BUSHBUCK

The Bushbuck is a small antelope found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are shy and elusive creatures but are widely distributed around sub-Saharan Africa. Both sexes have the same markings on their ears, chin, tails and legs. They are solitary animals and mature males usually avoid other mature males.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• The calf does not follow its mother around until 4 months of age.
• They are very good swimmers.
• A female and her calf will often play, running around in circles.
• If cornered Bushbucks can become a dangerous foe

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

They live in rain forests and bush savannas. They need water every few days but can survive in dew or moisture from the grasses they feed on. Besides grass, they enjoy shrubs, herbs and fallen fruit.Females keep their offspring well hidden until they are old enough to follow their Mothers. Their main predator is Lion, Leopard and Wild Dogs while the young are also preyed upon by Eagles, Servals and Pythons.

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Professional Bushbuck Taxidermy in South Africa

For many South Africans, a day spent hunting for bushbuck is a highlight of the year.

 

As the smallest of the antelopes with spiral horns, the bushbuck stands apart. He is of average size, with a dark reddish brown coat with white markings on his rump, against his legs, at the nape of his neck, and below his throat.

 

The bushbuck is a notoriously difficult animal to hunt due to his skittish nature and quick escape tactics. He lives in isolated patches of riverine woodland or thick thickets, and he always makes sure to be close to a water source, as he needs to drink every day. He is mostly a nocturnal or an early morning and late afternoon browser, eating mostly plant matter such as leaves grass, branches, flowers, and fruit. The term “Spiral Slam” describes a hunting collection of all the species of spiral horned antelope found in Africa, including bushbuck.

 

Only the males have horns, and the adult bucks are much larger and darker in colour than the females. His warning bark sounds like a raspy dog’s when he’s startled. In order to successfully hunt this species, most hunters choose to gently stalk the riverine areas in search of activity. This strategy is much less efficient than traditional still hunting. If this antelope gets injured, care must be taken to avoid injury. They are courageous, and a single swipe of their horns can cut your femoral artery.

 

The bushbuck makes a great trophy if its horns are curved slightly outward at the very end. Trophy bushbuck are usually at least 12 inches long. The SCI minimum for bushbuck is 33 inches, and the Rowland Ward minimum is 15 inches. A bushbuck’s age can be told by patches of hairlessness around the neck and worn-down horns.

 

The location of the shot is of the utmost importance; regardless of the vantage point from which it is taken, the shot should be positioned to pierce and go into the chest cavity. You can hunt the bushbuck using a 7x57mm or a 30 calibre rifle loaded with acceptable bullets weighing between 160 and 180 grains.

 

Preparation and Packaging tips for a flawless Bushbuck trophy

As soon as the animal is brought to the ground, work can begin on making a great prize mount. The outcome of the bushbuck taxidermy job depends on your actions from that point forward. The skinning of the trophy needs to happen right away. Carefully peel back the cape from the head, avoiding damage to the face. After washing the cape in brine water, hang it up to dry. The skin should be laid out in the shade on a flat surface with the meatside facing up in a salt pit that has a smooth surface and a 5° slope to ensure that the fluids sucked out of the skin by the salt drains properly. Ventilation is essential for salting pits in damp climates.

 

Use unfinished wood to build drying racks. Do not use wood that has been treated with tar or creosote. Never allow nails or bolts to touch the skin, as rust stains are nearly impossible to remove. Don’t ever dry skins on metal. The racks should be placed in a shaded area with enough of airflow.

 

The storage space must be cold, fully dry, and adequately ventilated. Wetness causes mildew and rot, so keep it dry. Protect skins against carnivores, insects, and rodents. Use chemicals to help.

 

The Bushbuck taxidermist’s process and method

When tanning and oiling the skins, only the highest quality chemicals and processes are utilised, which ensures that the skins will retain their strength and resilience for many years to come.

After taking all of your measurements into account, your desired form will be selected after extensive deliberation. The taxidermy technique at Life-Form uses only the highest-quality materials and relies on more than four decades of industry experience.

 

Skulls are cleaned, moulds are created, and manikins are made depending on the customer’s specifications for how their Bushbuck mount should be displayed. When repairs are necessary, all efforts are made to patch cuts and scrapes while minimising bullet damage. Existing scars are not removed unless the customer specifically requests it.As soon as rigorous quality inspections have been completed, packing can commence. The efficiency of each container is optimised individually.

 

Taking care of your Bushbuck trophy

Taxidermy is susceptible to damage by ultraviolet light. Keep the trophy away from direct sunlight to prevent it from fading and cracking. In order to prevent damage, avoid hanging them in high-traffic areas. The garage or screened-in porch are not good places to keep your taxidermy because of the extreme humidity levels and temperature swings.

 

An expert taxidermist will always include a sturdy hanger with any mount they design for wall display. Depending on the weight of the mount, most shoulder mounts will be suspended from a single screw, toggle bolt, or lag screw.

 

If you want your trophy to last, it needs constant attention. If your mount is kept in an environment free of moisture, heat, and sunshine, you should only have to clean it once a month. Your trophy has to be dusted twice a month if it is displayed in a particularly dusty environment. Lifeform Taxidermy has a product called Mount Medix that can be ordered from us

 

Put your trophy in the freezer for a few days once or twice a year to prevent fur slippage caused by vermin gnawing at the mount. Bug bombing the entire room is the suggested method of treatment for larger works or collections that clearly have an infestation.

 

Mounts should be placed in a cool, dry, insect-free place away from other trophies. Haired mounts suffer greatly at the hands of moths. The females lay their eggs at the hair’s root, and the developing larvae feed on the tissue that holds the hair in place, resulting in hair loss.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Bushbuck taxidermy cost?

The final cost will depend on the condition of each trophy, any repairs that need to be made, and the specific trophy that is ordered. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a price estimate.

 

How long does a Bushbuck taxidermy take?

A Bushbuck mounts’ production time at Life-Form Taxidermy can take anything from 8 to 12 months months. This is calculated from deposit and mounting instructions. The painstaking, multi-step process required to construct a Bushbuck taxidermy trophy ensures that it will endure a lifetime and continue to look as magnificent as the day it was finished.

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