12 September 2011, 23:34
wildfowlHELP! What should Blue Wildebeest Horns look like?
I just got my trophies back from RSA and the horns don't look like what I remembered (but it was a while ago). They look black and cracked.
Can someone help me? Maybe with a picture of a finished mount?
13 September 2011, 01:35
GraftonHorns almost never look the way they did when on the animal. Wildebeest are more prone than others for the black and cracked look you describe. It is the job of the taxidermist to repair/restore the horns to look as close to "fresh" as possible. Some are good at this, some are not.
Was this a dip and pack shipment or finished trophies?
Those who have never opened a crate of dip and packed skins and horns would most likely be horrified at what they see. Discolored, dried , cracked, large holes drilled in horns to allow insecticide to penetrate, the list of damage is long. All I can say is that a lot can be done to bring back the original look. It is part of the job.
Boiling/grease/dipping/drying/etc.. is hard on horns. Some species endure the treatment better than others. The damage you describe is very, very common.
Get those horns to a taxidermist and see what can be done to restore the look you remember.
13 September 2011, 01:40
wildfowlThe are not finished. I was just there when the box was openned. The taxidermist said not to worry, but it scared me!
13 September 2011, 06:11
oakmanIf he is a good African taxidermist then you should have no worries.They always come into the country looking a little weird , just like most of all the other hunting trophies items..
