Author Topic: 350 class Arizona bull antler fix (Read 8377 times)

bucklucky · « **on:** June 25, 2009, 09:45:04 PM »

Here is a bull I did a repair job on for a customer, it was a late season tag and the bulls were all busted up. Anyway, I made a mold of the good side and after 9 layer's of latex I cut the mold off the antler . I then repositioned the mold to somewhat match what the side that was broke to what it should have looked like , wired it together and poored a "new " horn. Then I reattached the plastic horn to the broken beam. I then started the coloring process once the new horn was blended to the old. I used many washes of color with oil paints to get the color pretty dang close.

bucklucky · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2009, 09:46:13 PM »

Here is before and after pics.

littlebuf · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:46:27 PM »

every time i looked at that if it were my bull i would feel like a liar, i could never add antlers to my animal. did this guy have some insecurity issues? not knocking your work they look like they grew there and hey if someones gonna pay then why not. but if your mind set is such that they need to be "fixed" why not just buy a rack off e bay

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2009, 12:46:51 AM »

I don't see a problem with it. If they want to have their rack fixed than it's not anyone elses place to tell them they can't or cut them down for it. To each his own. They killed the bull so the rack is theirs to do with what they please. It's not like they are doing it so they can have a higher score and entered into the books. Now that would be cheating. Taxidermy is an art and some guys put more value into a good looking mount than they do the horns.

Little John · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2009, 01:24:56 AM »

Looks great Charlie, If I shot a broke up bull I'd have it fixed for sure.

bucklucky · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2009, 07:47:48 AM »

Quote from: littlebuf on June 25, 2009, 10:46:27 PM

every time i looked at that if it were my bull i would feel like a liar, i could never add antlers to my animal. did this guy have some insecurity issues? not knocking your work they look like they grew there and hey if someones gonna pay then why not. but if your mind set is such that they need to be "fixed" why not just buy a rack off e bay

I wouldnt go to the extrent that you are . Geeez

WDFW-SUX · « **Reply #6 on:** June 26, 2009, 07:53:22 AM »

Nice job.

That said I agree about people buying antlers off ebay and claiming them as there own...seems to be the new fad.

BC CHASER · « **Reply #7 on:** June 26, 2009, 08:04:27 AM »

Great work BL! How do you attach it? I imagine epoxy and maybe a dowel?

bucklucky · « **Reply #8 on:** June 26, 2009, 08:12:05 AM »

I have 2 all thread stainless rods I put in the mold before I poured it that are about a foot - a foot and a half long. I then hogged out the origional antler about 6 or so inches and poored more plastic in it and around the new horn. That plastic is super strong and bonds real well.

I agree about buying horns and claiming them as yours, but fixing a horn and saying you might as well buy a set off ebay and claim them as yours is not the same thing. Thats a little harsh I would say

littlebuf · « **Reply #9 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:04:52 AM »

yeah it might be a little harsh but if he didnt want that bull why did he pull the trigger? personally i like it better broken, looks neat and shows he took a fighter. after the fix it just takes a unite bull and makes it look like every other 350 bull you've ever seen

i just think guys get caught up in score and antler size to much, dont get me wrong i like the big racks but the trophy is the whole hunt not just making sure that right side is just as big as the left, and you know he's not gonna tell anyone he had it fixed

bucklucky · « **Reply #10 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:09:07 AM »

He looked over alot of bulls and most of the big ones were broke. It was a last day kill I believe or right down to the end. They had video of the bull before he was broke too.

bucklucky · « **Reply #11 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:12:12 AM »

Fixing antlers would be a tough decision, I will sway people away from doing it that want broken tines fixed on stuff usually. Personal preferance though.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 26, 2009, 10:03:10 AM »

I don't see a problem with it, as long as he isn't trying to score it for the books. Particularly if he has video of the bull before it broke. Great work Bucklucky!

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2009, 11:12:43 AM »

Quote from: littlebuf on June 26, 2009, 09:04:52 AM

yeah it might be a little harsh but if he didnt want that bull why did he pull the trigger? personally i like it better broken, looks neat and shows he took a fighter. after the fix it just takes a unite bull and makes it look like every other 350 bull you've ever seen i just think guys get caught up in score and antler size to much, dont get me wrong i like the big racks but the trophy is the whole hunt not just making sure that right side is just as big as the left, and you know he's not gonna tell anyone he had it fixed

I don't see why it matters what bull he pulled the trigger on. He may had already decided that he wanted that bull befor he was broke and when he saw it broke he knew it could be fixed. You really don't know the story behind the hunt so why be so hard on the guy? Not sure if this was a guide hunt or not but if it was a DIY hunt maybe he's been hunting this bull a few years and they have been eye to eye a few times and never could get a shot til now. Who knows maybe it means more to the guy to have the bull look like it did when he remembers it on previous hunts. Different people want to remember an animal in different ways. Why get a a Floor Ped or mount a deer with an open mount? Might as well mount the deer looking dead because that how you last saw the deer befor it came out of the woods.

I don't think it is cheating or in bad taste at all. As long as they don;t try and get the thing scored and put in the books after the fix.

alecvg · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2009, 11:37:52 AM »

Awsome job, but I can't help but notice the velvot bull in the background, that looks awsome!

Intruder · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2009, 11:51:02 AM »

Repair job looks great!
I don't think I would have wanted it fixed if it were mine.... just way too much character w/ the broken antler. Might be a different story had I actually had the original broken piece.

heavy hauler · « **Reply #16 on:** June 26, 2009, 09:38:21 PM »

awesome job charlie. the man killed the bull.the bull grew the rack.what the hell does buying racks on e bay have to do with it? its not like the guy on here last year who bondoed on a 2 point shed to his buck. its all legit.

catwithboost · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2009, 08:11:40 AM »

Did you get the other 2 points on each side put on my WT since the broke off last year.

PolarBear · « **Reply #18 on:** June 27, 2009, 08:24:13 AM »

Great work man!

robb92 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 27, 2009, 03:57:24 PM »

Nice work, looks good to me!!

Skinner · « **Reply #20 on:** June 27, 2009, 06:38:52 PM »

Looks good buck!

bucklucky · « **Reply #21 on:** June 27, 2009, 08:39:42 PM »

Thanks guys!

huntnphool · « **Reply #22 on:** June 28, 2009, 11:03:04 PM »

Outstanding work Charlie, well done.

LongTatLaw · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2009, 05:34:25 PM »

looks good chuck!

whats the hardness / strength factor on the new horn? will it shatter or is it pretty tough?

Ive had a few fixed before (deer not elk) but they always took horn off of spare racks or sheds and did the addition and smoothed it!

cool actually making an all new piece!

good job bro!

Houndhunter · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2009, 05:49:06 PM »

that looks great, never seen that done before

NW-GSP · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2009, 11:07:19 AM »

you did an amazing job! I would not have even noticed the fix unless someone said something.

addicted · « **Reply #26 on:** July 09, 2009, 11:32:53 AM »

great job charlie

SkookumHntr · « **Reply #27 on:** July 09, 2009, 11:48:59 AM »

Quote from: bucklucky on June 26, 2009, 09:12:12 AM

Fixing antlers would be a tough decision, I will sway people away from doing it that want broken tines fixed on stuff usually. Personal preferance though.

--What about when you go to Canada and get a real nice bull moose, get home and the dog gnaws all the tines off the top of the paddle! Is it OK to fix it then? I think so, the taxi did a pretty good job on my brothers moose! Ill never forget the look on his face when he picked up that rack with all the tines chewed off,

I'm surprised that dog is still alive, it wouldn't be if it was my bull!

backwoods_boy · « **Reply #28 on:** July 09, 2009, 11:55:22 AM »

very nice work....
i know that when i get my RIMROCK bull its going right to you

bullchaser · « **Reply #29 on:** July 09, 2009, 12:06:56 PM »

Looks great how much more did that cost.$$$$$

lewy · « **Reply #30 on:** July 13, 2009, 07:43:43 AM »

Nice work! I'm also curious how much extra that cost because it must have taken some time....

bucklucky · « **Reply #31 on:** July 13, 2009, 08:01:27 AM »

Lets just say I did not charge enough

$350.00 I spent more time on this than I would mounting an elk

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Author Topic: 350 class Arizona bull antler fix (Read 8377 times)

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