I am going to Africa for the first time next June and needless to say my excitement has got me working up loads, reading all I can read, etc. Today I was thinking about taxidermy and my thought was if I could only full body mount one Plains game animal from Africa what would it be - I think it would have to be the Nyala for me. If I were ever to bag a lion, I think he would have to be a full body also.

Probably not what you're going after.

But for me, if I could do only one full body african antelope. I'd be very happy with a Bongo.

Nyala or kudu...

MIKE

Mountain Nyala or Bongo

Nyala and any of the Small Antelope(Duiker , Steen,...)if you don't tear them up.


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A buddy of mine has a full body mount of a black rhino is his trophy room. Rather impressive, to say the least.

Heck it takes away from the full body lion jumping on the back of his cape buffalo.

For me...a kudu or gemsbok.

I would tend to agree with you Phoenixdawg, Nyala are beautiful animals. I was going to full body mount my first Nyala but changed my mind and decided to wait for a better specimen. If I can collect a 30" class ram, he'll get the full mount. With that said, I took a very nice Bontebok last year, a certified pure strain ram. After considering a full mount, I decided to do something different: a rug. You may have seen Mt. Goat rugs; head is mounted as part of the flat rug. This shows the full color of the Bontebok. He was skinned for lifesize so I'll have to wait until I can study the tanned skin before I can determine if he'll make a good rug. Another great full mount would be a Bushbuck. They're another great looking spiral horn and if you get a good specimen and he's not too badly rubbed (neck) they make a great looking full mount. One thing I would advise you about: don't overlook the habitat base. Nothing detracts more from a great looking lifesize mount than a cheap or bland looking base. One or two sticks, and a tiny patch of dried grass just doesn't cut it. Most Nyala, Bushbuck and Duikers live in the thick bush; not on dirt or sand. Hope you get a super looking specimen this June. I'll be doing the same thing next month and again in June. Good hunting, LDK

Of antelopes, I'd think either an nyala, or Lord Derby eland; both have interesting leg markings.

Bushbuck!

I would have to say Nyala or bushbuck are two animals from the ordinary bag that benefit the most from full body mounts. It really does them justice this way and shows off all the markings. If I had to pick just one of the more exotic stuff it would of course for me be a bongo.
One of my good friends has his bongo done full mount and it is awesome.I dont want to detract from the mountain nyala either but it too is out of reach for many. The bontebuck is very nice as well and stands in the dining room across from the full mount croc. If I had the money and the space I would full mount a lot of things but being practical just dosn't allow it. Any of the little antelope make good full body mounts but do not think they will be any cheaper. In fact you can often have a large animal done for less than one of the little guys. After my rambling I will stick with my original statement of bushbuck and nyala. I know I love my bushbuck. Hopefully the nyala will be in the salt soon.

if we are talking P/G and not the cats, than I would have to put my vote in for the Klipspringer.. after the klipie, it would have to be the grysbok.

For me it would be a Caracal stalking an Swainsons Francolin.

Gerhard

If plains game, then Nyala or Sable. Otherwise. . . .

Bushbuck, Bushbuck, Bushbuck

Vaal Rhebok. With it's unusual wool like hair, a shoulder mount just don't do it justice.

Mac

I got a steenbuck fullmounted.
the next will be a buchbuck

Phoenixdawg. This decision will be easier for you in Africa. One way is to pick the one that means the most to you while you are there. At least one of your trophies will really stand out in your mind because of something unique that occurs during the hunt.

If you think there may be even a remote possibility of wanting a full mount, make sure that the animal is skinned for a full mount. Remember that you can always do a shoulder mount from a life-sized cape, but not the other way around! There is usually at least a year, sometimes much more for you to make the final decision.

My personal picks are similar to those posted above: any of the smaller species, bongo, nyala, bushbuck, cats, baboons.

Also a life-sized warthog makes a nice mount that is not too big. A jumping springbok or impala looks good and can be attached to the wall if floor space is limited.

My choice would be Charlize Theron. I'd do a full body mount on her in a heartbeat. Sorry guys, I just couldn't resist.

UEG: You read my mind! Iwas going to post and ask *YOU* to post your lion picture

Dale: where's the picture? jorge

jorge: I felt so guilty in not posting the last time you asked me that I just had to post.

Nyala, every time I look at my shoulder mount I am sorry I didn't do a full body mount. Ihave a full mount Bushbuck from the same safari and would exchange them in a heart beat. They are both very good heads the Nyala is 29 1/2 and the bushbuck is 14 1/2.

As long as we're dreaming, I'd love to have a full body mount of a Lesser Kudu. I don't think a more beautiful antelope exists, except maybe the bongo.

In the practical world, both bushbuck and nyala make gorgeous, space-wise mounts.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
jorge: I felt so guilty in not posting the last time you asked me that I just had to post.

Thank you very much. I have to say it again, but that is the BEST lion mount I have ever seen. jorge. Oh. here's my first and only (so far) full mount. It's a Limpopo bb with 15" horns. jorge

Without a doubt, my favorite critter to get a life size mount on would be a huge, old, muscular "blue bull" Eland with a big ruff on his forehead and a big ol' dulap.

I am a sucker for full body mounts, but they do take up the space! If we are talking plains game, it would be klipspringer, warthog, and bushbuck in that order. I did a cape buffalo as lifesize, and it sure does take a lot of space. I don't think I will ever do any of the big plains antelope as life size, stick with the shoulder mounts.

Postdriver.. good call on the Lesser Kudu.. I didn't have my brain tuned to EA plains game.. Along those same lines, I'd also have a gerenuk mounted L/S as well.

I must say that bushbuck should also be added to my list of Nyala and Sable. jorge: great looking bushbuck!

leopard and bushbuck , both exquisitely marked and very impressive in lifesize ..

We did an nyala and my wife really liked it.

My favorite full body is a black springbok.

Nyala, has to be the most worthy of the full mount status for a plains game animal. The hide is so decorative, and the spiral horns ... Though another choice might be...



Because the shoulder didn't do this Nyala justice!


or perhaps

I vote with the Bushbuck brothers....as a matter of fact, I'm trying to decide now if I am going to do a full body mount of the one I took last fall. At least they skinned it as though I were!!!

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI

either a impala or a bush buck