Cape Measurement Guide

Essential deer cape measurements include: neck circumference at the base and midpoint, eye-to-nose tip distance, inside corner of eye to inside corner of eye, ear butt to ear butt (behind ears), ear length and width, and total cape length from back of cut to nose tip. These measurements ensure you select the right form size.

For a standard shoulder mount, cape well behind the front legs - at least 6 to 8 inches behind the front leg pit. It is always better to leave too much cape than too little. The taxidermist can always trim excess material but cannot add more if the cape is too short.

Take preliminary measurements in the field before skinning if possible, as the animal is in its most natural shape. However, final form-fitting measurements should be taken at the shop after the cape has been fleshed and before tanning. Both sets of measurements are valuable for selecting the best form.

The most common mistake is cutting the cape too short, especially behind the brisket. Hunters often cut at or near the front legs, which does not leave enough material for the taxidermist to work with. Always leave extra material - a good rule is to cut a full 6 inches behind the front legs around the entire body.

Yes. Tanning can cause hides to shrink by 5 to 15 percent depending on the tanning method and hide thickness. Wet tanning typically results in less shrinkage than dry preservative methods. Experienced taxidermists account for this shrinkage when selecting form sizes.