Trophy Preparation
Step 1
Trophy preparation starts in the field. Where the most damage can occur. Take care when taking photos and while loading. Try reducing dragging as much as possible.
Step 2
The appropriate skinning should be done as soon as possible after shooting. See diagrams for assistance.
Step 3
Remove all excess fat or flesh to aid the salt penetration. Be sure to wash the skin with cold water to remove dried blood or dirt on both sides of your skin. Allow skins to drip dry, not much time is needed.
Step 4
If at al possible allow skin to soak in saturated salt solution: 20kg salt to 100L water.
Add a bactericide such as dettol: 50ml dettol to 100L water.
Step 5
Use a clean surface area for salting. Begin by creating a base with salt roughly the size of the skin to be salted. Place the skin hair down on to your salt base, stretching out your skin to minimize any folds. Once this is done apply more salt to the top (flesh side) of your skin. Rub your salt into all your folds and take your time at the face to ensure that the salt has been applied everywhere. Be liberal with your salt.
Step 6
Your skin must lie in the salt for at least 3 days. Remove the skin and allow drying, if possible allow skin to hang in the sun, as dehydration accrues mush quicker. The quicker the skin dries the better.
If the above is not possible the skin should be salted and rolled up. Drying must take place at destination.
Skinning technique:
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| The correct method of making cuts for a shoulder mount | Cuts for skinning a fully mounted trophy |
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| The ear cartilage is cut away right to the skull for a shoulder mount | |
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| The skinning and cutting out of the skin against the horns (G), eyelids (1), lips (2) and nose cartilage (3) of a trophy in preparation for a shoulder mount | |
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| The inside lip skin is cut away from the outer skin on the inside of the lip | |
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| Use a linger, an old screwdriver or a spoon handle to separate the outer Skin from the ear cartilage | |
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| Turn the ear inside out by pulling on the cartilage | |
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| Skinning a cat’s paw or that of another carnivore. Each toe is carefully skinned and cut off where the last small bone meets the nail. | |
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| Skinning an antelope hoof up to the last small bone | |
Skinning Aids:
We can go into a long discussion about which tool is the best for the job, but let's keep it practical; here are some ideas of what to use.
Large Blades
These knifes are used for large surface areas. All standard skinning to be done with these.
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Scalpels, Small blade knifes
These small blades are used for all the detailed work. A scalpel we find works best but it tends to be sharp for a novice so be careful, Stanley knifes are also great and are pretty though unlike the scalpel. Small bladed knives do the trick as well.
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Gut rippers
Gut rippers is a handy tool we use to ensure straight cuts, we find that Stanley gut rippers work the best as you simply replace the blade when blunt.
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