Start of my Namibia Taxidermy

[billc]

I like the springbuck bill. Nice! Now if I can just hit one!

This next trip springbuck down for you. I can just feel it when we go to that area for one. Maybe a nice big White blesbuck to that day.

 

[billc]

Then sent me the start of my zebra form. The back need to be filled in more yet but they did enlarge the dewlap area based on the pictures I sent. This stallions dewlap was large and more then the standard form shows. I still think zebra maybe one of my favorite mounts to see.

 

[billc]

Well I get snowed in today and lucky me they are full steam ahead on my stuff so some great updates for me. Zebra form farther along and now kudu pictures to.

I was sad and happy at the same time. They told me I had some hair slip on my kudu and I was glad they gave me the chance to say yes or no on what I wanted to do. We talked it over and they feel the little slip areas will be no problem at all so we will just touch them up. They knew I like to use orginal capes and made a plan to make it happen. There response to questions and feedback has been great so there scoring major points with me.

I am so looking forward to seeing my stuff in july when I drop off the next group of animals.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

This eland is a wall pedestal.

Make sure you have two extra sets of hands when you go to mount it on the wall. My eland is a similar mount.....it's heavy and quite awkward. You'll need two guys on either side of it and a third standing in front to catch it if/when one of the other two says, "Oh s$#t"

 

[billc]

Make sure you have two extra sets of hands when you go to mount it on the wall. My eland is a similar mount.....it's heavy and quite awkward. You'll need two guys on either side of it and a third standing in front to catch it if/when one of the other two says, "Oh s$#t"

I remember moving my eland floor pedestal so can just guess how fun hanging one on the wall will be. LOL I also know that OH s&&t can happen fast.

 

[MAdcox]

You’re killing me Bill. That Eland is going to make put in another call to Jacques and Ansie at @Kowas Hunting Safaris . I had planned to hunt Eland then changed my list because of some of the animals that are lower cost or only available in Namibia (like 2 Gemsbok for $1000 and Mountain Zebra). But looking at that mount I’ve got to put it back on.
All the mounts look great. Congrats

 

[jpr792]

@MAdcox we need to talk

You need an Eland! It's one of the best hunts you will ever do...

My best,
Jacques

 

[billc]

You’re killing me Bill. That Eland is going to make put in another call to Jacques and Ansie at @Kowas Hunting Safaris . I had planned to hunt Eland then changed my list because of some of the animals that are lower cost or only available in Namibia (like 2 Gemsbok for $1000 and Mountain Zebra). But looking at that mount I’ve got to put it back on.
All the mounts look great. Congrats

I can tell you now if you can hunt for an eland do it. It is a great hunt to do and so fun. I will also tell you to check this shop out when over there. If you are going to take eland and 5 or 6 other animals you will save money getting mounts done there. You need to see and decide if the work is to your liking or not. I will be able to give more feedback on that after july when I see them in person. There dip/pack is fair priced also if you only do that.

 

[Ragman]

They really look excellent! I especially appreciate that your kudu horns are the right colour. I hate it when I see so many kudu horns that come back totally black. I don't know how to describe the natural colour (caramel/coffee?) but I love it. If I am lucky enough to finally get a kudu in the Eastern Cape this July, I am very worried that it will be black when it comes to my house. You've found a great taxidermist there!

 

[MAdcox]

I don't know how to describe the natural colour (caramel/coffee?) but I love it

I described my bull’s horns like good walnut on a gun stock, and I’m very nervous about getting them back in June hoping they’re not blacked.
I agree, Bill’s look great.

 

[billc]

I am not a big fan of the black horns either. Sometimes they get turned before the taxidermist even get them from how they are handled when being boiled. I always do tell who ever I pick to not paint them though to be safe.

I am very happy just looking at everything how the colors on the capes are still very strong. No painting done at this point and the white on my kudu and oryx really standout to me. Kudu's ears look good yet and seem to have held there natural color to. I even take field pictures of my animals to show who ever mounts them to match if they need to repaint anything. My kudu ears were way different on this bull then others I have taken.

 

[Silke Bean]

They really look excellent! I especially appreciate that your kudu horns are the right colour. I hate it when I see so many kudu horns that come back totally black. I don't know how to describe the natural colour (caramel/coffee?) but I love it. If I am lucky enough to finally get a kudu in the Eastern Cape this July, I am very worried that it will be black when it comes to my house. You've found a great taxidermist there!

Been reading many times that horns are painted and cannot really understand why this would be done. Just out of interest sake would you consider the kudu horns in the first photo as painted to an unnatural state or too dark? If not, could you maybe post an example of painted horns?
And what about the second photo where the horns are completely untreated. Would you consider this rather the 'correct colour' instead of the first?

 

[Ragman]

@Silke Bean I am not a taxidermist. I don't know if black kudu horns are painted that way or whether it's a result of the latter. But I don't know why. I just know the black horns look bad to me. Your top photo looks pretty good. The second is hard to tell, but it's not black, so that's a positive. You asked for some pics of what I was referring to so I took some random screen shots off of Google Images.

Some field pics of a couple of kudu showing the beautiful natural horn colour:

An example of mounted kudu with natural horn colour:

And black ones:

Like I said, I'm not a taxidermist so I don't know why it happens. But I hope it doesn't happen to mine if I'm fortunate enough to get one in July. @billc yours looks great!

 

[billc]

Been reading many times that horns are painted and cannot really understand why this would be done. Just out of interest sake would you consider the kudu horns in the first photo as painted to an unnatural state or too dark? If not, could you maybe post an example of painted horns?
And what about the second photo where the horns are completely untreated. Would you consider this rather the 'correct colour' instead of the first?

View attachment 221107 View attachment 221108

Those both look ok to me. When guys say black they mean black as in painted looking sometimes. I have seen them painted black already and you see no other color in the horn at all.

 

[billc]

The start of the zebra skin on my form. Very earlier stages with a lot of work left but shows enough to get some ideas of work done.

 

[Lee M]

This eland is a wall pedestal.

Bill’s biggest problem now is that he no longer has any walls available for these mounts. #timetoexpandthehouse

 

[billc]

Bill’s biggest problem now is that he no longer has any walls available for these mounts. #timetoexpandthehouse

That is a problem I am having. Lucky I have a saw , hammer and lumber. Now just need time and line up the help to get it done. LOL

 

[Philip Glass]

Nice that they send so many pics

 

[billc]

Nice that they send so many pics

It is very nice and helps the whole process. I also tell anyone I decide to use right up front I want pictures of forms before skins go on. So Far both the places I picked in Africa have done this for me.

More then once it has saved some of my ideas from going bad. I have changed things I thought I wanted just by seeing the pictures. Works well for us both as I am happy and they get more work from me.

 

[steve newcombe [uk]]

The eland turned out nice, has did the others too.