ELAND

The Eland is the world’s largest antelope which inhabits most of southern Africa. The scientific name of the common eland is Taurotragus oryx, composed of three words: tauros, tragos and oryx. They are sexually dimorphic, with females being smaller than the males and their coats are smooth, a dusty brown in colour, and they have a rough mane.As the males age, their coats become more grey. Common Elands are resistant to quite a few diseases.

Additional information

Mount Type

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Facts

• They only have one offspring
• In contrast to being the largest antelope, eland is also the slowest antelope.
• Eland is domesticated in Africa for meat and milk.

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

Elands reside in Southern Africa and along the Southern African plateau. They inhabit grasslands, sub-deserts, bush velds and other drier areas, as they like to feed on shrubs commonly found in those areas, while they tend to avoid swamps, wetlands and forests. They require a high-protein diet that they get from leaves, roots and berries.

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Professional Eland Taxidermy

In terms of size, the Eland, (Taurotragus oryx), is the largest antelope in the world. It can also jump a four feet fence from a standstill and can keep up a trot for an extended period of time. The horns of both sexes curl closely inward, while the horns of females are typically longer and thinner. They begin life as a fawn or tawny colour but age to a grey or bluish-gray, and eventually the oldest Elands become nearly black. The male has a pronounced dewlap (which adds the value to the trophy), a loose flap of skin that hangs down around the neck, from which a tuft of black hair sprouts. Males in their adult years also develop a thicker and longer mat of hair across their foreheads.

Due to their desirability as ranch animals and hunting prey, they have a high population. Meat from these animals is greatly sought for, especially by poachers, due to the massive amount produced by a single animal. Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya are leading the way in domesticating the world’s largest antelope for their high supply of nutritious “long life” antibacterial milk, which also has a far greater protein content and milk fat than cow’s milk.

 

Hunting Eland

Hunting Eland can be difficult since it is easily frightened and will run away at the first indication of trouble. Although Eland herds of 8-12 animals are usual, far larger herds have been documented. During the day, it grazes in the open woods and on the flat, scrubby veld.

Hunting Eland in South Africa is an exciting and gratifying experience due to the animal’s tremendous size and its tendency to flee at the sound of a human’s voice. These amazing creatures have excellent vision and the ability to leap up to seven feet in the air.

A good rifle is crucial while hunting Eland. The .375 calibre is not overkill. Cartridges with sufficient power are required for hunting Eland. This is why you shouldn’t settle for anything less than a .30-06 Springfield loaded with 180gr controlled expansion rounds. The.300 and.338 Winchester Magnum are marginally better options. Eland hunting is best done with a.375 H&H or 9.3x62mm Mauser cartridge. When going after Eland, it’s imperative to use bullets of the highest quality.

A well-placed shot is essential; missing the target by even a few inches with a smaller calibre can lead to a frustrating day of searching for a wounded animal or perhaps its complete loss. Although their anatomy can trick inexperienced African hunters, they are not particularly tough for their size. If you shoot for the Eland and only hit the brisket, you’ll be out in the bush for hours. The sweet spot is right in the middle of the torso, in the fold behind the shoulder.

 

What is Eland Taxidermy?

A well-thought-out approach is the key to a satisfying eland taxidermy project. The hides are tanned and oiled using the best chemicals and methods available anywhere, ensuring that they will last for generations. Enhance the significance of your trophies by relying on our 40 years of knowledge in the business and the finest materials available today.

Life-Form Taxidermy is the eland taxidermist to choose. All of their forms are custom-made to ensure a perfect fit, and they will even modify the posture to your satisfaction at no extra cost. There is no cost for standard custom-made natural habitat bases that accompany the full mount trophies.

They strive to have as life-like recreations. To the extent, bullet hole damage is minimized and abrasions repaired when restoration is required. Unless otherwise specified, the animal’s natural scars will remain.

 

Skin preparation and storage tips for a flawless Eland trophy

Hair loss and disintegration of the skin are the main factors that destroy a trophy cape or hide. The most crucial step is to skin as soon as possible and then to apply salt to avoid hair slip. You should get the trophy out of the direct sunshine as soon as possible if you’re skinning it in the veld. The sooner the intestines are removed, the quicker the carcass will cool.

To prevent hairslip from occurring around the bullet hole, wash the area as quickly as possible. The animal should never be dragged on the ground. Please make sure your trophy is appropriately labelled. Hanging the carcass as soon as possible will keep the hair off the ground and out of the blood.  At this point, it is crucial that the skinners understand just what kind of mount you are looking for. If you are undecided between a full and shoulder mount, it is best to go for the larger option. For the simple reason that a taxidermist can always remove excess skin, but can never add it. Make sure you get rid of all the extra meat and fat after skinning. After the skin has been taken off, give it a thorough washing in cool water and wait 30 minutes before salting.

 

The Eland Taxidermy process and method

Life-Form Taxidermy will custom make the form to fit the skin per your requirements. The skins are tanned and oiled with the best chemicals and procedures, ensuring years of use.

Each skin is tried on a manikin to ensure a snug fit. After the eyes and ears are appropriately positioned, the skin is professionally stitched. The taxidermist waits until the animal is dry before making final changes.

 

Taking care of your Eland trophy

Keep mounts in a dry, cool environment. Avoid hanging your mounts in direct sunlight to prevent fading. Keep taxidermy away from direct heat sources. Avoid wet spaces, as they breed mildew and mould.

Regular, light dusting maintains mounts. Use a feather duster to remove the dust, then a damp towel to clean in the hair’s direction. Avoid yanking or straining hair and style it in the natural direction. You can rely on the Medix Africa product to assist you in preserving your trophy. This item is utilised and made available by Life-Form Taxidermy.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

How much does an Eland 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 an Elandtrophy 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.

Generally, the completion and packing timeframe combined, ranges from 8-12 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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