Need So. African Taxidermist for Bronzed European Mounts

[MSR_Gal]

Moderator, if this is the wrong place for this post, please move.

I will be going to South Africa in about 10 days. While there I plan to squeeze in about 4 days of hunting - non-dangerous plains game.

If I get anything, I want to have it done as a European skull mount with the skull, but not horns, bronzed. I want it on a simple wooden pedestal mount so it can be displayed on any convenient surface rather than taking up wall space.

Does anyone know a taxidermist in South Africa who could do such work? I will be in the area around Groot Marico and Zeerust.

If I can't get it done in So. Africa, I will have the skulls bleached there and then sent back to the U.S. for bronzing and pedestal mount. I live in Tyler, Texas and would like to find a taxidermist as close to there as possible to limit secondary shipping costs.

Does anyone know anyone closer to Texas than Montana who could do this?

Brazos Jack

[Bushman]

European skull mount with the skull, but not horns, bronzed.

Brazos Jack

Hi.

I have never seen that ?
What is the reason for this ? - looks or any prectial purpose ?
Do you have some pictures of this - I would really like to see it.
Maybe it's something I would try.

[MSR_Gal]

Look here:

http://www.montanaskullworks.com/african.html

http://www.montanaskullworks.com/metalizedskulls.html

I think these look great. I really like the idea of a Kudu or Impala skull bronzed with the horns un-bronzed mounted on a small free standing wood pedestal of oak or walnut. All the shipping size and weight advantages of standard Euro skull mount. better looking and even lower maintenance. I will never have a large enough house to have a bunch of large conventional shoulder mounts. If I ever get that once in a lifetime Kudu or Colorado elk then I might spring for one or two nice U.S. style shoulder mounts. But these look good enough to go in any office or home decor on a desk or side table. And the bronze makes them look enough like sculpture compared to a bleached skull to go un-commented on when that California born neighbor drops in.

Unfortunately, the only two people I know of doing them is Montana Skullworks and Skull Taxidermy, also in Montana.

I really think that bronzed warthog skull with un-branzed tusks with no plaque just sitting on the desk looks great.

[dinsdale]

The horns come off the cores for almost all species (not the wildebeests);

So you only would have to ship the actual skull.

I am a bit particular about mounts and such,other than actual bleaching I would not have any secondary work done in Africa.The quality is 30 years behind the work here in the states.IMO

One thing to always remember once you get it home;you can do what you want when.Over there you get the whole bill at one time;like it or not.And you have no control over quality.

Again just my opinion.

Dinsdale

[retrieverman]

I have 10 whitetail shoulder mounts in my house and, unless I kill a "booner", won't have any more (according to my wife). Now, I European mount everything, and I do them myself. I am to the point now that I don't know what to do with all the skulls.

I am not real fond of the bronze skulls, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.