How to Cape a Deer in the Field

After a successful hunting trip, mounting a prize buck is a good way of showing off your accomplishment. There are many ways to mount a deer, and a shoulder mount is a common choice. A shoulder mount is where the deer's neck, head and shoulders are displayed on a plaque that you can hang on a wall. Caping the deer in the field is one way to preserve and protect the skin that will be part of the mount, while allowing you to dress the rest of the deer.

Things You'll Need

  • Sharp knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a slit in the deer's skin in a circle around its body midway between the rib cage and its front legs. Ensure that the hide is completely cut around this circle.

    • 2

      Cut a slit in the hide around the deer's front legs just above the knees, and cut a perpendicular slit from that cut up the back of the deer's legs until it joins the body.

    • 3

      Peel the deer's hide up to its shoulders and neck until the area where its head joins to its neck is exposed. This flap of hide is known as the "cape," and the amount of cape is important to the ultimate quality of the mount.

    • 4

      Cut into the deer's neck about 3 inches from the neck-head junction, cutting down until you've reached the spinal column. Holding the deer's by the antler bases, twist off the head from the neck.

    • 5

      Roll up the hide and store the head in a protected, cool place until you can transport it home and into a freezer. Do not drag the head, because you could damage the hide and make it difficult to get it mounted. If you will be camping for a while, store the head in an area where scavengers won't be able to get to it and ensure that it is kept cold or frozen.

    • 6

      Store the head in the freezer once you get it home until you can transport it to a taxidermist.