Additional information
| Mount Type | Grysbok Sharps, Fullmount – HH060, Grysbuck Cape, Fullmount – HH059, Grysbuck Fullmount – FF 062 |
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- Local calls: 013 751 2527
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The Cape or Southern Grysbuck (Raphicerus Melanotis) is a small antelope that is endemic to the Western Cape region of South Africa between Albany and the Cederberg Mountains. Sharpe or Northern Grysbuck (Raphicerus Sharpei) is a small, shy, solitary antelope that is found from tropical to South-Eastern Africa.
| Mount Type | Grysbok Sharps, Fullmount – HH060, Grysbuck Cape, Fullmount – HH059, Grysbuck Fullmount – FF 062 |
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The Cape Grysbuck is a small, shy antelope with a thick-set body and a coarse coat of hair. It has a rough, reddish sandy coat flecked in white. The head, neck and legs are less flecked and somewhat yellowish, while the inside of the ears, eye-rings, mouth area, throat and underside are white. There is a black “bridge” to the nose and a dark scent gland in front of the eye. It stands only 21″ (45–55 cm) at the shoulder and weighs slightly more than 20 pounds (8–12 kg). The short tail of the Cape Grysbuck measures 4 to 8 cm and is almost invisible. Males have short, sharp and straight horns about 8 cm long, which are smooth. The Cape Grysbuck can fluff out the fur at its rear end to make itself look bigger.
The Cape Grysbuck is probably territorial as sightings are mostly of individual animals. It is a browser. It can apparently go without drinking water for long periods, gaining most of its requirements from its food. It is primarily nocturnal, though it may be seen during early morning and late evening during the southern winter. Like Sharpe’s Grysbuck they use a communal latrine and mark plants in its vicinity with secretions from their pre-orbital glands. It defends itself by jumping forward toward its target then running away.
Lambs are born in the southern summer after a gestation period of about 6 months. With sufficient food and good weather, the female Cape Grysbuck can give birth to two lambs a year. They stay hidden and grow fast.
Predators like Caracal, Leopard, Hyena and Wild Dog.
It is similar in size to the Grey Duiker, but has a stockier body and shaggy fur over the hindquarters. It stands about 20″ (45–60 cm) at the shoulders and weighs only 7–11.5 kg. Its coat is reddish-brown streaked with white; eye-rings, muzzle, throat and underside are off-white. The males have stubby horns, which are widely spaced. Sharpe’s Grysbuck has a short, deep muzzle with large mouth and heavy molars for grinding. The short neck and head on a long-legged body result in a high-rump posture when browsing.
Although widespread, Sharpe’s Grysbuck is infrequently seen. Males and females seem to form brief associations, but the species is usually encountered singly. Territory is marked with dung middens. Their habitat is rocky hill country, but preferring fertile zones on the lower slopes. They are nocturnal browsers and spend the day in the protective cover of tall grass or shrubs. They are extremely timid and will run away at the first sign of anything unusual, although this flight is accompanied “short stamping hops”; they move well away from where the disturbance occurred before stopping (unlike Steenbuck, which stop and look back). Sharpe’s Grysbuck are reported to take refuge in Aardvark burrows, like Steenbuck.
Sharpe’s Grysbuck browse on leaves, buds, herb and fruits—in the dry season, their food is typically tough (for which their teeth and jaws are adapted). Grazed grass makes up about 30% of their diet. Like the Cape Grysbuck they use a communal latrine and mark sticks in its vicinity with pre-orbital gland secretions.
Little is known about the mating system in Sharpe’s Grysbuck. They can breed throughout the year. Females usually give birth to 1 or 2 calves after the gestation period of 7 months. Males don’t take part in raising the calves. Young are usually weaned when they are 3 months old and become reproductively mature from 6 to 9 months after birth.
Main predators are Lion, Cheetah, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Side-Striped Jackal, Black-Backed Jackal and Caracal.
The Cape Grysbuck native habitat is the “Fynbos biome” (Cape Floristic Region), and it inhabits thick shrubland. It can sometimes be found browsing orchards and vineyards. In the Cape Peninsula the Cape Grysbuck can be found in urban edges close to human activity. It may also be found in reed beds and along the riverbed of the southern Karoo.
Sharpe’s grysboks are widespread throughout south-eastern Africa. They are found in Transvaal (South Africa), Caprivi Strip (Namibia), Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania to Lake Victoria. These antelopes live in woodland areas with low-growing scrub or medium-length grass. Their habitat is rocky hill country, but they prefer fertile zones on the lower slopes.
Grysbuck taxidermy is the art of preserving the Grysbuck skin and other body parts to produce lifelike sculptures for display, either at home as a hunting trophy or in museums for educational purposes. Skin is preserved and mounted on an artificial armature to display the specimen.
The contemporary English word “taxidermy” is derived from the Greek terms taxis, meaning “movement,” and derma, meaning “skin,” thereby combining these two meanings. This is why, in a broad sense, taxidermy is synonymous with “the motion of skin.”
For expert taxidermists, skills in sculpture, painting, and sketching are just as important as those in carpentry, woodworking, tanning, moulding, and casting.
The remaining parts of the body are synthetic replacements for real organs and tissues. Polyurethane foam is used for the manikin or form, which includes the anatomy of every muscle and vein; glass is used for the eyes; clay is used for the eyelids; for the nose and mouth the foam of the mannequin is sculptured.
Works of taxidermy can be found in a wide range of environments, including museums, classrooms, galleries, stores, restaurants, and private households, due to the complexity and delicate craftsmanship involved in the taxidermy process.
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.
Among the Tiny Ten, the Sharpe’s Grysbuck is widely regarded as the most elusive and challenging species to track down.
In South Africa, Cape Grysbuck can be hunted at any time of the year. Grysbuck hunting is best done during the dry months of June through October when grass is short, and visibility is good.
Cape Grysbuck, unlike their Sharpe’s Grysbuck cousins, are far more difficult to hunt because they are largely nocturnal. If you want to find them, a walk and stalk in their fynbos habitat along highways, near rivers, and in abandoned farm fields might do the trick. Cape Grysbuck are frequently hunted at night by driving about and shining a light at them. Dress warmly if you plan on doing any night hunting during the winter months (June–August).
Hunters that are serious about taking down a Grysbuck will need to bring their A-game if they want to take one down. They look best as part of a full-body mount alongside their natural environment or as part of a pedestal mount with the rest of the “Tiny Ten.”
When making an Grysbuck mount, careful planning is key to getting a high-quality result. When tanning and oiling the skins, only the best chemicals and methods are used. This ensures that the skins will last for many years.
Your preferred form for the Grysbuck will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount Grysbuck trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the Grysbuck mount.
The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized Grysbuck trophy and gives it a whole new meaning by using only the best materials and drawing on more than 40 years of experience in the field.
When repair is needed, every effort is made to fix cuts and scrapes and lessen bullet damage. Existing scars are left alone unless the client asks for them to be taken away.
Using the helpful tips below, it’s important to take extra care of your prized Grysbuck trophy to make sure it stays in perfect shape for years to come.
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. Please contact [email protected]
Taxidermy is an art form that involves a complicated step-by-step process to make sure that each trophy looks just right and is of a high enough quality that it will last your whole life.
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.
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.
