Fairly straight forward.

Considering a hunt for a Burchells zebra in the near future and a future hunt for a mountain zebra, what do you do with the Burchells zebra?

I've heard others say to shoulder mount the Burchells and rug the mountain zebra because of the prominent dewlap.

What have you done or intend on doing?

Question:
Do you rug it or shoulder mount it?

Choices:
Rug
Shoulder mount
Something else

 

For a rug, the Mtn zebra (no shadow stripes) is very striking

Something else.

Shag it?

Graybird,

I have both rugs and shoulder mounts of zebra. The shoulder mount will best show the prominent dewlap on the Hartemann's. A rug is very nice and quite big but it does not show off the dewlap. The Burchell's looks great regardless of how you mount it. Remember when you are having them mounted that the Hartemann's has a little different shaped head than the Burchell as well as differnt striping, very different feet plus the dewlap.

Mark

Rugs all around.

quote:

I have both rugs and shoulder mounts of zebra. The shoulder mount will best show the prominent dewlap on the Hartemann's. A rug is very nice and quite big but it does not show off the dewlap. The Burchell's looks great regardless of how you mount it. Remember when you are having them mounted that the Hartemann's has a little different shaped head than the Burchell as well as differnt striping, very different feet plus the dewlap.

Mark hit the nail on the head IMO, +2!

Photos and shoot five for the price of taxidermy.

http://www.animalartistry.com/pb/af_sm/21_af_sm.php

Graybird,

I had him done as a pedestal by Animal Artistry (that is mine in the link). Good luck with your hunt.

I have both a pedestal mount made of a Burchells stallion & on another a rug.
Had a Hartmans mare, very old & barren, made into a rug.
My favorite is the Burchells on the pedestal.

I really like a zebra shoulder mount but if its your first I feel every trophy room needs a zebra rug.

I would do both as pedestal mounts.

I have a Hartmann's done in a pedestal and like it very much. If we shoot two Boheme Zebra for leopard bait in 2014 I will rug one and do the other in the mirror image pedestal mount of the Hartmann's. I think they would look good in opposite corners of a room.

I did rugs..they just make a trophy room

Here is my burchells

I think they are both amazing so I shot two Burchell's. One for a pedestal shoulder mount and the other for the rug.

I will do the same thing when I go to Namibia, one for a shoulder mount and the other for a rug. I think it would be great to have both to compare.

Pedestal mount. You can then move it to fit into the decor of your room.

Thanks to Brian and Dakota Taxidermy.

I don't do either - i just tan them and toss them on the floor - looks great. Why spend the money to put a felt lining on it?

Agreed. It is expensive.

Stay away from the felt lining, it's a dust magnet. If you're going to rug it them go with the leather bound trim or none at all. It will lay much better if you back it and leather trim by an "expert".

Nothing looks better than a pedestal mount looking like a chess piece

Zebras were made to be rugs. Their furred hides are incredibly durable. And if and when they ever wear out (and none of mine are even close after many years of daily use), you can just shoot another one.

Carpet backed, leather trimmed, they make great rugs. You can only use so many though. I've got friends who don't hunt in Africa, who want me to bring home hides so they can have a rug made. I'll probably do it if I need a zebra for bait.

If I shot an old stallion with a lot of scars, I might consider a pedestal.

I have shot 4 Burchells and would gladly take a couple more if given the chance.

I want to hunt a Mtn so bad I can taste it.

I agree with the guys who say start with a rug and take it from there.

I do quite like the shoulder mounts, but I am moving away from them generally anyway.

If you shoot plenty zebra you can also do some furniture, ottomans etc.

Pedestal of each so you can see the differences between the two up close. On the next hunt you can look at rugs.

I shot a Burchells last August and will have a pedestal mount made from it. Going back this July for the rug.

I did a pedestal mount of my mountain zebra and rug out of the burchells. The pedestal is one of my most stunning mounts and the dewlap adds character. Hunters and non-hunters alike are astounded by that one mount. I'm not sure why some say don't do a shoulder mount because of the dewlap.

As for the rug, It's a simple pressed flatskin done in Namibia at a fraction of the cost here in the states. It does not have a felt back and it does not hang on the wall. It lies in the foyer of my house and gets walked on multiple times a day and shows no wear other than a spot on the mane where my basenji chewed on it one time before he learned his lesson. Hell, I wish it would wear out so I would have an excuse to go shoot another one.

Just shoot two and you can have both

quote:

Just shoot two and you can have both

I'm with Jerry on this one.
Besides, zebra hunting is downright fun!

Only a relatively few people (speaking of the general population) find shoulder mounts attractive. But I've found that even dyed-in-the-wool anti-hunters appreciate the exotic beauty of a zebra rug and tend to be circumspect in their criticism. You're doing this to please yourself, so you may not care what visitors to your home think, but a zebra rug is much more versatile, and attractive to more eyes. As well as MUCH less expensive.

The tannery in Namibia (don't know their name because our guide took care of arrangements) did a splended job on our Hartmanns rugs. They lay flat without backing and cost a pittance to tan and ship compared to a shoulder mount.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
Just shoot two and you can have both

I was wondering when this comment was going to rise to the surface!

Thanks everyone for your comments and pictures. Always interesting to listen to others ideas/thoughts.

We have done two as rugs, one with felt backing and one without. My wife and I agree (for once!), that the plain, natural tanned skin is far nicer. The felt-backed one kind of looks like it was poured out of a bucket onto the floor and just lays there. It has no "life".

Hugh

My daughters grumbled when I put a kudu shoulder mount in the stairwell leading up to their bedrooms. But when my mountain zebra rug got delivered they argued over who got to put it in their room.

Rugs are appreciated, even by queasy young girls. Besides, how many of us still have any space left on their walls?

I have a rug from a Hartmann's and really wish I had a shoulder mount to go along with it. Their facial strips and orange-colored snout are amazing.

Please allow me a little side track on this thread!

What is the expected life (years) of a zebra rug (unlined) used in a trophy room/man cave (room used daily by the hunter, not in a high traffic area, with an occasional beer spill)?

I have 9 years on a Burchell's rug that gets daily traffic on it by kids, grandkids, and dogs. Still looks good and no deterioration. If it gets too ratty, I'll shoot another.

To me, a zebra rug just screams Africa. And July 2014 will find me shooting the makings.

And there is no room for many wall or pedestal mounts in our little hovel as much as I admire those.

Flat skin. That's a rug without any backing, edging or other frills - head on. Mine is of my Hartmann's Mountain Zebra from Namibia in 2000. It drapes over a bannister, rather than resting on the floor. No wear and looks good. It may end up on the floor someday.

I have one of my Mt as a rug, only leather trim no backing and if you go with a falt skin have them take the legs as long as they can without the hoofs. I also have a Burchells as a pedistal drinking from a pond it is the nicest I have seen. My other Mt is the chess piece mount type, he was an old battered stallion and looks cool with all the scars on the one side and the other is clear of any scaring. This tells me he was right dominate with his right side scared from many fights.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Something else.

Shag it?

Not much happening in the summer heat, hhuummnn!!