Back skins? Black wildebeest?

wildfowler.250

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Has anyone got any good photos of back skins they’ve had done? I’m considering hunting a black wildebeest and would only go for a euro mount. Back skins seem relatively cheap so I thought it may be worth doing as well?

Hartebeest and blue wildebeest seem to be the most common though?
 
I have a few backskins, had some pillows made with nyala, lechwe and cape bushbuck. I have a chobe bushbuck, gemsbok and a roan on tables and cabinets.
The roan is under the duck in the glass case, bushbuck under the cork decoys and the gemsbok is under the souvenirs.
 

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Has anyone got any good photos of back skins they’ve had done? I’m considering hunting a black wildebeest and would only go for a euro mount. Back skins seem relatively cheap so I thought it may be worth doing as well?

Hartebeest and blue wildebeest seem to be the most common though?
Here is a picture of my Golden Wildebeest and soon I will have my Blue one. I love my rugs with felt backing.
 

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I have a few backskins, had some pillows made with nyala, lechwe and cape bushbuck. I have a chobe bushbuck, gemsbok and a roan on tables and cabinets.
The roan is under the duck in the glass case, bushbuck under the cork decoys and the gemsbok is under the souvenirs.
Looks good! Pillows are an interesting idea I’ll consider too
Here is a picture of my Golden Wildebeest and soon I will have my Blue one. I love my rugs with felt backing.

I take it you have to ask for the felt separately? Most seem to be just a bare hide?

Have they caped the skull out here then stitched up? Most that I’ve seen start from the top of the neck down
 
Looks good! Pillows are an interesting idea I’ll consider too


I take it you have to ask for the felt separately? Most seem to be just a bare hide?

Have they caped the skull out here then stitched up? Most that I’ve seen start from the top of the neck down
I believe a “flat skin” is just a skin tanned and a “rug” has a felt backing. I have a blue wildebeest, kudu and blesbok flat skins but no rugs.
Rugs normally skin out the head and a flat skin goes around the neck at the head/neck joint. If you ask for either they will skin it appropriately by cutting down the belly and all the way to the chin.
 
Looks good! Pillows are an interesting idea I’ll consider too


I take it you have to ask for the felt separately? Most seem to be just a bare hide?

Have they caped the skull out here then stitched up? Most that I’ve seen start from the top of the neck down
I always show them pictures of what I want such as ears in and flat and yes you have to ask for a felt lining
 
I believe a “flat skin” is just a skin tanned and a “rug” has a felt backing. I have a blue wildebeest, kudu and blesbok flat skins but no rugs.
Rugs normally skin out the head and a flat skin goes around the neck at the head/neck joint. If you ask for either they will skin it appropriately by cutting down the belly and all the way to the chin.

I always show them pictures of what I want such as ears in and flat and yes you have to ask for a felt lining

Black and Blue Wildebeest have very attractive hide when you are close up. Considering the very reasonable cost of probably around $100, it's well worth doing.

Thanks folks! Do you feel adding the felt makes them more robust? Or am I as good just getting the flat skin itself?

I quite like the hides without the head on them. Having a look online, all the cow hides for sale online seem to almost have a U shape at the top of the neck where the head would attach
 
Still the best thing I’ve seen to do with backskins.
 

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Has anyone got any good photos of back skins they’ve had done? I’m considering hunting a black wildebeest and would only go for a euro mount. Back skins seem relatively cheap so I thought it may be worth doing as well?

Hartebeest and blue wildebeest seem to be the most common though?
I only recommend keeping back skins that you have a plan for. Yes they are inexpensive to tan but I personally have a hard time finding a use for them. The one I like the most and have in my bedroom is a mountain zebra back skin. It is pretty neat!
 
Here’s my blue wildebeest flat skin.

Still the best thing I’ve seen to do with backskins.

It looks great!!! With felt or without, with head or not being able to see them each day in my new trophy room brings me such joy as it will you!!!

I only recommend keeping back skins that you have a plan for. Yes they are inexpensive to tan but I personally have a hard time finding a use for them. The one I like the most and have in my bedroom is a mountain zebra back skin. It is pretty neat!

I have one very similar. Didn't use my own backsins, bought it a curio in Joburgh for about $400.00 US


Thanks folks! I’ve been advised that taxidermy items if I was to have a rug made can’t go in with the dip and pack. So it’s 2 crates.

Sounds like a non starter as it’ll majorly bump costs up I feel. I may take some back skins back for panelling. I’ll need to see if someone can make a rug from a dip and packed hide. I’ve a gut feeling most folk here have to send them to Europe for that so seems quite labour intensive
 

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