rough cut on muley cape

I am mounting my first mule deer and have a cape that I am prepping. The Y cut and the dorsal cut is beveled and very jagged. What is the best way to deal with the rough edges?

Stitches

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Stitches,

Take a sharp scalpel or razorblade and trim the edge from the skin side.Cut just through the skin without cutting any hair and take a minimum off,just enough to clean up the edge.Usually an 1/8" or so strip taken off the edge will do it.You will be trimming up that bevel at the same time.It is a good practice for all capes.

Thanks

Thanks Jim for the info. That is what is what I was planning on doing but, it is nice to hear it from an experienced taxidermist before messing up a cape.

Stitches

Trimming

Jim is right, and depending on how jagged it is, I usually trim it as I am sewing it. It is easy for me because I can take a sharp knife and lay it flat against the foam and get a real clean cut that way.