Thanks first for all for giving all this free advice..it helps immensley.
I am doing my first competition in New York in August and am doing a Whitetail, Mule deer and a black bear.
I had to order skins seeing that I lacked decent specimens. Both the Whitetail and mule deer are supposed to be
20" necks. They measure dry at 14 inches. Can I wet, stretch, measure then freeze until mounting? WIll this adversely
affect the cape? Are there any other alternitives? Thanks for the help as always. Mike
That's exactly the way to do it. Definately measure your capes after they are wetted up, don't go on the size they were sold to you as, you might be disappointed if you do.
You can soak them in a bucket of water for an hour but you won't get the true measure until you sweat the cape in the refrigerator overnight. Place it in a plastic bag after soaking with as much moisture as possible. Don't drain the cape before putting it in the bag and don't use a bag with a hole in it. After the overnight thing measure and then refreeze. I keep mine wet when freezing and just take it out the night before mounting. By morning it is ready to go.
Hope to see you at the show!