From the field to the Taxidermist - Here's what you need to know.
RUGS
Skinning an animal for a rug is the simplest method of all.
1. Make the usual cut down the center of the belly to the anus and field dress the animal.
2. When you are ready to remove the skin, lay the animal on it's back. Continue the cut you made when field dressing up the center of the chest, stopping at the base of the skull. (Adam's apple)
3. Starting from behind the front pad, make a cut down the inside of the front leg across the chest down the opposite leg to the base of other front pad.
4. Make a similar cut from just inside the heel of the rear pad, across the inside of the rear leg, across the belly. Continue up the inside of the other, ending at the heel of the other foot.
5. Begin skinning, taking care not to cut any holes. Lift and pull the hide away from the meat as you skin.
6. Cut thru the wrist and ankle joints by cutting the tendons. Leave the feet attached to the hide.
7. If it is possible to hang the animal by the rear hocks, this will make skinning the rest of the animal easier. If not, roll the animal on it's side as you skin. Then lay roll it onto the other side to complete the job.
8. When you reach the skull, carefully cut thru the meat until you reach the backbone and separate the skull from the neck. Or use a bone saw and cut thru the spine.
9. If you have a freezer or access to one, fold the hide up, place in a heavy plastic bag, and freeze.
10. If you have no freezer and the daytime temperature is above 50 degrees, keep the hide as cool as possible and take it ASAP to a taxidermist processing.