Slit deer ears

[B KENNEDY]

What do you all do with deer ears that have been slit to tag the deer?

[George Roof]

You tell the hunter that little trick just cost him $50.

Then you split the ear as normal.  I remove the cartilage and tan.  When I'm ready to mount, I shave the hide and save the shavings.  I invert the ear and stick in the OPPOSITE SIDE earliner (it works that way, trust me.)  I put a fine bead of superglue down once side of the split on one side of the earliner and lay out one of the shavings big enough to cover the cut.  Once it cures, I pull it so that the slit is closed.  I run another bead of superglue down the opposite side, pull the shaving over it and it's "healed".  Then I repeat on the other side.  Once done, I use Liquid Fast Set from EpoGrip to glue in my ear liners and it's done.

[Jims Wildlife Studio]

Hey George I use the same method except I use super glue. The sad part is here in PA it is the law to have the tag displayed in the right ear. I usually have to repair about 90% of my deer ears when mounting. The other 10% are a little smarter and hang the tag on the antler. This method work's very well indeed.

[AMC Taxidermy]

As Jim mentioned, its law here in PA for tags to go in the ears of deer, bear, and the like.  I always inform customers and friends that save me capes to use Safety Pins to attach the tags to the ears to save problems before the season begins.  I also always carry a few in my hunting lisc. holder when I'm out in the woods for the same reason.   You might want to pass that on to your customers as well, and save some headaches in the future.

[hunterray2002]

I do the same thing AMC. I tell everyone that has brought me deer before to use saftey pins.  I have actually turned a deer head away because the guy run his knife all but 3/4 of the way through the entire ear. Once I mentioned about  not doing it because of it, the skull mount was next in line along with a little bickering but

Thats just one of those things that happen here in Pa. Nothing will change .

[George Roof]

Can't you guys get that silly assed PA law changed?  Why not the antler or the back hamstring on deer and why not the nostril like they do in Ontario on bear?

[B KENNEDY]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I too hunt in pa that is what brings up my question.

[AndyO]

You mean your supposed to remove the tag??  

[JL]

I thought in PA you only tag the really big ones you want to show off.  LOL

[cyclone]

Funny I don't remember having to tag deer in PA this way the past couple of years.
Did they just start this nonsense again?
This was law back in the 80's if I not mistaken...You had to actually slit the ear so that the 3/4" or so wide tag would slide through and the self sticky would glue it on..Then they did away with it.

I actually wrote a letter complaining about it back  then. 

[KB]

Okay, so I guess due to my newbiei-ness Im just not following this method, what is the reason for using the opposite side earliner? And you patch shavings on both side of the ear(inner and outer) is this correct? sorry all, my mind is just not decifering something out right about this method. thanks.

[Joe t]

i think george is saying he uses the opisite side so he has an area to work with so they line up to glue and he does not put glue on ear liner . he puts the glue on the hide and presses it together then he places glue on his scrap and presses it on the cut covering it. then he lets it dry. removes ear liner and then glues it and replaces it back in the ear!! but im sure if you email him he would explain it too you!!

[George Roof]

KB, if you turn a left ear wrong side out, it suddenly becomes a right ear.  Don't believe me?  Trust me on this one.  LOL.

Thanx Joe, you're correct.  Once the repair is complete, I reinvert the ear and use the correct earliner.  Sorry if that confused some of you.

[Joe t]

he uses the scrap like a bandaid if that helps seen this proses in school.works very nice.

[TrailsEnd]

I had a customer in PA that had a nice buck tagged by the antler in a butcher shop. A deputy walked in and saw the tag wasn't through the ear, so he pulled out his knife and cut the ear off. mHe fixed that hunter. Nice guy huh?