How to keep a deer cape in good condition in back county

[tom338]

Hopefully will draw a tag for wyoming. Planning a backpack hunt about 6 miles in. Mid september start date so weather could be anything. If its warm we would pack the meat out to a cooler full of ice and then the cape (hopefully we get one). How long do you think a cape would stay in shape to mount before hair slips? What do you guys do?

 

[TimeOnTarget]

I've had a cape lay in the garage for a week before i decided I wanted it mounted. I had no issues. Obviously, the quicker the better though.

 

[sneakypete]

Before your hunt go to your local feed store and buy a bag of feed salt. It'll be probably 50lbs. It'll fit in a 5 gallon bucket. After the pack out salt your hide, clean your skull salt it. I bring a cordless drill and 1 length of a shotgun cleaning rod and a shotgun cleaning brush. On reverse run the brush in the brain hole in & out a couple of times then pour salt in it. If you have a taxidermist you use he'll probably give you a bag of the salt.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I think there was a thread on this a year or two ago. Do a search for something like backcountry trophy care or hide care. If you can find it, it was pretty good.

 

[schmalts]

A cape will spoil as fast as meat. Salt will preserve it but it has to get to the skin, meaning excess meat must be trimmed, ears and lips turned and split, eyelids and nose thinned. Rub it in well into all the nooks and crannies and if it is real warm put the Cape in an area where it can start drying, not rolled up. The salt draws the juices out of the skin and will make it into jerky. The moisture is what will kill it. Your taxidermist won't love you for it but at least your cape won't slip. A quart zip lock bag of salt will be enough in dry conditions. I shot an elk in hot archery weather and did all I described. Draped the Cape over the rental truck engine and closed the hood to keep critters off of it. In 5 days it was hard as a rock and perfectly preserved.