What do you do with skins?

Bhfs300, yes I think Nyala are awesome! I took a lesser horned one that had what looked like an unscarred perfect skin. They are so unusual with the mane all the way down the back and long hair on the belly. I plan a throw for either the couch, or a bed.
You're correct about shoulder mounted oryx and kudu. I had thought about maybe sewing the backskins together (if they are similar in size) for a bed through. But the kudu pillow in a picture above looks pretty interesting.
Of course the Burchells zebra is being made into a rug with black felt bottom and about a 1" trim of black leather around it.
The impala was so soft I am having it tand for a rug or bed throw for my grand daughter.
I now see that there are tons of options for the beautiful skins. I may only European mount from now on...unless I per chance get an animal that makes the book. The skins are just so awesomely patterned unlike our rather bland deer, elk, moose and sheep.
Oh I am so jealous of that warthog! That's exactly how I want one...skull with big tusks!
Thanks for your input.
 
Hi, my apologies for arriving late to the party but I'm a newcomer to the site.

I'm booked to go on a trip to SA in May 2019; on my wish list are Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala, Springbuck, Black Wildebeest, Zebra, and Warthog. Should I be so fortunate as to harvest them, my plan is to do pedestal mounts for the Gemsbok and Warthog and a backed rug for the Zebra. [Edit: the Zebra rug would be mounted on the wall.]

For the remainder, I was thinking of European mounts, but using the hides of the animals to cover a piece of plywood shaped like a Zulu shield or the African continent. Is this do-able? I would have a taxidermist do this work, rather than screw it up by trying it myself.

I would love to do floor rugs but I don't trust my dogs.
 
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I got two Blue wildebeest and have one as a flatskin. I mounted it on a very thin piece of plywood with gold tacks and screwed the plywood to the wall next to my shoulder mount Wildebeest. I mounted a Blesbuck and a Impala hide the same way and they are on the wall. When I go back this month I will do the same for the Zebra I plan to get and put it on the hallway wall.
I did the same with a B&C Black Bear Rug I got.
 
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Your ideas sound good to me BK. I really like euro mounts due to the contrast of white skulls and black/dark horns.
I have a black bear rug which my GSP bird dog doesn't go near, thus my plan for a zebra rug. I'm afraid that rug is going to cost me a lot more because my wife says it's going in the living room and she will "need" to emodel the entire room!
I am thinking if I get a Cape buffalo this year about having the skull silver plated. A friend has a bison skull he had done that way and it looks really good.

Diverhunter, those look really nice!
 
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Something I added after taking the photos ---A name plaque for each mount and/or skin and the SCI rank/award with one or two 8"X10X photo of the animal taken in Africa.

That Cape Impala went SCI Gold #48
 
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Divernhunter the plaques and photos are an excellent idea! Especially of a special trophy, hunt, first, etc. Great idea. Don't know why I didn't think of that. Back when I lived in TX, I did lots of turkey hunting an mounted tails, brass plaque of the date, beards, and shell/cartridge case I took them with.

I may start saving the cases from my Africa trophies to add to the plaque. Maybe even the bullet I I can find them.

So many things can be done! I'd better hurry up and shoot something! ;)
 
I'm the oddball I guess. Love the pedestal mounts, like the euro mounts, just not a fan of the tanned hides. I do think it would be nice to make something functional out of them (clothing, packs, pillows, upholstery, etc) but don't care for them just hung on the wall.
 
love the rug!!
 
Gorgeous rug!! I did something similar but a quilt pattern, and my animals do not bother it at all.
 
... I'm afraid that rug is going to cost me a lot more because my wife says it's going in the living room and she will "need" to remodel the entire room! ...

Ridgewalker, my mounts/rugs will also cost me more than one might expect, as I promised my wife that we'd get her some Tanzanite jewellery while we're doing the "tourist thing" in Cape Town. It's worth it for me to have her come along as an observer, though.
 
Bill---Just keep her away from the diamond store/processer on the wharf. I took my daughter there and we got to see them cutting/polishing diamonds. Then she started looking at the different colors of diamonds and really liked the chocolate ones. There are so many neat stores there to get stuff to bring home.
 
Bill---Just keep her away from the diamond store/processer on the wharf. I took my daughter there and we got to see them cutting/polishing diamonds. Then she started looking at the different colors of diamonds and really liked the chocolate ones. There are so many neat stores there to get stuff to bring home.

Thanks for the tip! Do you have any recommendations for jewellers? Not to criticise anyone on the V&A mall, I'm just looking for options.
 
Hmaxwell who did that really cool rug?
Highveld Taxidermy in South Africa. In past hunts my wife and I had always struggled on what to do with the backskins. We saw this at Highveld and was an easy decision. Couple hundred bucks plus tanning fees.
 
I am using pieces of my backskins to put in the panels of the pedestals my brother is making me for my pedestal mounts. I am using the cape buffalo leather to have boots made and a back pack and a credit card holder for starters.
 
I've seen adds in Sports Afield for a company that will make what ever you like out of skins and furs. I'll find the add and post it. I'm sure they will all sorts of ideas.
 

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