Pictures on how to skin your deer/elk properly to save the cape for mounting.

[bucklucky]

I have been wanting to do this for awhile. Its just nice too see actual pictues instead of drawings . I have had customers cut the armpitts out too many times not knowing how to skin there deer and elk or any antlered or horned animal out properly.

Step 1: If you can, hang the deer but the hind legs, it is much easier to skin  But if its in the field you can do this with the animal layin gon the ground too. First thing I do is cut around the front knee joint , then take your knife and cut up th eback of the leg where the whit hair and brown hair come together. Noe on other species you'll have a hair pattern where the long hair meats shorter hair. Just go straight up to the armpit.

[bucklucky]

Now when you get to the armpit make sure you stay on the hair line where the white hair or thinner hair on other animals meets the longer hair. You can see this on all horned or antlered animals. Once around the armpit go straight bach to where the cape will be cut off which is the center of the deer or where the sternum come together.

[bucklucky]

I like my capes split up the back, its easier to skin off the animal and easier to take care of the cape. Take your knife and start at the base of the head and go right down  (or up if its hanging) the back to your center cut.

[270Shooter]

Thanks

[bucklucky]

Now you can finish skinning your animal all the way down to the base of the head.

[bucklucky]

Now cut the head off at the back of the head .

[bucklucky]

Hope this helps a little to get you bearings on where to properly cut the capes.Some of the pictures are a little decieving , the center cut on that cape Looks lower on the deer than it actually is but once I cut the back half of the hide off the front portion got pulled towards the head about 5 inches or so. If your still not sure on the right cuts to make just tube the whole thing to the base of the neck, that means dont make any cuts exceprt for the front knee joint and the center cut at mid belly .

[arrowflinger]

Thanks for the info Charlie..................Hope to use it one of these years.

[scoyoc5]

thanks for the illustration bucklucky....that's a big bodied forky too!

[bow4elk]

Well done!  Got a mop? 

[Black Ghost]

Nice work BL, I hate doing short necks!!!!!!

[Antlershed]

That makes it look pretty dang easy. Thanks!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Nice Charlie, wish I would have thought about doing this with my buck this year.  Didn't think about it til it was to late.

[Hunting Cowboy]

Nicely done Charlie. Always seems more clear when someone takes the time to show you how to do something the right way. Nice forky too!

[bucklucky]

I wanted to do an elk one also since it seems everyone that tries to save one for me ends up cutting the briskett and armpits out  Most of my deer capes I get are completely tubbed which in turn means good cape! Its always easier to follow what a photo shows you!