I will be hunting muskox next year and I'm trying to learn what to do as far as taxidermy prep for the horns. I plan to leave the hide for a full mount with a taxidermist in Yellowknife for preparation to be shipped home (my father does my taxidermy) but I'll most likely bring the horns/skullcap home if practical. We have never fooled with muskox horns, however. How do you access the cores for removal of the meaty pulp inside? I've cleaned water buffalo horns, but I assume from the shape of muskox horns that they cannot be boiled free like the buffalo. Any advice would be appreciated, or info about a good reference book that would have instructions.
thanks in advance
Ryan
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muskox horns are a lot like cape buffalo. They are permanently attached to the skull. I clean mine by soaking them in a tub of water and let the bacteria clean out the skullcap. I don't think simmering would remove all the meat and it would be hard to get into those small crevices to pull it all out. I'd go with the soaking method if you can.
Ryan, The horns can be removed and should be to clean everything out. I took my muskox last year and did a lifesize mount. I put the horns in a tub of water to rot them off. I took a wood chisel to cut some of the horn core along the inside of the horn. (a relief cut). You can epoxy this up later if you want to but the long hair covers this up. After the horns soaked for about 3 weeks I took a small crow bar and pryed them off. I then boiled the cores to remove all the grisel and rubbed borax over them and inside the horn itself. There is alot of grisel on them.After everything was dried I retached the horns to the core with auto putty and sculpted the inside part of the horn. You will have a great time on your hunt. Are you going in Spring? Drop me a email if you need me to explain the horn removal process better. Jim