Back skins? Black wildebeest?

[wildfowler.250]

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?

 

[Hunt anything]

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.

 

[Rare Breed]

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.

 

[wildfowler.250]

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

 

[Hunt anything]

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.

 

[Rare Breed]

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

 

[skydiver386]

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.

 

[wildfowler.250]

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

 

[Hunt anything]

I’ll take a picture of my blue wildebeest tonight and you can compare him to @Rare Breed golden wildebeest, mine is plain and his has felt and I believe the head.

 

[Hunt anything]

Here’s my blue wildebeest flat skin.

 

[migrabill]

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

 

[Hunt anything]

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

That is really nice!
How many skins and who did it for you?

 

[Rare Breed]

Here’s my blue wildebeest flat skin.

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!!!

 

[Philip Glass]

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!

 

[cgdemakis]

That is really nice!
How many skins and who did it for you?

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

 

[wildfowler.250]

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

 

[Hunt anything]

Someone in GB surely can tan a salted and dried skin for you.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Someone in GB surely can tan a salted and dried skin for you.

You’d think so! I’ll have to make enquiries. I know a lot won’t take deer because the hair is bad for coming out. Seems to be quite a few that will do sheep but not cattle etc!

 

[wildwilderness]

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

Definitions to me-

“Backskin” - the portion of the hide left over AFTER the animals is caped for a shoulder/pedestal mount. So basically the back half.

“Flat skin” the entire hide of the animal skinned to lay flat- basically cut up the belly. The can be either with or without the head laid flat.

Felt on the flat skin sort of is a finishing thing for a rug or wall decor. Helps get any wrinkles out and lay flat.

Backskins are rarely for display but rather for working with to make items or decor.

 

[migrabill]

That is really nice!
How many skins and who did it for you?

This one is not mine. This is one that my taxidermist (Reflections of the Wild) showed me that they can have done. Mine will be done with backskins from 7 different animals.