I'm an amateur hunter and don't know anyhitng about taxidermy so please bear with me if this seems like a dumb question. I was grouse hunting in north-western Wisconsin about 2 weeks after rifle season for whitetails was over. I found a trophy deer who had apparently been shot in the leg and starved to death. It had died within the week and was fairly fresh. I was paranoid about predators and critters eating the carcas. So, I cut the head off with a pocket knife about 5 inches from the ears to later find out the person who's land we were on might want to mount the whole chest. Is a mount still possible? and if so, should i go back and get the shoulders and rest of the neck? Can taxidermists fix these types of things or did i really screw up in cutting too little of the head off?
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you can keep the natlers and have it put on another cape that is the right length - if you cant find anyone let me know
Not sure about Wisconsin law, but in Illinois it is illegal to posess any part of a deer that you find like this.
Hey Joe! Keep the horns and by another cape for it.Its that easy. The hide has a high risk of bacteria the hide is no good.It all depends on how big the neck you want so you are probly looking around $100s for a hide give or take. Good luck.
Look on the bright side Joel, the cape would have been bad anyway ! Even if you hadn't cut it !