I've got a client that brought in a set of Reedbuck horns that were never removed from the core. These are on dried on tight! Haven't tried to boil them because I'm not sure how much they will deteriorate. The skull has been boiled, and when I tried to run a feather adjuster down the base part of the horn, a small part snapped off and found bug casings inside. Any suggestions as to how to remove these would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Mary
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just to make sure that all bugs are dead.......but just to be sure spray them with a beetle killing spray. This is the way we handle all african horns.
Reedbok horns usually do not come off their cores, but some younger bucks of the Mtn. Reedbok species do indeed come off. I usually make a cake decorator funnel and squirt bondo inside the horn..against the horn and core to fill in the gaps.
On Reedboks.....there is a small nutial edge or glandular growth projection on the front at the bottom edge of the horn. If found still attached to the horn it will appear as a smooth surface growth, rounded in appearance.
Many taxidermists do not know this exists on a live animal, therefore have trouble taxiing the skin to the edge of the horn when mounting. Many have found that this is an impossible task on the front edge. Find some good reference material, mount the head and then recreate this gland to match the skin/gland marriage.
That glandular growth is attached to the horn so I have something to go by incase that disinegrates in the boiling process. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me. Mary