is very difficult for the taxidermist to put out a quality end product.

 

Here are a few points of interest you need to consider;

Let’s say you the hunter request a shoulder mount of your deer head, but the cape is cut to short.  Your taxidermist (Bourke’s Taxidermy) can’t put something together if it is not all there; cut the hide long allowing enough to work with.  Rule of thumb,  it is much better to be safe then sorry.  By cutting the cape to short it would be difficult to have your mount look perfect.  Another common mistake, you show off your trophy all weekend or worse yet all week only to turn in your mount to the taxidermist after this lapse of time. Depending on temperature you are most likely faced with a hair slippage problem and often the resulting of this activity you will faced with the decision of possible having to buy a new hide. The point that I’m getting at is we know how important your animal is to you, if you use a few common sense tips on care your memory will last a lifetime.  Proper care of your trophy will ensure this.


Let’s go over some basic field care tips:

• Always keep your trophy as clean as possible.
• Keep all cuts as straight as possible.
• Be aware of the way the animal is dragged (carry or haul out when ever possible) 4-wheelers can burn/rub the hair off of the shoulder!
• Record measurements for you taxidermist before you skin (consult with Bourke’s Taxidermy before your hunt on what measurements will be needed) or if your taxidermist offers a skinning service take it to them.
• Deliver your animal to the taxidermist at your earliest convince or place in a freezer for storage until you can deliver it.  We recommend that your specimen be completely enclosed in a plastic bag and sealed tight.

As a professional taxidermist we understand that you want to share your trophy with friends and family.  You’re proud of your trophy; you worked hard to have this very special moment.  My suggestion is that the old time saying still stands true and blue today. A picture is worth a thousand words.  Take good pictures, it is easier to pass around a picture then it is to carry around your animal.  Why risk damaging your trophy?  

I hope these few simple tips will insure that your trophy of a lifetime will become a mount of a lifetime!


Straight shooting & short tracking,  

 Bill Bourke
Bourke’s Taxidermy

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