Deer Hunting: Field Dressing and Taxidermist Guide

When hunters use Jumping Targets uniquely designed metal spinning targets and high power rifle targets, they are helping to ensure their success in the hunting season. After careful planning, great patience and an accurate aim, a hunter lands the trophy of a lifetime. Now what? This guide aims to answer basic field dressing and taxidermy questions.

When dressing a deer, a hunter must have a sharp knife. Surgical gloves are recommended, but not necessary.

1. The deer must be lying with the belly up. The hunter should begin his/her cut below the breastbone or the anus. He/She must remember to only cut through the skin, taking great care to not cut the stomach, but cutting the full length of the deer’s carcass.

2. Using the knife split the pelvic bone and the breastbone into two pieces.

3. Next, reaching into the deer’s chest cavity and cut the windpipe loose. Afterward, roll the deer onto its side, taking care to cut and remove all internal organs. Hunters must be extremely careful when removing the stomach and bladder, taking great steps to not cut into these organs.

4. If any urine or feces contaminates the meat, immediately wash the meat with water.

5. The hunter should wipe the entire body cavity clean, with water, if available. If the weather is unseasonably warm, a hunter should consider placing a bag of ice into the deer’s chest cavity to help reduce the temperature of the meat.

If a hunter has just shot a trophy deer, he/she may want to consider mounting the head and neck, or perhaps just the rack (horns). Below are some excellent tips for a hunter to keep in mind when selecting a taxidermist.

· A hunter should consider obtaining three to four quotes from local taxidermists. Typically, exceptionally skilled taxidermists will charge more for their work.

· Always study the taxidermists’ work. For example, do their works constitute real-life creations, simply focus on the antlers, showcase muscle structure and represent lifelike coloring. These are extremely important because a hunter wants his/her trophy to appear as lifelike as possible, not merely dyed, stained and painted.

· A hunter should inquire how much experience the taxidermist has, including his/her area of expertise (deer, elk, moose, fish, birds, etc.), awards won, professional associations, letters of recommendation, proof of Master Taxidermists distinction (if claimed) and the highest levels of taxidermy competitions.

· Inquire if the taxidermist tans the animal’s skin. Some types of preservation methods, such as preservatives or alcohol sprays, do not hold up well in humid conditions. Dry preservation is also subject to puckering and shrinking. While tanning methods take a longer period of time, they are generally higher quality.

· Consider quality before price! While both must be balanced, high quality taxidermists do charge extra for their works because they spend additional time ensuring that a hunter’s trophy is safely preserved.