I need Deer Capes!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Still looking for deer capes.  Whitetail, Mule Deer, and Blacktail. 

[Bearhunter]

Michelle Ive got those 3 still you interested?

[huntnphool]

Judging by all the pics of heads cut off without caping, compensation would appear to be not worth the time. What would be enough of an incentive to get guys to cape more often?

[Bearhunter]

I cape all my hides and buddys hides, and to be honest with you I have a hard time getting anybody to want them.

[bucklucky]

Really Bearhunter, Ive taken in about 20 stock capes this year. Always got room for more if Mich dont want them 

[7ultra]

hey michelle  do you need any elk capes i have 1 huge elk cape very very large and a budy has a very nice muley that i caped

[Michelle_Nelson]

PM sent 7ultra

[Michelle_Nelson]

Judging by all the pics of heads cut off without caping, compensation would appear to be not worth the time. What would be enough of an incentive to get guys to cape more often?

I don't think it has to do with the $$.  I think it has to do a lot with peapole not realizing their is a market for them and where to go selling them.  Also a think not knowing how to cape an animal is a factor in that as well.

I have had quite a few capes come in this year and about 1/2 of them either have major split ears and scars or they are cut wrong when caping.  So I turn those down.  So if you don't know how to cape something CALL ME!

I hate it when someone brings me a Big European mount to do and just has the head cut off.  When I ask them why and tell them that I will buy capes 90% of them tell me they had no idea taxidermists bought capes.

[Shootmoore]

I guess I will need to learn how to cape out a deer and elk.  Never bothered with it before.  I usually just cut off the horns and keep em in the garage.

[dbllunger]

This has been on here a long time.  What is the payment to expect for a cape?  I know several people who paid a Taxi $200 for a new cape the Taxi provided.  We leave all kinds of capes from some great bucks and bulls laying on the hill.  I have tried to sell some in previous years and have one now (Dec. Mule Buck), but either I want too much for it $150 or the true cost is lower then I guessed.  I get all the issues with people trying to sell a crappy cape, but I have caped a lot of animals and have never had so much as a semi-negative comment from a Taxi.  Regardless either the Taxi does not want it or only wants to pay around $50 for it.  For $50.00 it is not worth the headache of taking the time to cape it out, and then the time and effort to keep it useable for the Taxi.  So what is a real price to expect for a green fully caped out deer and elk cape from a 6x6 or a mature rut buck?

[bucklucky]

This has been on here a long time.  What is the payment to expect for a cape?  I know several people who paid a Taxi $200 for a new cape the Taxi provided.  We leave all kinds of capes from some great bucks and bulls laying on the hill.  I have tried to sell some in previous years and have one now (Dec. Mule Buck), but either I want too much for it $150 or the true cost is lower then I guessed.  I get all the issues with people trying to sell a crappy cape, but I have caped a lot of animals and have never had so much as a semi-negative comment from a Taxi.  Regardless either the Taxi does not want it or only wants to pay around $50 for it.  For $50.00 it is not worth the headache of taking the time to cape it out, and then the time and effort to keep it useable for the Taxi.  So what is a real price to expect for a green fully caped out deer and elk cape from a 6x6 or a mature rut buck?

You want way too much money for your capes, 75.00 for a good green cape is fair and is the going price for a raw cape, now if it something super special with huge measurements then price can go up to around 125.00. Now for elk 125.00 is pretty fair for most bull capes, but again something extra huge can go up a bit. For a raw 13 x 34-36 250 for a raw cape is fair, but the average 11 3/4 - 12 1/4 by 30-32 is going to be in that 125.00 range. Most deer capes I sell to customers is 125.00 and thats a tanned cape, and elk is 250.00 for a tanned cape. See people also need to remember that when we sell capes we are not making much money off of them after turning fleshing salting and tanning. Just because a Taxi will sell a customer a cape at $200.00 doesnt make a raw cape worth a ton of money. When I sell a cape for 125.00 Im basically giving it away.  Hope that makes sence, sorry to jack your thread Mich.

[Skyvalhunter]

So if I pay $60 for my lets say deer cape to be tanned what could I expect to get when I sell it?

[dbllunger]

Thanks...that is what I was looking for.  I understand and support a Taxi making a profit no problem.  I was basing my expectations on what I saw two people pay for a cape.  So from a Taxi stand point what are measurements that are above the norm for deer?  Does a winter/Rut deer also increase the value?  I have seen a lot of early season bucks that I would not want the cape off from because the hair is thin and the neck small. 

[bucklucky]

So if I pay $60 for my lets say deer cape to be tanned what could I expect to get when I sell it?

Id expect to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 100.00 give or take. Really depends on eye to nose and neck measurements . Say a Muley cape that is 7 3/4 by 23 at the ears with a meat measurement and say 26- 28 4 inches down measured off the meat you would be looking at probably a $200.00 cape tanned. Now an average cape that is anywhere from 7-73/4 by 19-20 at the ears by around 23-24 at the swell you would get probably around 125.00 possibly more. And a cape that is 7 - 7 3/4 with a 18-19 inch measurement at the ears and 20-22 4 inches down will get around 80.00 to 100.00 Tanned With that said, you never know what you will really get . I have seen capes that have a price tag of $500.00 tanned on a big Muley cape at a Taxidermy show. It never sold, but all the capes in the 1-200 dolar range did. But that is way way more money than I would even think of spending. Oh and bir size also will play a roll in what a cape will go for price wise. Its is all about what a person is willing to pay for that cape. I hope that helps, its really one of those subjects that doesnt have an absolute answer. I myself work on an average when buying or giving credit for capes, Most capes unless small or need alot of work to fix or even just ugly capes I will usually give 75.00 for . Really it averages out. 75.00 is a number between 50 and 100. 

[Shannon]

I trade mine for a plaque mount to a local taxidermy. Seems fair to me since I don't have any use for it unless I want to mount it.