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Getting Old Pronghorn Horns Off Cores

Discussion in 'Deer and Gameheads' started by donkeyman, Dec 10, 2019.

  1. Dec 10, 2019 #1
    donkeyman

    donkeyman Member

    86
    5
    redoing a pronghorn mount but previous artist didn't bother to boil horns off of the cores ( which may be one reason why bugs took over the mount ) . any help or advise on how to rehydrate the inner cores so they will release the horns to do them correctly - without harming the horns themselves that is ? thanks
     
  3. Dec 11, 2019 #2
    ortegageno

    ortegageno Active Member

    1,563
    5
    NM
    If all else fails you can cut the horns off at the base and use a paddle bit to remove the bone from inside the sheath. You will then need to buy a replica skull cap for like 25 bucks from McKenzie and bond the sheaths on to that. Then remount.
     

  5. Dec 12, 2019 #3
    AZ~Rich

    AZ~Rich " Africa" never fails to satisfy

    639
    250
    Tucson, AZ
    I would think you could possibly remove them still but only if the tissues between bone cores and horn sheath become hydrated enough to either allow bacterial breakdown of structural proteins or soften them enough to mechanically break the bond. You may need to submerge the horns/skull plate to allow hydration. Drilling tiny holes around bases strategically should allow for more rapid water to get in there. Warming the water will help. When it appears softened you can also use a thin knife blade to separate core from sheath at bottom of bases. The only caveat is if you leave the horns submerged too long they will soften to point of shrinking/distortion when they dry. It sounds like you will need to get them softened first but be cautious of over soaking them. Do whatever you can to get water up between either by probing with knife blade, drilling holes and using hypodermic needle and syringe.