A client delivered a dall sheep cape straight from his $10,000.00 Alaska hunting trip, ears and nose were turned, lips split, seemed to be in good shape although it appeared to be (just lightly) salted hummm. I resalted 24 hrs and resalted again and sent it straight to the tannery, recieved it back in a month, wet tanned, hair is pulling out in globs (this makes for a very dissapointed client). His hunting friend used the same guide service, different taxidermist/tannery and got the same end results...three things can cause this, #1 not everything will take a tan, #2 freezing and thawing, #3 not enough salt...In my opinion the guide service needs to take greater pains with thier clients "once in a lifetime" cape/skin, I lay the blame on the guide service...I've been i bussiness for 23 ys, well established and...I guess what I'm doing in here is looking for other proffesional opinions for my client to read before he goes home to get his shotgun lol.
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This year for me especially, I had quite a few problems with clients mishandling their trophies. Everything from deer capes to birds.What I have simmply been doing is ordering McKenzie's Trophy Field Care Guide putting my name on the back and either displaying in local locations or at my shop.The response I usally get from these "seasoned" hunters is " I didn't realize that" after reading the guide. I guess any way to educate the hunter helps. good luck
Thats good advice Wildwood, it's amazing the way some people handle thier trophies, wow, what are they thinking... In this paticular dall sheep case though, don't you think the responsiblity of field care should fall in the outfitters hands as they do the caping and prep... Sure doesn't hurt though, for the sportmans to know proper care to monitor the proceedure.
I am pretty sure I have an extra life size Dall sheep from the Alaska Range, I cant remember but I think it is from 2002. I may also have an extra shoulder mount cape, again I cant remember.
Let me know if you need one, Ill find the market value and sell you/client one.
I got two mule deer from Montana this year and the capes where in terrible condition. One had a hole bigger than a softball in the brisket area, holes cut in the skin behind EACH eye. Numerous holes in other locations. My best freind went to Illinois this year and after killing his deer he gutted it and hung it in a cooler. He told the guide he would take it to his taxidermist and have it caped out. He's heard my horror stories. Also have had deer from Missouir, Kansas and Texas that the guides caped that were in less than satisfactorie condition.
I recently got a call on wanting 3 barbarossa sheep mounted. Is there any differences in mounting these things and is there any videos or articles about this. Can you tan these with an auto tanner. Any advise on this and what to charge.