Some may think that this is in the wrong forum but I need professional advise, I am looking to start my first Shoulder mount, Its a nice 140 class buck, Need a cape though... In my searches I am running across mostly WET TANNED capes, So I am thinking that this is my best bet with a shoulder mount. But some lean towards Dry tanned. I am green at taxidermy, That is apparent. But need to know this one before investing in a cape. Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
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cape. When it arrives, lay it out flat, take your measurements and freeze it. Order supplies...If you get a dry tanned cape you will have to rehrdrate it then take your measurements. You're saving a step with a wet tammed cape.
why get them dry tanned in the first place. If you do any number of deer in a season, think of all the time you have in rehydrating the capes. A good wet tanned cape is as good as it gets. Alittle thinning around the face and you're ready to mount. One thing I do differently though is take good accurate measurements off the deer when caping out. I have never had a problem with fit on deer I have caped and measured. That way you can have the forms ahead of time and in stock, waiting for your capes to come back. Hope this helps.
Matt
www.wildlifebydesign.net
One thing I have always wondered about was shipping a wet tan in the warm summer temperatures.Dose this present a possible problem ?
It depends on the one shipping. If the shipper insulates the box well and ships it frozen, 2nd day shipping will be ok, as it is tanned already and more stable than a frozen raw cape. If you are leery, buy a wet tanned cape with in a one State radius of your location if shipping in hot weather. This would ship via ground and would show up the next day normally.
For those saying there is no difference in a wet tanned cape from dry tanned, well that is wrong. If there was no difference then there would be no distinction. Basically last step is skipped in wet tanned capes, sometimes last TWO steps are skipped. Tumbling and oiling. Since you're just beginning, the minor differences won't matter to you. I personally prefer dry tanned as they seem to skrink as little less, plus you can store them at room temperture. And time saved rehydrating ? Coem on. I could soak up 20 hides in 10 minutes, even more if I had a bigger barrell :)
The difference between a wet tan and a dry tan is that the skins have never been dried. They are oiled, they are drummed. The good tanneries all use the same tans and oils on their wet tans.