How To Repair Broken Antler Points

Guide To Elk Antler Repair Taxidermy

Every now and so the brutality of nature can habiliment down on an animal. As hunters, nosotros ofttimes encounter this in the form of broken antlers or horns of the animals we are hunting. Most of the time when a client brings their trophy into a taxidermy store this vesture and tear on the antler or horn is just part of the story of that trophy'due south life. Maybe a tine broke off in a fight for breeding rights or maybe it bankrupt off as he was trashing his favorite rubbing tree just a footling likewise difficult, no matter how information technology happened these breaks are ordinarily regarded every bit unique qualities of the trophy, and go unrepaired.

Even so in some rare instances, customers want these tines repaired and that'due south when a taxidermist's artistic skills are put to the test. The latest challenge like this to come through the doors of Cypress Slough Taxidermy came in the version of a beautiful elk taking on a low fence slice of property in Texas. While out elk hunting the customer spotted a squeamish 6×6 bull elk off in the distance. The bays was a trivial besides far for a shot so after a short stalk the bull was in range and presented himself as a perfect broadside target. Boom. The bull buckled every bit he took the round through the vitals and ran just a short distance earlier tumbling down and piling up at the bottom of a draw. Shortly later the shot was made the recovery of the bull took place to reveal a nice Texas v×v bull elk. Yep, two tines short of the balderdash they glassed. While information technology was still the same bull the tumble downward the rocky hill broke off both crown tines. Since that elk was chosen for his maturity and also the fact that he was carrying a full rack at the time the trigger was pulled, repairs were requested and were carried out by the taxidermist that mounted this balderdash. A few years later the trophy was mounted the repair job fabricated past the taxidermist started to fail and interruption loose of the original rack, and that how information technology came to my shop.

Repaired section separating from original beam.

The first thing that I did was assess why the repair chore failed and so that I fabricated sure I wouldn't brand the aforementioned mistake. After looking over the point I figured two factors played a roll in the damage. One thing existence the fact that antlers accept the trend to shrink a lilliputian subsequently drying and much like the foundation on a house, a slight shift tin cause the rigid concrete to crack rather than bend. Since the antlers were definitely dry I wouldn't have to exist concerned with that. The second thing that attributed to the crevice was the tiny wire used to attach the repaired tine to the main beam. To fix this I used a much lower guess wire and ran it all the way to the tip of the crown tine and a couple of inches into the main beam.

New Wire Gear up

Afterward the epoxy I used to set the wire cured, I began the process of edifice up the tine with two-part apoxie clay. Several layers were needed to attain the circumference needed and also the detail to match the existing antler then the apoxie was left to cure.

Blending and sculpting new tine.

Once I attain the size, shape and texture I was after I could finally move onto the painting part of the task. Commencement I mixed paint to friction match the lightest color of the antlers to be practical as the base of operations color. When painting it'southward important to get-go calorie-free and work your way to the darker paints. The base colour was practical so left to dry. It's important to let each layer of paint dry before moving onto the next layer since wet paints can smear leaving a mono-colored mess.

Base Paint Practical

After the base color dried it was time to move onto the multitude of browns, greys, yellows and red shades that make upward all the colors you see when you look at the antlers of any cervid species. With some time, patience and of grade the correct paints, the brown hues were slowly matched and laid downward according to the original beam. As I mentioned before, the lighter browns are laid down first followed by the darker browns. Existence carful to go on the patterns of the main beam, I recreated them going up the repaired crown tine. I won't claim to exist a keen creative person or that information technology takes one to try a repair job like this simply it will test one's sculpting and painting skills. As long as you lot pay attention to what Mother Nature already made and really pay attending to what you're recreating information technology can be done.

Starting the item work.

The Finished Product.

While y'all might have to go creative and apply new tools or materials, the basics of this technique can be practical to whatsoever of the horned and antlered species of trophy animals us hunters never grow former of pursuing.

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At Cypress Slough Taxidermy, our goal is to keep yous, the customer happy and provide yous with a bays to showcase to all of your friends. We don't merely pump out deer mounts in mass at a low quality, nosotros produce big game mounts to your satisfaction Guaranteed. You lot only become one shot to have information technology done correct, so when you lot're gear up to go your next deer mountain, give us a call (409) 781-0267.

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Cypress Slough Taxidermy has been mounting game birds and big game taxidermy since 2022. We strive for perfection in every item in all mounts nosotros create, no matter how big or pocket-sized. Attending to detail is key at CST. The only limitation at Cypress Slough Taxidermy is your imagination. Nosotros can create any bird mountain, big game mount and pocket-sized game mount to all of your requirements. No thing the pose, sculpture or habitat nosotros'll create it. Visit our San Antonio Taxidermy Studio to discuss your adjacent duck mount today!

Cypress Slough Taxidermy

Cypress Slough Taxidermy is a total-service wild animals taxidermy studio, located in the heart of San Antonio, Texas. Charles "Chuck" Denson, owner and lead taxidermist, grew upward hunting and fishing and has always been passionate about nature and the great outdoors. What began as a unproblematic hobby quickly evolved into a business that has served clients all over Texas and surrounding states.