I'm ready to do my first antelope. Skins are tanned, haven't gotten the forms yet. I've done a lot of deer, but no antelope. Other than the obvious anatomy differences, is there anything I need to pay particular attention to? I'll bondo the horns onto the skull, but I read where that wasn't the best because they may come off, and 2 part apoxy would be better, but that would take a lot of apoxy it would seem. Anyway, any hints would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Better late than never to tell you what little I know about spped goats. On most animals that I have to remove the horn sheaths from I drill a small hole in the back side all the way into the bone. This allows me to get the height correct when I replace the horns back on the skull caps. Also make sure that you put the horns on the correct side, you might laugh now, but believe me it happens. I've never had any problem with bondo, but an epoxie would probably also work.
Antelope also have a large scent gland on the side of the neck that is about the size of a grapefruit that should be removed when fleshing. it appears that you are to the skin but the gland is really big and it is really there.
Other than that and the eye orbit being part of the skull cap use your reference and put him together.
Dan Moon - Grasshopper
Dan is right and was kind in NOT using my name in that litle story.
Many "Moon's" (No pun)ago,I did what dan was saying. Fresh out of Taxidermy school and NOT using any reference as well as not knowing the animal,I put the horns on backwards,daggers to the back.I learned a good lesson.Tom Matuska still tells the story today! So use good reference.
The scent gland that Dan is talking about is the dark brown hairthat is present on only the mails and are located at the base of the jaw.If not properly fleshed and removed,you'll have that goat smell for years to come.
Once you remove the horns,you will find a hairy layer of skin on the bone core. Be sure to flesh and clean tis area thourghly as dermisted's love to get in there and eat.
Remember that the skin comes up the horn base a bit unlike most Whtietail. Use some Apoxi Sculpt around this area. I like to brad nail the skin to this arera till the mount is dry.
If the buck was in rut,you'll want to build up the gland that runs behind the eye that will run about 1/4 of the way down and usually stops at about the center of the eye. REMEMBER.....use good reference photos and you'll see what I'm talking about.
I hope some of this will be of help,
Have a great day,
Dave
I cut the cores off so that only about 2 inches remain anyway. Just painting epoxy around this small area is enough to hold it, you don't have to fill the sheath with it. And I do HOPE you are cutting the cores off. The tips, which are modified hair follicles are soft and will shrivel up anyway if you don't.