Hot Hunting & Taxidermy How-Tos


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: 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: 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: 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: Field dress a wild hog
In the messy world of field dressing, it's important to get the process done soon to ensure untainted game. Also, by removing the skin, you are reducing the animal considerably in weight, making it easier to carry home. In this four-part video tutorial, watch as a wild hog is field dressed from start to finish.

How To: Make a closed reed coyote call
Made from cherry wood, this is a handmade woodcarved coyote call. Thanks to information posted on Preditormasters for the help in making this video.

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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: Mold and cast a fish mount for taxidermy statues
This video taxidermy tutorial demonstrates the process of molding and casting a fish mount. Any fish can be placed into molding material and covered with plaster to create an exact replica of the fish. When the mold hardens, a duplicate of the fish can be cast. Watch this instructional video and learn how to mold and cast a fish mount for taxidermy statues.

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: Mold a white crappie fish sculpture out of fiberglass
This video taxidermy tutorial shows how to make a wall mount sculpture of a white crappie fish. The initial fish is bedded into a soft clay mold, and then painted with fiberglass resin. When the mold hardens and dries, it can then be filled with whatever material desired to make the wall mount. Watch this instructional video and learn how to make a mold for a white crappie fish wall mount sculpture.

How To: Pluck a woodcock
Shooting Times cookery writer, Mark Hinge, shows how to pluck a Woodcock.

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: Skin a deer for the best condition for brain tanning
This 3-part video tutorial series will show you a very thorough way to skin a deer. This method of skinning of deer will provide the best shape and condition for your next step - brain tanning. Follow along with each step of the way, and make sure you're using an ultra sharp knife to eliminate the dangers of accidentally cutting yourself.

How To: Bait and catch a squirrel
You can find a humane squirrel and rodent trap at most all-purpose stores, this video recommends Home Depot and will cost about thirty-five dollars. To bait it you will need some peanut butter and crackers. Take out four crackers and break them in half. Spread some peanut butter on one side of each piece. In the middle of the trap there is a trigger that is raised when active. Place two pieces of the cracker behind the trigger deep in the cage. Next place two pieces upside down on the trigger...

How To: Cut trails to channel deer movements
Wade Bourne, host of Wade's World Hunting at MyOutDoorTV, shows you how to create a "path of least resistance" for deer this season. Let's face it: deer can be pretty stupid. With a little leg work, you can trick your deer into going exactly where you want them. Hunting your prey will be a snap!

How To: Paint a stuffed perch with acrylic paints
The colors on a dead fish can get a bit dull, but a little bit of acrylic paint will add a life-like vibrancy to the stuffed taxidermy mount. The demonstrator walks through the steps of adding fresh and realistic color to a perch mount with the help of some paint. Watch this video taxidermy tutorial and learn how to paint a stuffed perch with acrylic paints.

How To: Stuff a zander fish for a taxidermy mount
Fishing enthusiasts don't need to waste the skin on a prize catch. Eat the meat, but when cleaning the fish, cut the skin so that it stay in tact for mounting. The delightful English demonstrator walks through the steps of cleaning, prepping, and stuffing a mounted taxidermy fish. Watch this video taxidermy tutorial and learn how to prepare a fish (in this case a zander) for creating a taxidermy 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 rabbit
Have you ever wanted to cut a rabbit's foot off? Then check out this how-to video for skinning rabbits, you meanie.

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: 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: Properly cape a pronghorn antelope or similar for mounting and taxidermy
While a pronghorn antelope is used in this video, the techniques and methods will also work for any deer, elk, caribou or other hunting animal you've bagged. Learn how to properly skin and remove the head for later taxidermy and mounting.

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: Choose a good deer ambush spot & light a survival fire with steel
This survival video offers up two pieces of useful information: how to scout and choose a good location to hunt deer and how to use the Kodiak fire steel tool to light a fire. These two pieces go hand in hand when you're out in the wild looking for food and needing a way to cook it.

How To: Make sure your game is really dead
In this tutorial, we learn how to make sure your game is really dead. One of the best things is to stay away from the feet, then touch the eyes with the end of your rifle. If there is no reaction at all, then the animal is dead for sure. After this, you will need to attach a validated elk tag to the animal, making sure it's secured. Glue it to the ear using your hands and pressing it down for several seconds. In different states, there are rules and regulations as to where you have to apply t...

How To: Field dress a deer
In this tutorial we learn how to field dress a deer. First, put some gloves on and grab a sharp knife. After this, puncture a hole in the lower half of the throat of the deer. Next, start to cut up until you reach the neck. There will be a lot of blood that comes out, just a warning. Then, you will see the inside of the deer start to come out from the fur. Cut the piece of the neck and then tie together at the end. To finish, go to the rear end of the deer and cut from the hole. Tie it with a...

How To: Score a big buck or elk
In this tutorial, we learn how to score a big buck or elk with Stan Potts. First, take the bottom of it and remove a bottom line from the main beam. Measure the length of all of the sides. If you're going to cut it out, you should be perfectly even with the top. Then, you will do this on the other side for a typical frame. From here, take the greatest inside spread at a perpendicular angle and that will be your spread credit. Add up each side individually and then you will find the difference...

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: SKin a deer the easy way
In this video we learn how to skin a deer the easy way. First, you will lay the deer down on its back and remove the fur from the stomach area. By this time, the legs and arms of the deer should be cut off. Next, you will use your knife to cut all the way to the throat and around the neck area. From here, you will pull the fur back from the deer all the way around. Once you get to the back, you will need to turn the deer around to get the rest of the fur from the back.

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: 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.

How To: Hunt the elusive hairy and yeti-like beast called Sasquatch (or Bigfoot)
Much like UFOs and chupacabras, the Sasquatch has yet to officially take its name out of the fictional section, but that doesn't mean Bigfoot won't transform from fiction to reality someday. In fact, with the hunting and tracking skills outlined in this video, you may just be the one who slams the yeti-like Sasquatch into the science books. Learn to track the elusive Bigfoot creature like an expert!

How To: Use arapuca in a bird trap
In this video, we learn how to use arapuca in a bird trap. First, place the arapuca underneath the trap, then place two bricks on both sides, along with a stick to prop up the trap. Now, leave this around until you catch a bird. When you finally catch the bird, stick your hands through the top of the trap and get your hands around the bird. After this, lift the trap up and let the bird go. Make sure the goat doesn't see you set the trap, or else they will eat the arapuca that you have laid ou...

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...