Just got my African specimens - massive hair loss

[longstevo]

Hey all,

Haven't been on in a while, but for those that remember I went on a hunting safari in SA while I was stationed in Africa.  Had a great time with the outfitter, shot four animals (impala, kudu, warthog, and jackal).  I redeployed back home and settled in for the long wait for their arrival at my local taxidermist.

When they finally arrived, my local guy almost immediately contacted me and said the impala cape was unusable.  The "worst one he's ever seen."  We agreed that I'd pay for one of his, and the order continued. 

Fast forward one year, and they're ready for pick up, but the hides "didn't turn out well." 

Come to find out the kudu ended up losing at least 50-60% of the hide once they got it on the mount.  The jackal rug is missing an ear's worth of hair, and the impala cape is one of his so its fine.  I just had a skull mount for the warthog. 

My question is:  is heavy hair loss from African game normal?

[bugs n bones]

It is if the outfitter did not properly take care of it in the field.

[runningboard]

I had mine mounted in Africa and the taxi switched capes on my impala and kudu so my kudu has a bald spot on the shoulder so it looks like it was dragged. but all of my springboks turned out awesome. so I'd say not usual for them to lose so much hair. my impala looks good and didn't have slippage but if you look at my pictures and then the mount you know that it's not my cape.

[Kuduman]

Very common especially on dip and pack shipments. I suggest to all my clients to use a good dip snd pack service and not a tsxidermist to do their  dip snd packs. I just took in a Nyala and an Eland from a dip and pack service and they looked good.

[Red leaf 67]

Sorry to hear about the damage after the long anticipated wait  . You may be able to salvage the capes/ hides by tanning them (hair off ) buckskin style. I have done this with damaged whitetailed deer capes & made moccasins , laces, bags, & pouches. Talk to your taxidermist, you will have to soak the damaged cape in hydrated lime water or lye water to dehair them & then tan them. I have had good luck bark tanning, fool proof, easy, & doesn't wash out. At least you could salvage something to remember your African hunt.

[Natures Way]

I wouldn't say it is common. At least with all the shipments I have done I do on average 50 plus African pieces a year and sometimes I have one or two that have problems with slippage.   Not saying that there are not other problems as well. There are a lot of reasons that this could happen.

[longstevo]

I sent an email to the outfitter and the African taxidermist.  Haven't heard back from the African Taxidermist at all, but the outfitter has offered to send a replacement impala and kudu cape, no charge. 

Hopefully they'll arrive decent. 

[Natures Way]

That is great congrats!

[Rob]

It is common.  The heat is the issue.  if they don't get them off the body and in the salt asap, you will get hair slip upon tanning.

When I went to Namibia, I had really bad hair slip on my Kudu.  My taxidermist (Jerry Huffaker out of Abilene TX) did an outstandin job repairing it with texturing and an air brush.

I did Zimbabwe in 2012 and found out that my klippie pelt had such bad slip that it is unusable.  They went through a lot of care to try and prevent the damage in the field.  Skinned it in place, dipped it in a spring to keep it cool, and rushed it to the skinning shack to keep it cold but it still fell apart.  Klipspringer are known for having bad hair slip issues.  Their hair is more like a pronghorn.   All the other animals survived with minimal to no damage.  we had 120 degree weather too.

Your taxi should be able to find replacement pelts if you want.

Here are photos of my kudu.  had huge patches of missing hair on the shoulders, and zero hair on the cheeks.

[Rob]

(BTW, the scab on the nose was there when I shot him so I requested it not be fixed)  You can see it in this photo:

[Natures Way]

It happens but, if you decide to go again give me a call I can put you in touch with a couple different safari outfits where that is not common. Congrats on a nice mount Rob, Jerry is a good taxidermist.

[longstevo]

Those are some nice looking kudus!

I'll keep up to date on the situation on the boards.  Keeping my fingers crossed.