WILDEBEEST

Blue Wildebeest

Professional Blue Wildebeest Taxidermy in South Africa

The Blue Wildebeest, also known as the Common or White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), is a dark silver-grey in colour with dark vertical stripes on the front quarters. Long black hair hangs from the blue wildebeest’s neck and throat like a beard, giving the animal its distinctive appearance. Short, curving horns appear on the heads of both sexes.

Bulls who have reached adulthood have horns that are severely bossed. A bull can weigh 250 kg and stand 1.5 metres tall at the shoulder. The average cow is 1.4 metres in height at the shoulder and weighs 180 kilogrammes.

Wildebeest enjoy semi-open woods and savannah plains with short grass.   It is important to have surface water available for drinking every day.

Hunting wildebeest can be difficult due to their heightened sensitivity of their surroundings and their panicked flight from any perceived danger. When a wildebeest is shot, it will generally turn around and return to the spot where it was hit.

When compared to other African antelope, blue wildebeest are one of the toughest to kill. A.270 will do, but be sure to use a bonded, heavy bullet (at least 150 grains). Take care not to aim too high, as they have a noticeable shoulder hump.

Blue wildebeest hunting is often called the “poor man’s buffalo hunt.” A nice trophy is one in which the length of the horns is such that they protrude beyond the points of the ears. When shooting a blue wildebeest, aim just like you would an antelope or any other plains game animal. While a full mount of a wildebeest isn’t something many hunters would choose, the animal’s head and shoulders would make for some unique wall art. Let the taxidermist know if you want the horns to be darkened or left natural.

What is Blue Wildebeest Taxidermy?

Taxidermists combine their creative skills with their understanding of technological methods to create preserved animals that look remarkably lifelike. The techniques used in blue wildebeest taxidermy have evolved greatly over time. Dermo-sculpture is used as a template for a new skin to be fitted over and glued into place before being held in place with pins and bandages while it dries, is widely practised.

Materials like fibreglass and acrylic are utilised to create lifelike representations of animals. To create lifelike depictions of animals, taxidermists must study natural subjects in depth, including, in this case, the anatomy of the blue wildebeest, the animals’ natural behaviours, and their skin colours.

Preparation and packaging tips for a flawless Blue Wildebeest trophy

The horns on males are larger and thicker than those on females, but both sexes have them. A gun blue tint can be seen in the space between the horns of a male wildebeest considered a trophy. Hunting for Blue wildebeest takes great trophy judgement skills and the experience to determine the sex of a trophy blue wildebeest from a distance. A trophy wildebeest bull will have horns that reach at least an inch beyond each ear. A blue wildebeest must be at least 70 inches in length to qualify for SCI. For reference, Rowland Ward stands at a towering 28 1/2 inches tall.

Skin the animal right away. If you wait until the next day, you might lose a valuable skin. Cut the cape about 10 cm back from the front legs. Cut a straight line from between the shoulders to six centimetres behind the back horns. Cut the cartilages near the head of the ear. Remove the rest of the cape from the head without hurting the ears, eyes, nose, or lips. Rinse the cape in brine water.

Salt the skin two centimetres thick and put it in a shaded area salt pit with the meat side up. After 24 hours, shake off any extra salt and hang the cape up to dry. When it’s almost dry but still bendable, fold it to the size you want to take with you, making sure the hair and ears are on the inside. Ensure that the storage facility is insect free.

The Blue Wildebeest taxidermist’s process and method

When tanning and oiling the skins, only the highest quality chemicals and processes are utilised, ensuring that they will last for years to come.

After taking your measurements into account, we’ll choose the shape you like most and tweak the blue wildebeest’s stance to suit you. When restoration is required, every effort is made to repair wounds and mitigate the effects of gunfire. Scars are kept unless the client requests removal.

Clay is used to create face features like cheekbones and the brow bone, and is also used to set glass eyes. If an appendage has been torn or damaged, modelling clay can be used to hold it together and add muscular definition. Numerous vendors offer commercially available forms and eyeballs. Otherwise, taxidermists make their own replicas by carving or casting.

Taking care of your Blue Wildebeest trophy

Putting your trophy head on the wall correctly is the first thing to master. When handling a mounted head, you should never grab, lean, or rest your hand on the neck. To provide optimal strength, use a screw with a large, flat head that is fixed into a wall beam and rather not a nail. It should protrude far enough from the wall to capture the screw head securely under the hanger attached to the mount’s backboard.

Placing a blue wildebeest trophy in direct sunlight will ensure that it deteriorates quickly in your home. Keep the trophies away from direct sunlight, a fire place active fires and other dry heat sources. All blue wildebeest mounts must also be kept dry if they are to remain lifelike and convincing enough to be displayed. Moths love to breed in closets and attics, so never store your mounts there. Use a fine repellant mist to spay the mount all over before carefully combing the repellant into the hair. We suggest the product – Mount Medix.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a blue wildebeest trophy cost?

The total price will depend on the condition of each trophy, any needed repairs, and the desired trophy. Please contact us so we can provide a pricing estimate.

How long does a blue wildebeest trophy take?

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