Skulls, it’s not that hard!

cmc · Jun 5, 2019

why do African Taxidermists have so much trouble processing a skull? I’ve never seen a good one come from Africa they are always missing pieces or broken. I just got mine in and they are all ruined. I now have a several thousand dollar giraffe skull that was boiled for so long you can poke your finger through it. It’s a very simple process why do they not know how to do it? It’s not worth the cost for clearance and everything else involved for damaged goods.

Timbo · Jun 5, 2019

What's worse is when the Aussie Quarantine Service then decides to gamma irradiate your recently landed, and taxied wildebeeste euro mount, just to be utter bastards!!

After 6 weeks you then get to collect your trophy that's been cooked for so long, the fibres within the horns have separated, leaving huge gaps which destroys it as a display item (and, no doubt, to the undisguised satisfaction of those anti hunting-minded arseholes!!).

cmc · Jun 5, 2019

Timbo said:
What's worse is when the Aussie Quarantine Service then decides to gamma irradiate your recently landed, and taxied wildebeeste euro mount, just to be utter bastards!!

After 6 weeks you then get to collect your trophy that's been cooked for so long, the fibres within the horns have separated, leaving huge gaps which destroys it as a display item (and, no doubt, to the undisguised satisfaction of those anti hunting-minded arseholes!!).

That’s terrible. I’m going to have to figure out a different situation before I go back. Our clearance and customs here is really not that bad so that’s not an issue here but if it’s in pieces or boiled into powder before if leaves Africa there’s nothing that can be done anyway. There has to be a taxidermist in South Africa somewhere that knows how to handle skulls if anyone knows I’d love his name. I hunted the giraffe because I wanted the skull I have no room for a mount and all I got was a pile of powder and a big bill.

JPbowhunter · Jun 5, 2019

Timbo said:
What's worse is when the Aussie Quarantine Service then decides to gamma irradiate your recently landed, and taxied wildebeeste euro mount, just to be utter bastards!!

After 6 weeks you then get to collect your trophy that's been cooked for so long, the fibres within the horns have separated, leaving huge gaps which destroys it as a display item (and, no doubt, to the undisguised satisfaction of those anti hunting-minded arseholes!!).

I had my sika mounted in nz. When it was shipped it was screwed to the crate. When I received it it had been unscrewed and chucked back in the crate by customs, nostril on one side pushed in and about an inch of one ear broken. I had insurance but that did nothing, called customs really peeved and they could not have given less of an eff and accepted no responsibility.

I don't know why Australia gets a wrap as a country full of nice people, most coming out of the cities are just arrogant, bigoted aholes.

Timbo · Jun 5, 2019

JPbowhunter said:
I had my sika mounted in nz. When it was shipped it was screwed to the crate. When I received it it had been unscrewed and chucked back in the crate by customs, nostril on one side pushed in and about an inch of one ear broken. I had insurance but that did nothing, called customs really peeved and they could not have given less of an eff and accepted no responsibility.

I don't know why Australia gets a wrap as a country full of nice people, most coming out of the cities are just arrogant, bigoted aholes.

Totally agree! Aussie Customs, Quarantine and the Police are nothing but arseholes when dealing with hunters, their trophies and any firearm-related matters. Period.

JPbowhunter · Jun 5, 2019

cmc said:
why do African Taxidermists have so much trouble processing a skull? I’ve never seen a good one come from Africa they are always missing pieces or broken. I just got mine in and they are all ruined. I now have a several thousand dollar giraffe skull that was boiled for so long you can poke your finger through it. It’s a very simple process why do they not know how to do it? It’s not worth the cost for clearance and everything else involved for damaged goods.

For what it's worth all the euros I've seen out of SA have been sheit. My mate went last year and his looked like they'd been dunked in thick paint, even the teeth. Broken bits on a few. I was too polite to tell him what I thought of the kudu and gemsbok mounts he had done. I certainly would not have paid for them.

Timbo · Jun 5, 2019

cmc said:
That’s terrible. I’m going to have to figure out a different situation before I go back. Our clearance and customs here is really not that bad so that’s not an issue here but if it’s in pieces or boiled into powder before if leaves Africa there’s nothing that can be done anyway. There has to be a taxidermist in South Africa somewhere that knows how to handle skulls if anyone knows I’d love his name. I hunted the giraffe because I wanted the skull I have no room for a mount and all I got was a pile of powder and a big bill.

Give Steve Collett a call of Collett's Taxidermy. He's got studios in SA and Zim, and knows his stuff. Check his site, he does some amazing things with euro mounts - and for something unique - paints superb scenery on the skulls. He was highly recommended to me, and is currently doing 1 buff euro, 1 shoulder buff and a pedestal hippo for me.

harden · Jun 5, 2019

Big studios in Africa, 20 to 100 employees, Its NOT the name of any studio thats doing your work Its the name of the employee or artist doing the work. I WILL NEVER grow larger than 3 people in my shop. $1.00 to $1.50 an hour african employees don't care about your trophies, or skulls.

cmc · Jun 5, 2019

The Artistry of Wildlife said:
Big studios in Africa, 20 to 100 employees, Its NOT the name of any studio thats doing your work Its the name of the employee or artist doing the work. I WILL NEVER grow larger than 3 people in my shop. $1.00 to $1.50 an hour african employees don't care about your trophies, or skulls.

How do you process a skull? A skull to me should have ALL the bones, in the case of a giraffe it should have a bottom jaw, it should not be boiled to holy hell, it should still be hard bone not a flaky crumbly mess. I do tons and tons of skulls here, so I know the process I understand what makes a good skull but in Africa they seem to just boil till they feel like

buck wild · Jun 5, 2019

Did you specifically ask for Euros or did you get the basic dip and pack? Not that it should matter, but I'd think if asking for Euros they'd be at least a little more careful. I guess I have been lucky because in my 4 SA shipments only 2 or so skulls that had missing nose bones but not made for the 40+ skulls. Some were even display ready right out of the crate.

Ryan · Jun 5, 2019

My skulls out of Namibia have all been fine. But from what I've read and seen Namibian places usually place them in a tub of water and let bacteria do the work on flesh while RSA seems to boil more often, then they both degrease. Boiling takes more care, which some appear to not have.

BRICKBURN · Jun 5, 2019

cmc said:
...... It’s a very simple process why do they not know how to do it? .....

It's much easier to leave the skull in the boiling water forever than take it out and scrape crud off several times.
CHEAP and LAZY!

cmc · Jun 5, 2019

buck wild said:
Did you specifically ask for Euros or did you get the basic dip and pack? Not that it should matter, but I'd think if asking for Euros they'd be at least a little more careful. I guess I have been lucky because in my 4 SA shipments only 2 or so skulls that had missing nose bones but not made for the 40+ skulls. Some were even display ready right out of the crate.

They wanted to mount the Euros on plaques I told them I just wanted the skulls not the plaques. Maybe I should’ve been more clear.

cmc · Jun 5, 2019

Ryan said:
My skulls out of Namibia have all been fine. But from what I've read and seen Namibian places usually place them in a tub of water and let bacteria do the work on flesh while RSA seems to boil more often, then they both degrease. Boiling takes more care, which some appear to not have.

This is the right process. Bone does not heat well for long periods. I would’ve waited six months longer to get good skulls. Right now have a few thousands dollars of bone like substance.

harden · Jun 5, 2019

THEY, boil tens of thousands of skulls..its just a job to them, boss tells then to get it clean. No lower jaw comes with any euro for horned animal or dip pack unless you ask. Best to just get dip pack skulls and do yourself, Euro's they will boil and bleach and bleach EATS bone to chalk....Africa AINT the US

slam8031 · Jun 5, 2019

totally agree with Dennis--I am fighting with skulls now that were overboiled--I use dermestid beetles to clean my stuff here in the states--every bone is intact at the end. Not so for three trips over the pond with Euros on every trip--brittle bones and lost bones and...

Newboomer · Jun 5, 2019

Observation: Dip and pack and have the work done here at home where you can have control.

cmc · Jun 5, 2019

Newboomer said:
Observation: Dip and pack and have the work done here at home where you can have control.

Yes sir they were dip and pack I do hundreds of skulls and the plan was to finish them myself.

Newboomer · Jun 5, 2019

My daughter and son in law are planning on accompanying me next year to RSA. They want a sable and a zebra but don't want the sable shoulder mount. I am thinking I will have it dipped and packed and euro mounted here at home. After reading the horror stories here that seems like the best way.

cmc · Jun 6, 2019

The Artistry of Wildlife said:
THEY, boil tens of thousands of skulls..its just a job to them, boss tells then to get it clean. No lower jaw comes with any euro for horned animal or dip pack unless you ask. Best to just get dip pack skulls and do yourself, Euro's they will boil and bleach and bleach EATS bone to chalk....Africa AINT the US

These were dip and pack, lower jaws were suppose to be on the giraffe and the zebra. How do you process yours?

Skulls, it’s not that hard!

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