This is a common question spoken about lots.
@375er there are a few threads on here that speak in detail of your question. As a hobby taxidermist with many mounts in my memory room I ensure all my mounts are as natural as they were when alive. I look at my pics of the animal when shot and copy that look. African antelope horns have not been jet black in any of my pics. Customer dictates outcomes on their work as some people must have perfect "painted" horns, wounds removed and sewn up, bigger than life paws and so on on their mounts. Its up to the owner who will be looking at mount for many years. What do you prefer, there are lots of pics done both ways posted on here. In my experience dip and pack with animals sitting in god knows what salt for very long times then the "always" over boiled, skulls, bones and horns forces any trace of moisture out. I followed the advice of
@buck wild, he has an awesome tutorial on here of how he does it and it works. Takes some time but end product is natural, good looking and lasting/preserving.
That's my 2c.
MB