Dalls Sheep horn removal

[markopolo50]

I am curious how you guys remove the horns off Dall sheep so they can be cleaned inside the horn? I had one mounted a couple years ago and wasn't happy and had to return it to get it "fixed". I suspect it wasn't handled correctly. It is pretty good now and it is as close as they can get it. Just wonder how many techniques there are.

Thanks

 

[dieNqvrs]

2 ways I know of, rot and cook.

Rot: wrap in plastic and place somewhere warm 80+ degrees for 4+ days cut along horn edge and bang with a mallet to aid in loosing. Stinks bad

Cook: use a bucket heater or some other heat the source to heat wayer hot. Submerge one horn at a time and cook the membrane that hold the horn on. Cut membrane and use mallet to assist in banging them off Do one at a time.

 

[cod]

I think Kenny at Skull and Bones lets his beetles do the work. He wraps them in plastic and leaves the beetles after em for a bit. I think I saw some in his beetle box a couple weeks ago and asked about them. Give him a call.

 

[markopolo50]

Thanks guys, I am trying to post pics of before, during and after but it is late and brain not working right. Pics tomorrow

Thanks

 

[protaxidermy]

Anouther way is to let the horns dry for a week on the skull plate , Hold them up high over your head & SLAM them down on a large block of wood.

THEY WILL COME OFF. you might have to do it a couple times.

Then Boil the skull plate & that will remove the smell.

Pour Boiling water in the horn caps with DAWN soap.

Wash the inside of the caps out , dump the water out dry a little , then pour some BORAX powder in & roll it around.

Let the horn dry over night rub out the loose powder . Now they are ready to BONDO the caps back on.

This method you wont stain the horns by the rotting fluids that a plastic bag can create.

RJ Simington
PRO Taxidermy www.protaxidermy
907 322 0936

 

[markopolo50]

Protaxidermy, that sounds like the best way, instead of boiling the whole horn. Also because mine is double broomed, the ends split and were pretty ragged.

I have to show these pics it two posts. Here is the before, as in my avatar, and the first attempt.

 

[markopolo50]

And the second try, and the final attempt. I know what to ask if I ever get a chance to take another sheep, thanks again for the info.

 

[FullCryHounds]

I use beetles to remove them. I put a plastic bag over each horn and wrap the base. It takes about two hours for the beetles to eat enough meat/tissue and the horns come right off. Guarantees no residual odor or staining.

 

[4merguide]

All I ever did was work the tip of a real thin knife in all around the bases, then bonk them off as said. Come off pretty easily.....

 

[Hughiam]

Ive pulled somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 sets in about 3 years. We did everything from game garm goats to Bongo. What I found worked best on "fresh" horns was to wrap the bases in wet paper towels(really wet!) and put them in a plastic garbage bag and let them sweat. They usually pop within a few days. On dried horns, I throw them in a rubber made container of water for a week-2 weeks. Then pull them out and pull and see if they go. If not, back in the water and repeat. I have had to "pop" them like RJ suggests. But be very careful, if not hit correctly, you can break off a tip and if the skull plate is cut too short break, the skull cap. As far as cleaning, then I use something similar to a toilet brush and mild soap like Dawn inside the horn cores. For the skull plate, you should boil that in a Tide Liquid with Bleach and Dawn. I guestimate around 1/4 cup of each. This takes the grease out and gets rid of all the grisel and tissue. Then boil again in clean water. Bondo the cores on the skull cap and you are done.