I'm looking for some help on common reedbuck. I need to mount one but have been unsuccessful in finding a good closeup picture of one. All the photo's I've found are all to far out to answer my question. My question is this. It appears that there is a fleshy transition between the horn base and where the hair starts. I can't tell for sure how large it is,what color it is,and what shape it is. If anyone can tell me where to look for possible reference photos, or could give some description of it I would be most grateful. Thanks for any help. Martin.
This seems like a no brainer to me. If you have the cape in hand, that question should be an auto-answer. Either there is hair or not on that portion of the scalp. If the cape came from Natal Province in south Africa, or if the photos were shot on one of the game preserves there, tick infextations leave pars of the upper scalp and the nape of the neck nearly bald, so bad are the ticks in that region.
Most of the species of reedbuck (Bohor's Mountain, Southern, Vaal)have a bare patch of skin under the ear base on the sides of the distal neck region. Most are completely furred with the exception being that region. Thin or sparsly furred areas can appear "bald" in photographs.
Actually Cur, I already tried that. I have the cape in hand all prepped and ready to mount. I test fit the cape only to find the horn bases are only 1 7/8" in diameter. When I pin the incision closed there is almost a 3" diameter hole in the cape.I looked up in a book, SOUTH AFRICA'S MAMMALS a field guide by Robin Frandsen. It states the bases of the horns have a soft,bulbous,conspicuously shiny white swelling. There is a picture, although distant, but it is obvious that it is there, but from a side view I can't tell the shape and texture that it has. I thought I could reconstruct this area with epoxie sculpt while I was mounting the cape and be able to have a seamless transition. Its to large of a area to just take up the slack, as it would distort the face. Martin.
I have seen several species of reedbuck in the bush and have taken two with rifle during safaris. Not all of the reedbucks have the protuberance. I suspect it is an adornment on breeding males. The pad is existant at the base of some of the specimens and not on others. The pad is covered with soft wite "fuzz" and I really couldn't tell you the extent it protrudes into the scalp. I gave all of my mounted African trophies away when I moved to Texas, and can't use those as reference.
I am emailing you a photo of a plenty dead reedbuck's head at close quarters and another shot of a buck standing with the nodules showing plainly. I think they could be sculpted, but I would work the epox over with a stippling brush or other device to roughen the texture a bit, so it doesn't appear to be a couple of chicken eggs sitting on the crown. I hope this helps.....
Got your pictures and they help. I see what you mean, not very attractive are they? Maybe I can make them as minimal as possible, just enough to fill the void and texture them as you say.Thanks for your time and help. Martin.
i think someone didn't know how to properly cape the animal. i've been to africa no less than ten times hunting. and i never seen that much of a soft skined area around the horns. and i don't know how my taxidermist did it, but i'm looking at my five reedbucks on the wall and one lifesize, i don't see what your talking about. maybe your tanner shaved it wrong, and tried to make it look even agin.
I noticed your e-mail was a gci one. this must mean you live in alaska? if you do, you could try to get ahold of a guy that owns DENNIS'S TAXIDERMY in Fiarbanks, ask for Dennis (he has quit the staff).He did a reedbuck for me that was out standing! Besides all i had given him was a half eaten cape and one horn was broken off half way. this was caused by inproper bullet placement at the shot, which caused a little difficult for my trackers. the didn't fine it till the next day after the lion had found it frist. i cuold fine anyone to mount my trophy, without telling to get a newcape and a new horn. this was to much money. Till i found Dennis. He made me a new horn, pieced my cape back together with several orthers, put a new ear on, ect. all for the price of $350.00. He told me that's everday work for him. were orther incombident taxidermist fail he begins. check him out
Frank, some of the reedbucks have the protuberance mentioned. Only the common reedbuck has this growth. I have been to Africa on dozens of occassions since first being sent there during the congo crises in 1962. Whoever skinned that cape cut around the growths, instead of excising them from the skull and including them with the cape. My first opinion was the same as yours, but after taking a closer look at my photos, I saw what had been done. I guess that you have never shot a "full growed" buck at the right time of year, or that the growths are only sported by reedbuck in a specific area. Anyway, the man has the photos, and can correct the problem.......