Field Care for a Deer Cape

The one rule: do not cut behind the shoulders

A shoulder mount uses the hide from the tip of the nose back past the front legs to the middle of the body. If you field dress the deer the way you would for meat only, with a cut up through the chest, the cape is ruined. Stop the belly cut at the base of the brisket. Leave everything forward of that alone.

Where to cut for a shoulder mount

• Circle the body behind the front legs, at least a hand's width behind the shoulder. Longer is better. Craig can always trim a cape but cannot add to one.
• Cut around each front leg above the knee joint.
• Cut along the back of the neck up toward the base of the skull. Do not cut the throat.
• Peel the cape forward toward the head and cut the head off at the base of the skull with the cape attached. Leave the skinning of the face to the taxidermist.
• If you are not sure, do not cut at all. Bring the whole deer, or the whole front half, to the shop.

What ruins a cape

• Dragging by the head, neck, or antlers. Rubs hair off the neck and brisket.
• Heat. A deer left in a warm garage or truck bed overnight slips hair fast.
• Blood left on the hide. Wipe it off with a rag and cold water, then dry.
• Cutting the throat or the brisket.
• Rope or wire around the neck for hanging or hauling.

Keep it cold

Get the head and cape to the shop within 24 hours if you can. If you cannot, fold the cape hair-side in around the head, put it in a plastic bag, and freeze it. A frozen cape keeps for months. A warm cape is gone in a day. The time of year, the weather, and how the deer was handled all affect how the hide tans, and tanning is accepted at the owner's risk because of that.

Bring the paperwork

Wisconsin registers deer electronically through GameReg by 5pm the day after recovery. Bring the confirmation number and your license. Illinois hunters bring their tag and license. You sign at drop-off that the deer was legally taken.

When to call

Before you cut. Craig has walked a lot of hunters through a cape over the phone from the field, and it is a two-minute call that saves a mount. The shop number is 262.818.9491.