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The Blesbuck / Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) is an antelope endemic to South Africa. Bles is the Afrikaans word for Blaze such as one would see on the forehead of a horse. The Blesbuck / Bontebok also has this characteristic. The Blesbuck / Bontebok is found in large herds in some National Parks around South Africa. Physically, Males and Females are very much alike; both have light brown coats with white markings on their foreheads. Both sexes have horns although female horns are slightly more slender.
• Their predators include Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Eagles and Pythons.
• They are seasonal breeders with a gestation period of 8 months.
• They are shy animals but very alert; they rely on speed to outrun their predators
• Females give birth to a single calf
Thorough preparation is the key factor to ensuring a high-quality final product. All hides are tanned and oiled using the world’s very best available chemicals and processes to ensure permanence and longevity.Forms are selected to ensure the best fit and posture will be altered to suit you, the client’s preference without additional cost. Natural habitat bases are custom-made for full mount trophies without additional cost.Only the finest materials and 40 years of professional experience are used in defining your trophies in a whole new way. The final trophies are almost Life-Formed. When the restoration is required, every effort is made to repair cuts and abrasions, and to minimise bullet damage. Natural scarring is kept unless otherwise requested.
Blesbuck / Bontebok can be seen in open veld in various parks in South Africa. They are grazers, feeding mostly on grass but also the leaves of nearby trees. They prefer to be near watering holes and occupy relatively small territories.
Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) are only found in South Africa, and can be easily spotted in the Eastern Cape and Free State. Rams and ewes look very similar to one another. They can weigh up to 85 kilogrammes. The Blesbok has a distinctive white blaze on its face, which is divided in the middle by a horizontal brown stripe just above the eyes. The scent glands on the male’s forehead make the facial patch dirty, but the female’s face is usually clean.
It has a brown body, a lighter brown saddle, and an even lighter brown rump. It is brown on the lower half, with a white spot on the back of the upper forelegs. Legs and feet are white. Each sex has horns that are ringed nearly to the tip. Females typically have thinner horns. With age, the horns of a trophy blesbok will whiten or yellow.
Because of their social nature, the dominant ram of a herd of blesbok will often hang out on the periphery of the group. Non-alpha male rams, or bachelors, tend to congregate in smaller groups.
Since Blesbuck are so extremely cautious, a hunter will need to use stealth to get within shooting range. In most cases, the shooter’s distance is between 150 and 300 yards. In the early morning and late evening, you can find them by watering holes.
For Blesbuck hunting on the plains, a.270 to.300 magnum with a 130-150 grain bullet is ideal. You could also go with a.308 or a 30-06. Choosing a heavy-for-caliber roundnose bullet is a good idea when hunting Blesbuck in the wild.
Since Blesbuck stand in herds, generally in open plains, therefore choose a ram without others nearby. As they tend to move single-file, so waiting until they leave an area may be a good option. Because Blesbucks are jittery, aim carefully. Follow the rear line of the front leg to pierce the lungs and heart. Even if you don’t manage a death shot, at least the animal won’t be able to go very far. Shooting the Blesbuck in the head or neck should be avoided at all costs. The bullet holes are difficult to conceal, thereafter.
The term taxidermy comes from the Greek terms taxis and derma. The two words signify “arrangement” and “skin,” respectively. When taxidermists mount or stuff specimens of preserved animal hides, they do it for educational or display purposes.
Blesbuck taxidermy is the process of mounting or preserving skulls & hides for mounting, for the sake of study or display.
Skin mounts and replicas are most popular taxidermy techniques. The skin is traditionally mounted by extending it over a mannikin form.
Although the mounted hides and horns, appear to be genuine animals, these recreations are really made, moulded and carved, from fibreglass and foam. Taxidermists need to seriously consider the animal’s natural behaviour, habitat, the animal’s skin colour, and the taxidermist’s own knowledge of the animal’s anatomy when creating a resemblance for display.
Even while loading the animal into a vehicle, there is never a need to drag it across the ground. The animal’s skin should be removed as soon as possible.
The sooner the animal is skinned, the less likely it is to experience bacterial activity and hair slip because of the process. It’s crucial to make sure the skin is completely devoid of any trace of flesh, cartilage, muscle, and fat.
After skinning the animal, immediately wash the skin well to remove any trace of blood. It is recommended to use an anti-bacterial solution like F10(cl) for this.
When the skin has been drip-dried for a few minutes, it is ready to be salted. Use a lot of salt and really work it into all the creases and folds, of the skin. Hang the skin up to dry after three to four days.
Thorough preparation is essential for producing a high-quality result. To ensure permanence and durability, all hides are tanned and oiled utilising the world’s best available natural products, and methods. Forms are chosen to ensure the best fit, and posture can be adjusted to suit you, the client, at no extra charge. Full mount trophies come with free, custom-made natural habitat bases, and only the highest-quality materials and 40 years of professional knowledge are utilised to redefine your trophies in a way that will last a lifetime. The finished trophies have a startling resemblance to real life. When restoration is necessary, every effort is made to restore cuts and abrasions while minimising bullet damage. Unless otherwise specified, natural scarring is retained.
Insect damage has occurred in the finest trophy rooms and museums. Small demisted/carpet beetles or moths are to blame for this. Make sure no pests are lurking in the trophy rooms by using a bug room fogger. All mounts and rugs should be moth proofed once a year. Basically, any spray designed to repel moths from clothing will do. Mist the mount thoroughly and work it into the hair with a brush. A hairdryer can be used to restore fluffiness to the fur of an animal. If a mount has been eaten by bugs, take it outdoors, spray it down with bug spray, and store it in a plastic bag for the night.
Your mounts will continue to look great with just a simple dusting once or twice a week. A feather duster and a damp cloth wiped in the direction of the hair can get rid of any lingering dust. We recommend using Mount Medix Africa (obtained from Life-Form Taxidermy – a trusted product).
Taxidermy should be stored in a dry, cool place that is away from any heat sources like fireplaces or heaters and direct sunlight (exposure to natural elements). Moist places are breeding grounds for mildew and mould. Temperature and humidity fluctuations can be harmful to your trophies. Avoid storage areas, such as attics or basements.
The pricing of any trophy is subject to the costing stipulated per taxidermy order, quantity of trophies and preferred mounting options, along with additional requirements. Should you wish to receive a quotation prior to the hunt, the taxidermist can generate such for you.
The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal might range from days to weeks, and possibly several months, depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display preferences, and volumes of client trophies to be produced, simultaneously, per production schedule.
The completion and packing timeframe combined, ranges from 10-12 months. This depends largely on the “what, how, when” factors. A taxidermy order also only becomes available for production scheduling upon receipt of the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions.
