I have the chance to pick up some deer heads to mount from a local butcher shop. The butcher does not skin his deer for a couple of days after receiving them. He leaves them hanging in a freezer/cooler
at about 38 to 40 degrees. I'm new to taxidermy work and I was wondering if this poses a problem with a hide. I am aware that you need to try to skin an animal as soon as possible. Does anyone else receive deer in this manner. Thank You
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That crap went out with the Dark Ages. Deer should be hung, but never with the skin on them. The skin is an insulator that exhibits bacteria growth. See how many COWS he has hanging in that cooler with THEIR SKIN ON THEM.
Your 100% right Goerge it does insulate the deer from cooling down plus during the busy season like gun or bow openers the coolers rarly stay at the correct temps because the doors are always opening and closing and guys are always admiring big bucks with the door open! I tell my customers that if the butcher can't give them the hide and head by the next day to go get it ASAP and bring it to me. I have too many people wanting deer mounted after the thing has sat in the cooler for 4-5 sometimes a week with the hide on!
I used to work for a taxidermist that also had a meat market. When the rifle season hit the cooler would not even be cool anymore because all the deer and elk hanging in there. And...we skinned them all and hosed them down before bringing them inside.
It is bad enough that some of these guys will haul that deer around in his truck for hours or even days to show it off before it gets to the locker