The quality of your finished deer mount depends heavily on what happens in the field — not just in the taxidermy shop. A poorly caped hide can make even the most skilled taxidermist's job difficult or impossible. Knowing how to cape a deer properly is one of the most valuable skills a trophy hunter can develop.
Where to Make Your Cuts
The most common mistake hunters make is cutting the cape too short. For a shoulder mount, you need a full cape — meaning the skin should be cut around the body behind the front legs, leaving plenty of material at the brisket and shoulders. Start your cut just behind the front legs and circle the entire deer. Then make a cut up the back of the neck to the base of the skull. Do not cut the throat — this damages the most visible part of the finished mount.
Removing the Cape from the Skull
Once the skin is free from the body, work the cape forward over the neck and skull carefully. Use short, careful strokes of your knife around the eyes, ears, and lips — these are the most delicate areas and mistakes here are difficult or impossible to repair. Cut as close to the skull as possible around the eyes and ears to leave maximum skin for the taxidermist to work with. At the antler bases, cut through the hide at the pedicle, not over it.
Cooling and Transporting the Cape
Heat is the enemy of a fresh cape. Once removed, the cape should be salted generously — especially around the ears and face — and allowed to cool as quickly as possible. Never put a fresh cape in a sealed plastic bag, as this traps heat and accelerates spoilage. Instead, use a breathable game bag or pillowcase and get it to a cooler or taxidermist within 24 hours if possible. If you're more than a day out, freeze the cape until you can deliver it.
When in doubt, call your taxidermist before the hunt. Most are happy to walk you through their preferred caping method, and some will even come pick up the deer for an additional fee. The few minutes you spend caped correctly in the field will pay off in a stunning finished mount.