Tom Emms Taxidermy

Welcome to Tom Emms Taxidermy

Route 427 2142 Wilawana Road, Elmira, NY 14901 (607) 529-8891

Monday-Thursday 8:00am-8:00pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8:00am-4:00pm

Large and Small Game mounted, Rugs sewn and novelties created. Buck heads are $475, prices for other specimens upon request.

NO FISH OR PETS

Keep all game as cold as possible

Deer Taken in Pennsylvania

Due to Chronic Wasting Disease finding in Pennsylvania in 2012 you may not bring any unskinned deer head to a New York State taxidermist.

On my website I have pictures of my deer heads and my current charge is $475 and up for deer heads.

You can skin your deer head yourself in 30-45 minutes using a little care and patience. I have compiled instructions which I believe can aid you in such skinning.

You will need a sharp paring knife, a wide bladed screwdriver, hacksaw, vinyl gloves (optional) and a hammer.
Let's say your deer has been butchered and you are now ready for the next step. Lay your deer and skin on a table top, tailgate of a truck or other flat surface.
Stick your knife into the center of the back of the head and make a straight cut down the back of the neck to the top of the shoulder. This cut can also aid you in removing any meat which is in the neck.
Go back to where you start at the back of the head. Using your knife make a diagonal cut from the center point of the back of the head to rear or side of each antler. The top of the head now has a "Y" or "V" looking cut.
Using your knife separate the neck, skin from any neck meat remaining.
Keep separating the cape from the skull until you get to the horns.
Now where the skin fits around the base of the antlers use the screwdriver to pry the skin from the base of the antlers (tap with hammer if necessary).
Cut the ears off close to the skull.
When you reach the eyes, place your fingers under the eyelids from the outside so you can tell where you are cutting and not cut the eyelid.
When skinning through the mouth, cut through the skin inside the mouth and leave plenty of this inner lip skin attached to the cape.
When you reach the nose cartilage, cut down through it so that there is plenty of that nose cartilage or inner nose skin. Remember, any excess can be cut off.
Refrigerate or freeze the cape of take to the taxidermist as soon as possible.

Removing antlers from the skull

The usual method of removing the antlers is to use your hacksaw and start cutting through the back of the skull straight through the middle of the eye sockets.
Remove eye balls prior to this cutting and remove any brains left attached to the horns.

The idea of the N.Y. DEC with this ruling regarding Pennsylvania deer and their handling in N.Y. State is because the Chronic Wasting Disease is very infectious. It can be spread through deer-to-der contact, feces, urine, saliva and the remains which could have been discarded into the ground. The prions, the infectious agent of Chronic Wasting Disease, can even remain in the soil for 18 years or more and be impossible to eradicate.

Chronic Wasting Disease infected deer may appear healthy but be shedding the infectious prions for months before appearing ill.

We as concerned sportsmen must take precautions because the word EXTINCT means FOREVER.

My writing regarding Chronic Wasting Disease and the skinning of the head of Pennsylvania deer is not meant to discourage, scare nor confuse you. My purpose is to enlighten you regarding Chronic Waste Disease, the handling of your trophy and the reasoning behind our game laws.

For direct communication call (607) 529-8891. Please call ahead for an appointment.

Best Wishes in your hunting season, Tom Emms.

Tom Emms Taxidermy

Welcome to Tom Emms Taxidermy

Large and Small Game mounted, Rugs sewn and novelties created. Buck heads are $475, prices for other specimens upon request.

You will need a sharp paring knife, a wide bladed screwdriver, hacksaw, vinyl gloves (optional) and a hammer.

Let's say your deer has been butchered and you are now ready for the next step. Lay your deer and skin on a table top, tailgate of a truck or other flat surface.

Stick your knife into the center of the back of the head and make a straight cut down the back of the neck to the top of the shoulder. This cut can also aid you in removing any meat which is in the neck.

Go back to where you start at the back of the head. Using your knife make a diagonal cut from the center point of the back of the head to rear or side of each antler. The top of the head now has a "Y" or "V" looking cut.

Using your knife separate the neck, skin from any neck meat remaining.

Keep separating the cape from the skull until you get to the horns.

Now where the skin fits around the base of the antlers use the screwdriver to pry the skin from the base of the antlers (tap with hammer if necessary).

Cut the ears off close to the skull.

When you reach the eyes, place your fingers under the eyelids from the outside so you can tell where you are cutting and not cut the eyelid.

When skinning through the mouth, cut through the skin inside the mouth and leave plenty of this inner lip skin attached to the cape.

When you reach the nose cartilage, cut down through it so that there is plenty of that nose cartilage or inner nose skin. Remember, any excess can be cut off.

Refrigerate or freeze the cape of take to the taxidermist as soon as possible.

Removing antlers from the skull

The usual method of removing the antlers is to use your hacksaw and start cutting through the back of the skull straight through the middle of the eye sockets.

Remove eye balls prior to this cutting and remove any brains left attached to the horns.