North 40 · Care & FAQ

Field care &
questions.

A great mount starts in the field. Treat the cape and antlers right in the first 24 hours and we can do our best work. Below: the full care guide, and answers to the questions we hear most often.

Care Guide FAQ
01 — Field Dressing

Cut high, cut once

For shoulder mounts, do not cut the throat or split the brisket. Cut around the body well behind the front legs, near the last rib. More cape is always better than not enough.

02 — Cooling

Get it cold, fast

Hair slip ruins more trophies than anything else. A cooler is good to age meat, but not for the hide. Double bag it and get it to us right away. If you can't, freeze it.

  • Double bag the cape
  • Keep the head separate, antlers out of the bag
  • Never salt or apply chemicals yourself
  • Keep out of direct sun
03 — Freezing

Can't get it to us? Freeze it.

Double bag the cape, squeeze the air out, and freeze it flat. Antlers can stick out — just keep the cape protected.

04 — Turkeys

Smooth feathers, freeze whole

Don't gut the turkey. Smooth the feathers in their natural direction, slide head-first into a pantyhose leg or paper bag, then bag and freeze. Avoid plastic bags directly on feathers — they trap moisture.

05 — Antlers Only

European-style prep

For a Euro mount, bring the whole skull. We'll handle the cleaning. Don't try to boil it yourself — you'll ruin the bone and lose tooth detail.

06 — Hunting from out of state

Taking your deer home?

We cape deer for transport so it's ready to travel to your own taxidermist: $125 for cape and head only, $225 if it's still on the animal. Text ahead to set a time. Off-hours or meeting at another location may be possible.

07 — When in Doubt

Call us first

If your trophy is unusual or you're not sure how to handle something, just call. We'd rather coach you through it in the field than try to fix a problem after the fact. No question is dumb.

— For shoulder mounts

How to cape a deer.

Caping it yourself in the field? Follow these cuts. If you'd rather not, bring us the whole deer and we'll do it.

Diagram of a whitetail buck showing where to cut: around the body behind the front legs, down the legs to the wrist, and along the line where brown and white hair meet.
  1. 01
    Cut around the body, well behind the front legs.Go toward the back of the rib cage. More cape is always better than not enough.
  2. 02
    Cut around the legs at the wrist.Circle each front leg at the bend.
  3. 03
    Tube the legs and torso if you can.If that's not practical, cut along the line where the brown and white hair meet — never through the chest.
Diagram of a skinned cape showing the head and neck joint, with a cut line about 3 to 4 inches below it.
  1. 04
    Find the head and neck joint.Peel the cape forward until you reach where the skull meets the neck.
  2. 05
    Cut and detach 3–4" below that joint.Leave the head in the cape. We'll take it from there.
— Don't

Cut the armpits

Those cuts are hard to hide on a finished mount.

— Don't

Cut the brisket

Not across it, not through any part of it.

— Cooler vs. freezer

Get it to us fast

A cooler is good to age meat, not for the hide. Double bag it and get it to your taxidermist right away. If you can't, freeze it.

— Common questions

Frequently asked.

Most folks ask the same handful of things. If yours isn't here, give the shop a call or text — happy to talk through it.

/ 01How long does a shoulder mount take?+
A basic shoulder mount runs about 12 months. A premium mount takes 4 to 6 months, guaranteed and quoted at intake. Euro mounts are normally 6 to 8 weeks. All times are estimates; you get a specific date at drop-off based on the season and how busy the shop is.
/ 02Do you require a deposit?+
Expect a 50% deposit at drop-off unless we've agreed otherwise. The balance is due at completion. Cards are accepted with no fee on jobs up to $2,000; 3% above that.
/ 03Can I drop off without an appointment?+
No. North 40 is appointment only, with no walk-ins. Text to set a time.
/ 04What animals do you take?+
Right now, deer and turkeys only.
/ 05I'm hunting from out of state. Can you cape my deer?+
Yes. We cape deer so they're ready to travel home to your own taxidermist. $125 for cape and head only, $225 if it's still on the animal. Off-hours or meeting at another location may be possible. Just ask.
/ 06My deer is already frozen. Is that okay?+
Yes, as long as the cape was cooled fast and well wrapped. Bring it in still frozen; don't thaw it before drop-off.
/ 07How should I care for a finished mount?+
Dust it with a soft brush in the direction of the hair. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades the cape, and away from heat vents and humid rooms. If you ever see insect activity, get in touch.