Back skins? Black wildebeest?

[wildfowler.250]

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.

Thanks! Get what you’re saying although some aspects I get confused on. I went from only taking capes to taking back skins as well - then my mind went to making a rug!

The only grey area is, IF I take a whole hide back with my dip and pack skulls, will it just have to be D&P full hide? Assume if I was to get a flat skin is also an item of taxidermy then and separate crate?

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.

Looking forward to seeing how it goes!

 

[CM McKenzie]

Thanks! Get what you’re saying although some aspects I get confused on. I went from only taking capes to taking back skins as well - then my mind went to making a rug!

The only grey area is, IF I take a whole hide back with my dip and pack skulls, will it just have to be D&P full hide? Assume if I was to get a flat skin is also an item of taxidermy then and separate crate?


Looking forward to seeing how it goes!

I was able to bring back tanned hides in the same crate as my skulls.

 

[Troubleshooter]

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

Leather trim can also be a classy option if your intent is to use them as a rug or throw.

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 agree on having a plan for the back skin. Otherwise you end up with one (or more) "inexpensive to tan" skins stored away somewhere.

 

[JimP]

One nice thing that you can do with the black wildebeests is to just take the tail and have a handle attached. Makes a nice hanging ornament.

I kept 1 kudu backskin from my first hunt. It's draped over a bookcase and all you can see of it is about 12 inches of it.

 

[skydiver386]

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?

Just got mine 2 weeks ago from Karoo Taxidermy in SA. They really look nice close up.

 

[Hunt anything]

Pictures don’t do blue wildebeest justice. They have beautiful markings.

 

[Rare Breed]

I was able to bring back tanned hides in the same crate as my skulls.

What Philip and I are really saying is think ahead what you might do with skins versus just automatically get them back…they stack up fast

 

[Hunt anything]

What Philip and I are really saying is think ahead what you might do with skins versus just automatically get them back…they stack up fast

Good point, some of mine were draped on a table for almost 10 years before I did anything constructive with them.

 

[Russ16]

Maybe this deserves its own thread but I’m much more interested in having things made from the leather rather than stacking up skins with the hair on.

Who has experience with that? I’ve seen it don’t with buffalo, hippo, and elephant. What other animals are good for this and how hard is it to do? What instructions do you need to give the skinner.

Gun cases, belts, wallets. All make good memory items and gifts for family and close friends.

 

[CM McKenzie]

What Philip and I are really saying is think ahead what you might do with skins versus just automatically get them back…they stack up fast

Not at my house they don’t, but I have my own saddle shop.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I was able to bring back tanned hides in the same crate as my skulls.

Leather trim can also be a classy option if your intent is to use them as a rug or throw.


I agree on having a plan for the back skin. Otherwise you end up with one (or more) "inexpensive to tan" skins stored away somewhere.

One nice thing that you can do with the black wildebeests is to just take the tail and have a handle attached. Makes a nice hanging ornament.

I kept 1 kudu backskin from my first hunt. It's draped over a bookcase and all you can see of it is about 12 inches of it.

View attachment 684009
Just got mine 2 weeks ago from Karoo Taxidermy in SA. They really look nice close up.

Pictures don’t do blue wildebeest justice. They have beautiful markings.

What Philip and I are really saying is think ahead what you might do with skins versus just automatically get them back…they stack up fast

Good point, some of mine were draped on a table for almost 10 years before I did anything constructive with them.

Maybe this deserves its own thread but I’m much more interested in having things made from the leather rather than stacking up skins with the hair on.

Who has experience with that? I’ve seen it don’t with buffalo, hippo, and elephant. What other animals are good for this and how hard is it to do? What instructions do you need to give the skinner.

Gun cases, belts, wallets. All make good memory items and gifts for family and close friends.

Not at my house they don’t, but I have my own saddle shop.

Thanks folks! All fair points!

IF I can do tanned hides in with the D&P skull crate then I will. I slightly think it was their way of pushing me towards having the shoulder mounts done with them as well.. that seems to come up at every opportunity.


Last question is can I convert a flat skin to a rug back home? Or would this be easier from a dipped and packed skin? I’m not really sure on the process involved so I wanted to check.

I think if I end up taking a hartebeest or wildebeest I’ll definitely keep the hide and have a euro mount done as they’re not the bonniest of animals. So it would be nice to do something with the skin.


Thanks!