I just got word from my taxidermist in Namibia that one of my kudo horns will not boil off. He is doing a shoulder mount and I was wondering if this will present any problems with bugs, odors, etc.?

Kudu and other horned animals have a core and over that core is a flesh like membrane then theres the outside of the horn we see. Blood careing the nutrients flow through this mebrane so the horn can grow. If the membrane is not removed it may start to stink and maybe draw insects to it. This is the only reason the horns need boiling is to remove the outside horn to get to this membrane and remove it. Once boiled it is easily removed. Now some horned animals you can't remove the outside horn to get to this membrane because of the shape of the horns so you just have to do the best you can do and then treat them with insecticides. Its strange that you can't get the horn off the core of the kudu horn unless its odd shaped. Some horns are just plum stubborn and maybe need to be boiled a little more but not much as you can destroy them. You can gently hit them with a piece of wood and twist them at the same time and they will finally come off. Sometimes the mebrane itself creates a vacuum like affect because of its perfect fit so maybe a few small holes can be drilled down from the tips of the horns to release this vacuum. Thease holes can be repaired with good skill. The outside horn of a horned animal won't rot unless its been left out in the weather a long time and then it will just start to crack and break down.Inside the horn is a core thats honeycomb like and is a part of the skull itself and won't rot.

Just a note. If you get your horns from Africa or any other place that is cracked at the base of the horn or other places and the skull is falling apart it means that they have been boiled to much.

Maybe this will help a little

Best wishes
Steve

Wildlife Artist,
Thanks for the info. I'm worried about bugs and odor. Without pulling the horn and cleaning the membrane is there a way of solving this?
You said:
"If the membrane is not removed it may start to stink and maybe draw insects to it."

Wildlife Artist is on the money. With horns as big as kudu, there is a lot of space under those horns. If you don't get them off and clean under them, they are gonna stink and draw bugs! Maybe if he seals the base with epoxy and drills the horns and treats the horn core.

Sorry for the long replys.

Its a tough call to make. You can gamble and see what happens. You may not have a problem with smell but the little buggers can.

I would contact the people that are getting your trophys ready an see if they will try again and tell them "Not to Overboil Them"
They can still remove the horns from the shoulder mount and reboil it then put it back on.Its not hard to do. There is a little flap of skin right in between the horns and a seam down the back of its neck, his can be moistened to make it soft and the skull plate can be removed,boiled and put back in place.

Is the horn odd shaped?
Can you post a picture?

If it is normal shaped it should come off. The other horn did!

Their boiling container they have may not be big enough to immerse the entire horns in it and maybe they take turns for each side (which is ok if you time it right) and boil but in this case they may have not let the other side boil long enough.

If they won't help you I will be glad to help you with it.

I don't understand why the horns won't come off, that IMO is a must. I have never had a client that got a Kudu with the horns still on in 40 years. That sends up warning signals to me, but I am not a taxidermist.

It just don't sound right that the horn won't come off.

That worries me.

Question please on the kudu horns--if they are boiled too much will they permanently darken darker than their natural color? Thanks!

Yes it may darken them. When the horns are boiled it releases the oils in the horn and membrane and it bleeds through the entire horn.