It's almost that time of year again - deer season. A lot of my customers are on some type of "managed" land or other and always want/need to save the jaw bone from their deer. (I have my doubts about ALL of them needing it, but that's another story.) Do any of ya'll charge extra for taking the time, energy, storage space, saw blade use and extra record keeping it takes to remove and keep up with those dang things? I've always done it as a courtesy but after last year, and half the people forgot they even wanted (remember "needed"?) them, I think I will start charging for this service. Just courious if anyone else charges for this, and if so, how much.
Thanks,
BP
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I am asked to do this more and more. I really hate it! slows me down and is a pain in the butt. What really kills me is often the hunters forget all about them and never come back to pick them up. I am not sure I could bring myself to charge extra but it's a good idea. If nothing else a deterrent.
For decades I have kept the lower jaws out of most deer I skin. Be it mine, or a customers. I have done so because I let the beatles clean them and then make deer aging plaques out of them. they sell real good to hunt clubs. And it is a nice easy fill in when things are slow. Basically I consider the cost of a deer mount to be $425.00 plus the deer's lower jaw. If a customer wants the lower jaw. Then the cost of a mount is $450.00. If they ask for it I charge them. It is just that simple. I also charge them for any additions to my work. if they are dumb enough to cut a hole in the ear to attach a tag. They pay for their stupidity. you see when my wife ran into a pole with the front of our car. And then damaged the door by forcing it open. The body shop charged me for the door. as well they should they had to work to repair it. And when I asked them to fix the nickel size rust blister on the other fender wile they were painting the front end. They charged me for that too. as well they should.
Half the people who just have to have them never come back for them. And then the few I forget to cut out always come back. I usually just offer to age the deer for them when I cape it, that works for most.
I made one years back and it's the easiest thing in the world to use. It won't take you over 15 seconds to remove one side of the lower jaw (you can charge if you'd like, but I do it free). It's used by deer biologists everywhere. It looks like a 60 degree triangle made of 3/8 inch rod stock. You stick the "pointed" end in the mouth and rotate it to open the mouth and hyper extend it. Then you hook the point behind and over the jaw hinge. Then JERK. The jaw will split at the front of the mouth but the jawbone will literally pop out of the deers mouth. It's better done while the deer is simply field dressed, but it works well when you get it in the door. Step on the hide to hold it and just pop the jaw out.
I didn't know there was tool like that. Where can I get one? BP
As I said, I copied mine from the one the SCF&W folks were using. I simply bent a piece of rod stock. Only has three bends in it, with two of them serving as handles.
Hey George,
Would you be able to send a pic of that? I would be highly interested in copying your tool. As long as we arent breaking any laws here. I can see the motion you described. I have a few good yanks left in me. If I had that tool Id be taking the lowers out for free as well. Sometimes its the extra LITTLE efforts that make a business more attractive. Thanks
By the way... The ODNR was againg deer last year at the check station. They were very polite. They didint impose this on any hunters. AND they were using Bowies off of their belts. If its easy I will turn the fellas on to free yanker hoochies. haha Thanks
Found it! Cabela's has them for 14.99.
Thanks George.
BP
... like your TaxiTuk. WASCO could be a distributor!
I will look in the catalog and see if I can knock them off like George. Im sure the extra length, girth, bend, color etc. will help me from getting sued. Mostly joking here. Appreciate it
mark
Hard to imagine that a tool that rips the jaw bone out of deer would not tear the lip skin or lip area and make the cape useless for mounting. I'll have to check the Cabela's catalog and see what this thing looks like!
I found it on their website. I looked in the catalog but could not find it in there. I might have overlooked it though. But there is a picture on their site. BP
http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0034351227550a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&Ntt=jaw%20extractor&QueryText=jaw%20extractor&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jsp
Not what I pictured. Now George... how did you fab that? I really really need one now haha
mark
I get lots of requests to age deer, but never to remove and give them the jaw. I have a deer aging instructions that I printed off the Internet somewhere that gives detailed photos and illustrations on how to age a deer by their teeth. It's been scientifically proven to be a guessing game past 2.5 years old, even by the best agers. I also do comp scoring of the antlers, usually with the customer standing there helping. I use the Boone and Crocket website for that one. They have an interactive score sheet there.
All these years Ive been asked, I just say "Yes, Ill save the head, come on by and get it and cut whatever you want off of it". Then I toss it the following week with the rest of the carcasses, minus the one or two who actually come back for it. One less deadhead to mess with! That tool sounds like a great idea. Next time someone is complaining about grouchy old George, remember posts like these! LOL!
I thought about that too, but I don't have room to store them. And most of my customers aren't going to drive back in a couple of days to pick them up. They always want to get it the same time they pick up their mount.
I could age them myself, but most "have" to give them back to their "biologist". Now whether they really do or not, I have no idea.
BP
The tool Cabela's is calling an extractor is what George is talking about I think, and correct me if I am wrong George. The tool shown on the link Becky gave us is simply used to pry the mouth open. its only relationship to extraction is it can hold the mouth open wile you cut out the jaw.
you could be right. But if so, they named it wrong, it should be a jaw opener instead of extractor. LOL And if I misunderstood it, I'll just blame it on the heat, it was 108 (actual temp, not heat index) here today,AND my a/c is broke. Too freakin hot to even think about deer hunting. LOL BP
You must be in New mexico. or close. My son Is stationed in Almagordo, and that is the exact temp he said it was there today. You have my sympathy.
:)