EXTRA CAPES!

[Michelle_Nelson]

If any of you guys get lucky and harvest some nice deer or elk during late archery I could realy use the cape if you decide NOT to mount it!

I've got a few customers that need capes.  I've already called around to some local taxidermists and most of them don't want to sell what they have.

I will take as many as I can get!  I need Elk, Blacktail Deer, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Antelope, etc.  I realy need some decent sized necks.  For Deer   17" + snug around the neck right behind the ears.  On Elk anything larger than 27"+ snug right behind the ears.

If any of you have a question about how to cape an animal CALL ME!  (360) 704 - 0034

OR

You can find the instructions on my website under Field Care:

http://www.freewebs.com/mntaxidermy/index.htm

You can find it on this site in the taxidermy section:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,352.0.html

My goal is to NOT have to buy capes from other taxidermist because I have to pass that cost onto the customer.  I never replace a cape with what ever I have left in the freezer!  If you bring me an animal that needs a new cape and your animal had a 20" neck than thats what you will get!

[huntnphool]

I just took 4 18" Montana mule deer capes to Fidalgo Taxidermy Michelle. I dont know if you know Garth and Tammy but they are very good people, you might try them. I took them 2 Washington capes last month as well. Garth says he doesn't use Montana capes that often he might be willing to part with them. Pics of the capes are in my "post Montana" post if you want to look ta them. Not the best pics but might give you an idea on color.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Thanks huntnphool.  If I don't get any extra capes in I'm just gonna have to buy them from other taxidermists.  I will give them a call if I need capes after Late archery season!

[Cougeyes]

What would you buy capes for?  The last two years we've sold ours to a taxidermist for more than I thought anyone would pay, but i'm not complaining, i'll just keep packing them out of the woods and selling them to him.

[billythekidrock]

The last two years we've sold ours to a taxidermist for more than I thought anyone would pay, but i'm not complaining, i'll just keep packing them out of the woods and selling them to him.

Who and how much...I may have to start packing out capes.

[Cougeyes]

I'm not going to give away my source but lets just say I got $150 dollars a few days ago from the last two capes i dropped off so $75 a cape isn't a bad deal for packing them out.  I can't believe he's paying us that much money.

[WAmuleyHunter]

Michelle,

just got back from montana, took a nice whitey, but not having a shoulder mount down, but had it caped out and brought it home, its out at my taxi, he doesnt need it.  So get a hold of me with some info if you want it.

Garrett

[huntnphool]

That seems to be the going rate, I trade them for $75.00 credit towards taxidermy work they do for me. If friends are not having mounts done, I ask them for their capes as well, I cape them myself and take them up to Garth with the tag #.

[Cougeyes]

Oh ok I just thought I had a special taxidermist that just paid more than everyone else.  I think its worth it to cape them out and bring them out, i dont like to waste something such as a cape that someone else could use and it can get me some $$$.  We cape them all out ourselves, its time consuming and hard around the eyes and lips, but we're getting it down.

[huntnphool]

I don't know if Michelle does the same thing or not but Garth and Tammy give out caping kits that you keep in your pack so you have it when you drop your animal. The kit has directions, a scalpel and 10 or so extra blades, all in a little zip up bag. This way you can get the hide off it right away and get it cooled down.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I have thought about putting the kits together for hunters to cape out their own deer.  Than again it scares me to even think about it.  Some people get realy knife happy, LOL. If it is coming right out of the woods and to me with in 24 hours just cape it out and leave the head in it.  If it's longer than that or you are hunting in a CWD state than you can cape it off the head.

I have been told by 2 taxidermists that it is illegal to buy and sell raw deer capes unless you have a fur dealers license or that they are tanned.  I am still looking into this.  That is probably why taxidermists offer shop credit.

Does the taxidermit have a size limit on his capes?  LIke nothing smaller than 19" or something like that?  I can give up to $75 shop credit for anything over 20" if it is viable and in good shape.  Or I will give a free antler mount.  Your choice of leather and braid color from what I can get.   

[huntnphool]

The kits are a great idea Michelle, most hunters wont be able to get the heads to you in 24 hrs, this would really help in those cases. Garth has Fidalgo Taxidermy screened on them plus the address. They have a clip on them to hook on backpacks or belts etc.

 I see capes on ebay all the time, how can people sell them on there if its illegal?

 Garth does like the larger capes, Tammy has had me measure mine several times before but the all have been large enough for them to want them, I'm not sure what min. size for them would be. They measured from the eye corner to the nose?

[Michelle_Nelson]

Each state has their own regulations on buying and selling furs and skins.  From what I was told by the two taxidermists I asked was that it was ILLEGAL to buy and sell raw deer capes in Washington unless you have fur dealers license.  They have to be tanned.  I know that it is LEGAL to buy and sell raw capes in Georgia and Forida.

Like I said other taxidermists told me this.  I am still checking in to this.  I wanna hear it from a officer.  If it is than I will just buy a Fur Dealers License!