Eland Bull cape question

08 October 2006, 23:12

kudu4u

Wonder if some of you might kindly give an opinion as to whether only a (mature) bull eland has the browish-red plume of raised hair on the head between the ears and if cow eland only have slick hair between the ears. Thanks to all in advance.

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10 October 2006, 17:18

kudu4u

Actually my taxidermist may have been sent the wrong cape to mount. I already have the mount. It is on a pedestal with habitat and is truly artful and inspiring--yet it could be the wrong cape. My bull had a large tuft of the reddish brown hair and the mount I have is completely slick between the ears. I am sure that my initial post was a bit of a loaded question. Thank you for replying!!

"In these days of mouth-foaming Disneyism......"--- Capstick
Don't blame the hunters for what the poachers do!---me

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10 October 2006, 17:25

cchunter

Just checked photos of the mount I have on the way here against trophy photos and that does not look the same. I know that I have heard a lot about hair loss on that sort of hair, and I also know that we had problems with some of the other capes to since we had temperatures above 100 F/40 C when we hunted.

10 October 2006, 20:33

Andrew McLaren

kudu4u,

If you say" slick between the ears.." do you mean no hair whatsoever, or just short hair like on the rest of the eland?

If no hair at all, it could be hairslip. Then ONLY the PH should be blamed.

If only short hair, somewhere in the chain from PH, HO to the taxidermist somone swapped the cape of your mature [or even old] eland with that from a young eland.

Young eland do not have that tufft of dark brown hair. See the story about Wimpie's record book sized eland that was still young! The photo show there is no hairtufft - that is why Wimpie shot him as a young eland!

Hope it helps you.

Andrew McLaren

10 October 2006, 20:45

kudu4u

This helps a lot. There is hair, it's just short. Altho the mount is goregous the cape is not mine. Not the taxidermists fault!! Thanks so much!!

"In these days of mouth-foaming Disneyism......"--- Capstick
Don't blame the hunters for what the poachers do!---me

Benefactor Member NRA

11 October 2006, 13:33

infinito

I concur with Andrew. There would be a bald patch where the hair was lost. I'll send you a pic of a Big Eland I had mounted, with a big tussle of hair.

When it is realy hot, the PH should cape the animal in the bush, and apply water as soon as possible to cool it down, and keep it in the shade. Big animals cape easier than smaller ones. Animals I can think of on the spot that you should be carefull of in future, and are prone to hairslip is Klipspringer, Gemsbok(due to the heat in areas where they are trad. hunted), all cats, and all "shade dwelling" antilope like the Blue duiker, Nyala, Bushbuck and Red Duiker.

Why do you say the Taxidermist is not to blame? He could have used the wrong cape!

Hope you get some closure.....or come and shoot another one

Charl

Infinito Safaris

11 October 2006, 15:55

kudu4u

Knowing my taxidermist as I do I would bet he was sent the wrong cape. A bit of detective work is still indicated however. I got the eland in about 75 degrees F July, 05. Whatever the reason I am sure now after these helpful replies that I have the wrong cape. I may even know who's it is. I thank all of you very much who have replied.

"In these days of mouth-foaming Disneyism......"--- Capstick
Don't blame the hunters for what the poachers do!---me

Benefactor Member NRA