I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but which of the african plains game tend to make the best covers for say bar stools, pillows, rifle slings, etc.? Obviously zebra comes to mind. What about gemsbok, kudu, red hartebeast? Which ones are the toughest, or would wear the longest? Are there companies in the U.S. that do this type of work. Just curious.

Mad Dog

We've collected a lot of back skins from different animals. Last year we covered our dining room chair cushions with a variety of skins and we've been very happy with the result. We even leftthe tails on and let them hang out the back of the chairs. Of course the longer haired ones get a little funky looking but unless you have the skins tanned to leather you'll get that anyway. If you do tan to leather you'll loose the Afrca effect of the skins.

Mark

Mark, that sounds neat! Did you do it yourself, or is there a cabinet maker or something that does it?

We did the exact same thing that Mark described. We had our local tac shop do it. They charged only $20 per seat. It looks great. I think our guests enjoy the seat cushions as much or more than the trophys on the wall.

wihntr,

Actually we did it ourselves. Just turned the chairs upside down and removed the screws holding the cushions. We put the skins right over the existing fabric and stapled in place. It was fun and came out quite well but I think as Dr. C did I'd have a pro do it next time. Also as Dr. C mentioned the seat covers sometimes draw more interest than my mounts particularly from the non hunters.

Mark

I'll have to try that. I especially like the idea of the tails hanging off the back. (I can already hear my kids squabbling over who gets to sit in the kudu chair!)

Sounds great. I've been collecting back skins with the intent of using them to cover the inset portion of raised panel cabinet doors in my trophy room. (If I ever get it built.)

Mark, Any chance of pictures? I have a Kudu and some other assorted skins as collected over the years and this sounds like a great direction to look to.

Thanks

Dave

We did pillows out of nyala and bushbuck backskins with the hair on and the other side of each pillow is eland tanned without the hair. They are throw pillows for the couch and do draw favorable comments from guests. We also had a settee done in zebra for our bedroom. All were done by Life-Form in SA.

If doing it yourself is not your cup of tea, your taxidermist should be able to do it for you.
Another option would be to take the chairs and skins to your local upholstery shop.


Mark, I like the idea with the tails.

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