I just completed a deer cape, but when i was making the y cut i cut a six inch cut takeing quite a bit of hair with it.I put the hair together but i can see a big line where the cut is. What is the best way to fixe this besides not doing it in the first place.Also when skinning should i let it totaly thaw , because it was hard to skin the head frozen thanks tom .
Return to Beginners Category Menu
Been there, done that. Wasn't real clear what you did exactly, but anytime you cut the hair, you have to remove the hide that the hair was attached to. If it's low on the neck that will be easy, the closer to the antlers the tougher it's going to be, but once you cut the hair, forget trying to fix it. If it's not real visable from the front, and depending on who you are doing the mount for (yourself) you might just choose to live with it.
Hi Dale thanks for your answer.I made the cut just behind the antlers. your response makes sense, will try it.
When you are letting your deer hides thaw out, with the head still in,do you let it thaw out complitly.IT took me 5 hours to do a deer cape , but the head was still frozen.I am still trying to ruff flesh to much.How long does it take you to get a hide on salt.I send my hides out.Thanks Tom H.
Let the head thaw in water. As soon as you can move the skin on the skull skin it out. It's safer this way and quicker. The other way of a safe thax is leave it overnight in the fridge. Then you can skin it out and salt it.
Concerning the incision, another thing you might try is spraying the area with water, and parting the hair with a comb(a small piece of wire, or a pointed modeling tool will work, too) before you make the incision. This keeps the hair back out of the way (and feathers on birds!). Also, what do you use to make the incision? I use a scalpel with changeable blades (mostly size 22 blades) for pretty much everything...I can't sharpen a knife worth a darn! The blades are cheap, and when they get too dull to use, pitch 'em and get a new one. Hope this helps!
Forgot about the second part of your message. Thaw it completely! If you don't it's real easy to cut completely through the skin. I usually just put the whole cape in a plastic bag and let it thaw. Generally, it won't hurt to thaw it completely unless you leave it out in the heat for several days. Usually 24 hours should do it. To cut the Y, put the tip of your knife up against the burr and cut "upside down" in other words, the cutting edge of the knife will be up and pointing towards you when you've reached the apex of the Y, using the burr as the leverage point. You will essentially be cutting from the inside out, not cutting hair. Then, drive a screwdriver under the skin and work around the horn burr to pull the skin off around the burr rather than cutting it off. Works slick. I send my hides to new method, and they do a very good job of fleshing, as long as you get the majority of the meat off. Salt with 1/2 inch of non iodized salt, stock salt is good, for 24 hours shake off excess and hang from a nail by the nose from a rafter in a warm (70) place, should be crisp in 3-4 days. Fold skin side out and ship.
I am also a beginner, but I find that cutting from under the skin up through the hair takes less hair and doesn't make ugly cuts in the hair that you'll have to remove later.
hi guys i am a beginner to but i might be able to help first try using a narrow carpet knife then cut from antler burr to antler burr then cut straight down 3 to 5 inches just enough to hide past bottom of skull while doing this keep hair parted with other hand now back to the purpose of carpet knife , this knife has a slite turn at the end works great cutting around anler burrs the one i have is old i see most to day are wide so do what i did make your own you wont beleave how nice they work good luck ken mills