BONTEBOK

The Blesbuck / Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) is an antelope endemic to South Africa. Bles is the Afrikaans word forBlaze 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 all 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.

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Facts

• 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

Taxidermy

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.

Habitat

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.

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Professional Bontebok Taxidermy in South Africa’s

The Bontebok, Damaliscus pygargus pygargus, is a medium-sized antelope, similar in shape to the Tsessebe and Topi, and the Bontebok is typically rich dark brown with a big white blaze on its face, a white rump, belly, and hocks, and a black-tipped tail. Both sexes have horns, but the rams’ horns are larger and longer than ewes’.

The Dutch settlers that arrived in the country in the 1600s gave rise to the Bontebok name, which is a color-based designation.

The Bontebok and the Blesbok are related. Both species look similar, but the Bontebok has a whiter face, rump, and legs, making it stand out.

The African Bontebok is a grassland antelope, native to the plains. They are active during the day but slumber during the hottest part of the day. Up to forty Bontebok of either sex can be found in a herd. At the age of two, ewes achieve sexual maturity. January to about the middle of March is prime breeding time. After a 250-day pregnancy, a single calf is born in the fall, typically between September and October.

The Bontebok is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and is therefore included on the Red List of Threatened Species. Having been brought back to sustainable quantities thanks to game ranches in South Africa, Bontebok hunting in Africa is possible in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Namibia. The African Bontebok still requires a C.I.T.E.S appendix II permit in order to be exported into any country.

 

Hunting Bontebok

In Africa, hunting Bontebok is typically done by more seasoned hunters looking to fill up a specific trophy collection. Bontebok are commonly found in Western Cape and Free State, where they are hunted because they are easy to spot in their preferred habitat of broad grass plains with access to water.

Hunting for Bontebok is identical to that of Blesbok. Shots to the upper heart and lungs are ideal for a side presentation, as is the case with most antelope species, whereas shots to the area where the neck joins the body tend to be more effective when the animal is facing the shooter head-on. A trophy with horns of 14–15 inches would be typical, but any larger would be exceptional.

Bontebok can be hunted with the same rifle you use for other antelope, whether it’s a.270, 7mm, or one of the 30 calibres. When hunting plains game, or any African species for that matter, it’s important to use high-quality ammunition and keep in mind that shots may need to be taken from a great distance.

 

What is Bontebok Taxidermy?

The art of bontebok taxidermy entails preparing the skins of hunted animals for mounting. The days of filling taxidermy mounts with sawdust and rags are long gone. All of our methods, substances, and procedures have advanced significantly over the years. Thanks to advancements in techniques like classic skin mounting, reproduction, and re-creation mounting, the trophies we create now survive tenfold longer than they used to.

Even though these look like real animal trophies, they are actually made of fibreglass and foam. When making a replica of an animal to put on display, taxidermists take into account the animal’s natural behaviour, habitat, the colour of its skin, and their own knowledge of the animal’s body.

 

Skin preparation and storage for a flawless Bontebok trophy

There is no need to pull the animal across the ground while loading it into a vehicle. The skin of the animal should be removed as soon as possible. Flayed skins must be cured in order to be resistant to organisms and to be stored for an extended period of time without rotting. Putting off the process of curing can only lead to frustration on your part. On a normal day, the bacteria only needs six hours to totally damage the root hair, resulting in hair loss.

It is critical to remove all meat before removing the skin. Wash the skin thoroughly after skinning to remove any trace of blood. 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.

 

The Bontebok Taxidermy process and method

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.

 

Taking care of your Bontebok trophy

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 hair dryer 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.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

How much does a bontebok trophy cost?

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.

 

How long does a bontebok trophy take?

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.

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