Hot Hunting & Taxidermy How-Tos
How To: Deflesh the skull & antlers of a deer to make a mount
Looking to stick your winning game on your wall? In this two part tutorial, learn how to deflesh the skull and antlers of a deer and make it into what is commonly known as a Dry Skull, Desert, European, Texas, or Western Mount. Part one covers starting with the harvested animal, a typical plaque, discussing set-up and basic methods, the bone overview and the processes' start. Part two continues the defleshing of the skull base, tightening of the nasal bones, whitening, detailing, antler base ...
How To: Do a tending grunt sequence when dear hunting
Peter Fiduccia from Field and Stream explains how to use the tending grunt sequence when hunting deer. The tending grunt is a grunt made by a buck when following a doe. The grunt is made in order to let the doe know that he wants to breed. The key to making the call is to be soft. Bucks don't make this call with aggression or loudly. The first step is to take the call and cup your hand around the end. Blow gently into the call. For more resonance in the call, grab the call with both hands at ...
How To: Tie a noose loop knot for trapping animals
This simple noose can be done quickly and is ideal for trapping small game. This video serves as a step by step detailed guide on how to tie it. Shown in two ways, a simple one and a more involved way that makes the rope and noose move more easily. Watch this video hunting tutorial and learn how to tie a looped knot noose for trapping animals and game.
How To: Make a cheap but realistic goose call
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a realistic goose call. The materials required for this project are: a plastic bottle cap, scissors, rubber band and a piece of paper. Begin by making a small hole in the bottle cap. Then wrap the paper around the other side of the bottle cap and secure it with the rubber band. Now just blow in the hole and make a humming sound to create a goose call. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy goose hunting, and would like to learn how to...
How To: Skin a deer with a golf ball
In this tutorial, we learn how to skin a deer with a golf ball. First, hang it up by a tree around its neck. From here, taper down from the shoulders until you reach the bottom. Then, cut each of the ankles right around the knuckle and slice it down the front like normal. From here you will take a golf ball and stick it in the hide. Hold the hide over the golf ball and then make a ball with it. Then, take a slip knot and wrap it around the golf ball, tightening it up tight. From here, you wil...
How To: Flesh the head of a deer to prepare for tanning
In this video taxidermy tutorial series, a professional taxidermist demonstrates how to flesh a whitetail deer head. Whether you're tanning yourself or taking it to a professional tannery, the preparation of the deer flesh needs to be done the same way. An anti-bacterial spray needs to be applied to keep the skin from being damaged. All remnants of meaty muscle, fat, or ligaments need to be removed so that only the skin is tanned. Amateur taxidermy enthusiasts can learn how to carry out the p...
How To: Make a box trap for live pheasants
Check out this how-to video to make non typical box traps and to catch wild ring necked pheasants (hens).
How To: Skin a pheasant for cooking
This video describes how to skin a pheasant to prepare it for cooking and get the most out of the meat. The presenter starts by making a cut longways along the breast bone of the pheasant. Once you make the small incision you can peel the skin and feathers off of the pheasant. The presenter indicates that the main areas of meat are the breast area and the thighs. Next is cutting along the bones into the chest cavity and separating the collar bone. Instead of "gutting" the pheasant, the presen...
How To: Prepare a deer skull for mounting in the European style
You just shot a beautiful buck and you'd like to add his skull to your wall of trophies. If you're looking to mount the deer skull in the European style, take a look at this walkthrough and learn how to prepare the skull through boiling, degreasing, and bleaching.
How To: Skin a pheasant
Shooting Times cookery writer, Mark Hinge, shows you how to properly skin a pheasant.
How To: Make a deer tail mount
Make a deer tail mount on felt. This video shows the steps of taxidermy from the skinning to the mounting of the deer tail.
How To: Clean a goose with the breast out method
In order to clean a goose with the breast out method, you will need the following: a sharp knife and water.
How To: Clean a coyote
In this tutorial, we learn how to clean a coyote. Start out by cutting the legs and up to the inside of the rear end. Cut the skin around the feet and then peel the fur and skin upwards. Trim into the butt of the coyote, then cut around the tail into the middle. Keep pulling the skin up around the legs of the animal and around the thighs, using a sharp knife to loosen the skin. Remove the skin completely from around the legs, then cut the tail so only the bone is left and the skin is off. Aft...
How To: Remove a turkey tail fan
In this tutorial, we learn how to remove a turkey tail fan. Get the tail fan and spread it out, then hold the secondary tail fans and cut the tail fans out. You will want to cut at the base of the turkey where the but is, skinning a little bit to get it out. The removal should be pretty quick and simple. Before you do this, you should prepare the turkey by hanging it upside down on a tree. Keep the tail fan in borax powder until you're able to properly store it to make a trophy out of it. Thi...
How To: Clean skulls
In this American Taxidermy video we learn how to clean animal skulls. He is using borax, bleach, detergent, scrub brushes and a strong stomach as this smells awful. He uses a deer head with antlers, called a European mount and a canine skull.
How To: Cut Deer Antlers, Clean Bear Skulls & Cape Elk Skins: The Art of Taxidermy
There's three types of animal lovers in the world. The first are your basic pet owners. The ones with a
How To: Make a homemade predator decoy
Hunting predators can be difficult. As their entire lives are based on being stealthy enough to make a kill, while expending minimal energy, finding your prey can prove to be quite time-consuming. One hunter has made a homemade predator decoy for less than $20. Watch the video to find out how.
How To: Prepare the ears on a deer mount by the bondo method
A professional taxidermist demonstrates the "bondo ear" method for a whitetail deer mount in this video taxidermy tutorial. The mixture used is half bondo and half polyester resin, and the ears on the deer mount are further stuffed with a fiberglass mat to reinforce the material. The mixture is then placed on a stick and then slid down the ear of the deer skin cape. Amateur taxidermists can watch this instructional video and learn how to prepare the ears on a deer mount by the bondo method.
How To: Make a bench shooting bag
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial Dave from 'journey the outdoors' explains how to make a bench shooting bag. This is used by bench or week-end shooters for recreation purposes. For this you will need an old sock. Take one that you don't use anymore and preferably a tight knit sock. Then fill it with rice and tie the open end of the sock. You can also fill it with beans or some other such substance. Rice and beans being bigger than sand, there will be more air in the bag and it will a...
How To: Tan a deer hide the old fashioned way
This is the first step in tanning hides and making leather the old fashioned way. Sometimes called braintan, smoke tan, Indian tan or home tan. Watch this demonstrator scrap the hair and grain from the hide.
How To: Breast a pigeon
Shooting Times cookery writer, Mark Hinge, shows you how to properly breast a pigeon.
How To: Clean a dead goose, duck, or pheasant
To clean fowl (ducks, geese, pheasant, etc) in the field, begin by turning it on its back. Lay it down on a flat surface. Grab a handful of flesh, underneath the head and neck and rip it away. Continue ripping the skin and feathers off around the torso. You will need to retain one wing for identification. Cut one wing off with clippers.
How To: Deer Skinning for Shoulder Mount
Do you hunt? Looking to shoulder mount your deer? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to properly deer skin for a full shoulder mount.
How To: Pattern your shotgun
When shooting a shotgun, you don't really have to aim--just point and shoot. Whether you hit what you're shooting at depends on how well you did your homework. "Patterning" your shotgun allows you to choose exactly the right brand of shells, size and type of shot and type of choke required for the game you're pursuing. Set yourself up 40 yards from a 30-inch circle target, and bring along several brands of shells in various shot sizes. Use some form of rest like sandbags on a table or a rolle...
How To: Skin a Deer the Easy Way
You did all the work of getting your deer and the next step is making sure to process your deer correctly. Follow the procedure to skin and butcher your deer to best use all the parts and meat.
How To: Joint and butcher a roe deer
Take a look at this instructional video of a three part series in how to joint and butcher a roe deer. This tutorial covers the basics and is ideal for home venison and choice cuts.
How To: Sight in your rifle
A lot goes into making a hunt successful, and most of it happens before you take to the field--like making sure your rifle is properly sighted in. It's not hard to do if you follow a few simple steps: first, and this is the first step when you do anything with a firearm, make sure it's unloaded. Make sure your scope is properly mounted and the mounting screws are tight. Remove the bolt from the rifle and sight through the barrel to make sure you're lined up with a sight-in target placed at 25...
How To: Skin a squirrel properly
Learn how to skin a squirrel with tips from
How To: Set a Pipe Trap
This video will demonstrate how to properly set our Pipe Trap. Also known as a Tube Trap, this kill trap is effective for small animals like squirrels, rats and chipmunks. This clip will show how to use your foot or hands to set the trap. Learn how to bait the trap as well.
How To: Tan a cow hide
Preparing a cow hide can be a bit trocky if you don't know how to do it properly. Lucky for you, that's what we're here for! Watch this two part tutorial on how to properly tan a cow hide. Enjoy!
How To: Prepare a whitetail deer head for mounting
In this video taxidermy tutorial series, a professional taxidermist demonstrates how to prepare a whitetail deer cape for mounting. Now that the skin has been fleshed and tanned, the deer head cape is ready to be mounted. The skin will need the mount that will shape the skin, and will require trimming and sewing of the tanned and prepped skin. Watch this instructional video and learn how to prepare a whitetail deer head for mounting.
How To: Rattle and grunt whitetail bucks when hunting dear
In this how-to video, you will learn how to make a rattling and grunt call for Whitetail bucks. You can use a Mad Buck call, as it sounds really good. When you are grunting, make sure it sounds natural. Use short grunts. Put your hand over the end and let go as you make the call. This will allow you to make a good, solid grunt. A tending grunt can also be used during certain times. This consists of short little grunts. Grunt about thirty seconds before you start rattling. You should rattle on...
How To: Build a coyote trap
If you're going to build a coyote trap, you want to make absolutely sure you get it right. After all, the last thing you need to deal with is a furious coyote getting loose after you've trapped him! In this video you'll learn how to make a cheap and effective coyote trap.
How To: Mount deer antlers
This video is fantastic and very detailed on how to mount deer antlers. He carves the antlers off a deer head, then boils them to remove the meat, finally he mounts them on a piece of wood. For this professional taxidermy tutorial you may need a hack saw. Oh also, you need a deer head.
How To: Skin a deer hide
In this tutorial, we learn how to skin a deer hide. First, cut into the joint on the back legs. Cut across this, then down through the back side of the leg. Open the leg up with the knife and continue to cut until you see the last joint. After this, you can snap the leg and then repeat this same process for all of the legs. Now, apply pressure to the neck where you want to cut and then skin the stomach area from the inside area. Keep the tip of the knife away from the hide so you don't poke a...
How To: Gut a deer, field dressing
Kentucky Afield: Watch as Tim Farmer hosts the processing of venison, starting in the field and ending in the kitchen. Start with the deer down. Start with the tail and trim around the anus. You want to not break the colon nor the bladder for sanitary reasons. This is a long and delicate process of gutting a deer so that you may bring it easily back to the kitchen to make venison! Field dressing is an important hunting skill. Gut a deer, field dressing.
How To: Clean or field dress a deer
In this video, you'll learn how to field dress a deer. Put on gloves. Use Ozark trail hunting knife for dressing the deer. Place deer on its back, head facing away from you. Starting from the anus, split the deer up the middle to the chest. Use left had to prevent cutting or nicking the internal organs. Stretch the cavity open. Loosen organs from cavity wall. Cut out the entrails and all organs. Make an anal incision. Use the butt tool to remove the butt/final portion of intestine. Saw the pe...
How To: Clean a bear skull and make a European mount
Just got back from your bear hunting trip? Instead of paying a taxidermist, take a look at this instructional video and learn how to clean a bear skull and make a European mount on your own. To use this procedure, you'll need a knives, gloves, large pot, garbage bas, dishwashing soap, a large pail, 3-4 liters of 40 volume peroxide, and fast drying glue.
How To: Taxidermy a dead rat and add bright red LED eyes
This is gruesome. Beware. Don't watch if you're easily grossed out. The rat has a battery access hatch made out of velcro on its back, not shown in the film. If you solder a battery, make sure you do it quick - if the battery is exposed to heat from the soldering gun for too long, it will EXPLODE! You can buy feeder pets - rats, mice, and even rabbits and sometimes guinea pigs - at snake food stores. just browse the yellow pages. The original tutorial is by CANIDA on Instructables. She also d...
How To: Sabotage a cruel and unnecessary fox hunt
Fox hunting has become illegal is some parts of the world, but there are still places where fox hunting is an acceptable activity, where people ride on horseback, following foxhounds and other scent dogs on their hunt for foxes, most likely a red foxes.
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