Buffalo specific question

[Big50]

So I've done my own taxidermy for decades now. Had a very successful shop mounting whitetails, hogs, and striped bass, with occasional forays into black bears, caribou, elk... So I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing in terms of the mounting and finishing process. HOWEVER...

I'm curious about the incision used for buffalo: is anyone using a short Y cut, or is it simply assumed in Africa that all specimens for mounting are split down the back?

 

[DLSJR]

You’d be better served asking your question on a taxidermy site or forum. Or better yet, call someone in the industry who mounts buffalo and ask them. Nearly everyone here is a hunter but not a taxidermist, so I’m guessing that I’m not the only one here who has no idea what ‘a short Y cut’ is.

 

[deewayne2003]

So I've done my own taxidermy for decades now. Had a very successful shop mounting whitetails, hogs, and striped bass, with occasional forays into black bears, caribou, elk... So I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing in terms of the mounting and finishing process. HOWEVER...

I'm curious about the incision used for buffalo: is anyone using a short Y cut, or is it simply assumed in Africa that all specimens for mounting are split down the back?

maybe @buck wild can shed some light on this....

 

[buck wild]

@Big50 The African skinners are REALLY opposed to tubing capes. Because their salting methods are different from ours in the U.S., they almost always make a full cut. I did tube my own kudu and nyala bc I didn't want to fight a seam, especially on the kudu, but man, they freaked out with the PH telling me if it slipped it wasn't their fault etc.

I did make a 7 cut on my buffalo instead of a Y. My tannery also charges an additional 25% + for tubed African stuff. After arguing with them at length, they say it's because it is hard enough to get a salted African hide to relax for shaving, much less a tubed one.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

@gizmo might have a thought.

 

[Firebird]

Buck Wild nailed it-dorsal cut every time

 

[gizmo]

@Big50 The African skinners are REALLY opposed to tubing capes. Because their salting methods are different from ours in the U.S., they almost always make a full cut. I did tube my own kudu and nyala bc I didn't want to fight a seam, especially on the kudu, but man, they freaked out with the PH telling me if it slipped it wasn't their fault etc.

I did make a 7 cut on my buffalo instead of a Y. My tannery also charges an additional 25% + for tubed African stuff. After arguing with them at length, they say it's because it is hard enough to get a salted African hide to relax for shaving, much less a tubed one.

+1

 

[MarkB]

I really think the skinners just "go from head and down back somewhere". I am amazed at the stuff I have received and mounted.

Recently,

my genet hit with 223 ripped on exit side from front shoulder to ass about 2" from center stomach normal cut. Skinners still cut from butt hole to chest, leaving a 2" wide piece of skin for me to sew the length of genet. Yes had lots of slimming the form for a fit.

Black wildebeast was capped with cut going down 6" off center, luckily I seen doing repairs so ordered turn form to somewhat hide.

Common reedbuck skinner did not pay attention, down back 6" then right turned across body back for 6" then angled to back center again.

Some capes had NO ear butts on, no animals had eyes, lips, or nose turned or cartilage removed. Did this after tanning.

When I enter camp and see skinners with 12" butcher knives using a rock to sharpen I know what's coming in crate. From every safari, mine or others, trophies have always been a "mess".

Worked at a shop that received trophies from well known outfitters here in BC. NOT ONE cape or skin has ever looked like any african stuff. A guide who capes his clients animal after days hunting, little sleep and living out of a tent does a better job than any "skinner" work we have encountered.

Maybe not every African outfit is like this but every one from all I have ever mounted was.

To the OP,

I do not think you can guess, plan or expect any specific cut on any specific animal from Africa. Just need to look, repair, adapt and mount as best as possible.

As my mentor taxidermist states, problem solve and mount. He does not do African animals for the reasons I state. He now calls me.

Good luck.

MB

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Your assumption is correct that 99.9% of things will be dorsal cut.
It's industry standard here in Australia as well, so doesn't bother me in the slightest!

 

[sureshot375]

I’m not sure the Y cut is ideal when salting.

I think it’s better to open everything up to dry.