Is this the norm?

[Kyle]

Opened my crate a couple of nights ago and Nitas gemsbok horns are peeling apart some of the euros are dingy and broken bones yes these are going to be shoulder mounts but I thought they would be presentible to hang until hides are ready. I'm not sure if the horns can be saved. My waterbuck horns seem really white but I have not been able to see them in person yet. Is there less care taken when they know you are going to shoulder mount?

 

[SafariA]

The horns should be fine for mounting . Waterbuck can be pretty light in colour. The one gemsbok looks like a young one ... That is why the horns are flaking .

 

[Bullthrower338]

Your skulls got the boil job necessary to export, the additional time to make an acceptable euro mount is not going to be taken unless requested and paid for. Bones should not be broken but you are not the only one that this happens to. I had a crate show up once that several skulls were in pieces. A lot of over boiling happens over there and dip and pack ranges from great to looking like a child packed it. Your Taxidermist can fix most of your issues easily(for a taxidermist) so I wouldn’t sweat the horns. Hope your capes were handled better!
Good luck,
Cody

 

[BRICKBURN]

................ A lot of over boiling happens over there and dip and pack ranges from great to looking like a child packed it. .............

What Cody said...
Younger critters do take a bigger beating in the pot.

 

[Kyle]

What Cody said...
Younger critters do take a bigger beating in the pot.

Would this be considered a young one? Just curious if that really is the problem. I hope it is and it can be fixed. He wasn't much on length but had good mass I'm not sure on how to age African game.,

 

[SafariA]

Yes definately young ...

 

[BRICKBURN]

In the end, all horns can be boiled in to goo if they are left in the water too long.
No matter the age, those horns were over boiled.

 

[Philip Glass]

Would this be considered a young one? Just curious if that really is the problem. I hope it is and it can be fixed. He wasn't much on length but had good mass I'm not sure on how to age African game.,View attachment 218104

Yes very young gemsbok. It’s unfortunate and Africa should be ashamed of their dip and pack reputation. All these guys put on a happy face, have a nice booth at shows, they do their job and hunt hard, and wine and dine the clients. Then just like magic everything changes when you leave and your stuff gets sent to the dip and pack agent. They have your money so who cares! Sorry to my African friends but you have a growing problem on your hands and you need to get to work on it.
Regards,
Philip

 

[CAustin]

Yes very young gemsbok. It’s unfortunate and Africa should be ashamed of their dip and pack reputation. All these guys put on a happy face, have a nice booth at shows, they do their job and hunt hard, and wine and dine the clients. Then just like magic everything changes when you leave and your stuff gets sent to the dip and pack agent. They have your money so who cares! Sorry to my African friends but you have a growing problem on your hands and you need to get to work on it.
Regards,
Philip

Yep once money changes hands urgency falls off and sometimes results end up being less than adequate! This man’s horns got boiled way too long.

 

[sonnyn913]

They look like sticks with the bark peeling off!

 

[PaulT]

Without a doubt your trophies were way over boiled by someone who either didn't know what they were doing or didn't care.

The nasal bones have fallen off in the boil and not replaced.
Even in a properly boiled skull these bones fall of easily but should have been replaced by the outfitter.
The color and texture of the bone on your skulls is a dead give away. The bone will be very soft/weak in the thinner places and brittle.

To correctly boil skulls they should not be placed in the pot until the water has reached a constant rolling boil.
The skull should then be placed in the water for no longer than 30 minutes. Any remaining tissue, sinuses, gristles etc should then be removed by hand, using tools such as knives scalpals etc, or by pressure washer, not by replacing the skull in the boiling pot.

It's not difficult to do when you know what to do.

Once the skull is devoid of all living tissue it can then be soaked in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide for 24 - 48 hrs, then dried in open air after being sprayed with bug spray.

Disappointing effort by someone who no doubt already has your money.

 

[dory]

Man are they a mess .
I must have got lucky with mine ,
Good luck restoring them , a good taxidermist can do amazing things .

 

[Kyle]

Thanks for the reply guys. I thought the same thing as for them being over boiled I have done probably 50 0r so Euros before everything from hogs to alligators. I just wasn't sure if that was the norm for South Africa. I am wondering if there is something I can put on the horns to try and bring some kind of life back to them? Nita is sick as well as Me that was her most prized trophy of the trip. I have emailed the taxidermist over there last week and have received no response yet. Also my warthog leather was missing out of the crate. I will give them time to see what type of solution they come up with and move forward from there.

 

[harden]

Your not going to hear from that taxidermist , if you do he will say that's how he received them from the PH. It will be pass the buck. Or should I say pass the bucks around. If you get my meaning, The only proper option you have it to swap out the skulls for good ones . I do so many african pieces in shoulder mounts a new skull is an easy find for me when I get this crap. The horns , don't know how many I get like that quite a few, I don't even distress my client over it and simply rebuild the entire horn . Shave off the split garbage and rebuild with 2 part epoxy putty and paint. You want them perfect and pretty? No problem. It will involve a little more investment. I would need detailed pics a few more the these like the base of the horns and what you wish to achieve. I have been dealing with what I call Africrap for 40+ years, This is ALL FIXABLE. Lots of clients get rebuild and don't even know that I have to do it. The things you guys never see what WE as taxidermists get from africa....It's as bad as this and sometimes worse.