WING"TIPS" # 21 ''over the shoulder'' skinning

[SingsWithRavens]

Hey Wingman, your tutorials are simply THE BEST. They have proved invaluable to me learning this art.
Now, I know this tutorial is on shoulder skinning, but I'm wondering how you skin "over the tail." It sounds like it would really work for me, but I'm unsure of where I should make the incision. Above the tail (like I think)? Under the tail near the vent/cloaca?
Thanks for any help!

[Mackenzie]

I have tried both ways so far! This is the way that I like to do it as well!

[CrabCrazy]

i used this method years ago, on my flying wall mounts...i also used around the tail incisions...akin to case skinning a tree rat

[Jorlan]

Wingman,
Thanks for the tutorials.  You're a kind man to take time from your busy schedule to help other taxis.

SingsWithRavens,
I believe the over the tail/over the shoulder methods simply refer to the direction you initially work toward once the breast incision is made.
Over the shoulder- make breast incision and work upward "over the shoulders", down the back and finish at tail.
Over the tail-  make breast incision and work downward "over the tail", up the back and finish at the shoulders/neck.
If you are familiar with bird taxi you may, unknowingly, already use this method.
I'll attempt to post a link to a great Hooded Merganser tutorial by RyanP using the over the tail method. 
http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,266936.0.html

[SingsWithRavens]

Thanks Jorlan! I have always done breast incisions in the past, but discovered that "over the tail" most likely means "cased". I found a lovely tutorial by Gulfcoast that shows how it's done: http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,74726.0.html
"Mounting a Hooded Merganser" is a great one. It helped me learn how to skin the skull.