cape shaving... is it absolutely necessary?

[Wind_Drift]

Sounds like it's a bit of a judgement call, and that the thicker the hide to begin with, the more issues you may have to deal with if you don't shave it. I've heard that hide shrinkage is affected by hide thickness...among other things of course. The point i'm trying to make is that shrinkage and thickness aren't just correlated, therefore in my mind if you already have a thin hide as George mentioned, it probably isn't necessary to shave. A thicker hide would benefit from shaving in the form of less shrinkage. If someone has learned to the contrary, please correct my misconception.

[JLG]

I agree with the others. I live in southern Oklahoma and have thin deer I shave every one and seem to have a lot of skin on the floor when i get done.however it takes me about 30 min to shave one wish I could do it In 8

[mcloven]

you dont have to change your oil in your car either but it sure makes it last a hellofa lot longer

[George Roof]

Many of you here were taught the proper way and you've never EVER bothered to question any of the steps involved.  I truly wonder how many of you could actually tell if a whitetail had ever been shaved or not.  For decades, they were mounted throughout this country without a taxidermist even knowing what a shaving machine looked like, much less using one.  The DP brigade didn't bother a lot with the drawknife either.  Much like changing the oil in your car, cars will run one helluva lot longer with dirty oil versus no oil at all.

[ed150]

yes

[mcloven]

ok let me put it to u this way then george....." do i really have to wear a condom tonight honey? 9 months later everyting has gone to chat...."

[Becky P]

I rarely shave anything, unless it's really thick. I also use Krowtann. I don't have any more shrinkage using Krowtann and not shaving than I do when I send them to the tannery and they come back shaved. Most of the time I have less shrinkage with the KTed ones, although I'm sure that one will stir an arguement.
Now I do thin down some around the eyes, nose, and mouth.

[George Roof]

Sounds more like you lied to yourself and "done it wrong" than "done right".  If you think sex and taxidermy are analogous I'll bet your partners are really impressive.  I guess them that can, do, them that can't just talk about it.   The question concerned "NEED" not "desired", "nice to have" or "get more detailed results with". MOST WHITETAILS DO NOT NEED TO BE SHAVED in order to get an acceptable mount.  End of story.

BTW Becky, I gave up commenting on Krowtann for Lent.  You're safe.

[Becky P]

Whew, LOL.
Hey, at least we agree on the shaving debate.

[joeym]

George...I sacrificed for Lent also...no boiled chitterlings for me!!!

[George Roof]

Joey, now I'm sure that was the ultimate sacrifice now wasn't it.  LMAO I gave them up for Lent in 1960 and never bothered to take up the habit again.  I still gag when I seem those plastic buckets in the Food Lion freezers.

[hounddoggy]

Just finished my fiirst tanned whitetail(doe).I salted,pickled,and tanned with jrts.YES,I thinned the dang thing and let me tell ya,it isnt easy without a wheel!Scalpel,skife,And razors!I was VERY excited when i realized the amount of detail i was able to work into the face.I absolutely love it!A large ,thick-skinned buck?Not so sure with the amount of hair if i will get as much detail.I'm mounting him today.I did thin him also.I will really appreciate a fleshing machine when i can get one!Doing them by hand is a job.I assure you that bith hides are THIN!It took forever but i enjoyed every minute of it and never realized the 2 1/2 hours that passed by as i worked.Thanks you guys/gals!

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

Early season deer are hardly thick enough to tan, let alone shave. Winter deer is another story. When properly thinned, they will take a tan better, thick hides will be suspect to surface tan.

[JL]

George's life is in constant transition....lol

[Hudson]

I just looked over a lot of whitetail capes that came from Wildlife Gallery and apparently you do not need to. If those capes were shaved I will eat one.