The highlights of my musk ox hunt.
- Thread starter mark knapp
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mark knapp
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4merguide
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Excellent! Would like to see it when it's done.
4merguide
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Curious if you're going to go with beetle clean with the head?
4merguide
Well-known member
Excellent as well! How'd that go down? Did you find a group where they all get in together close, butts to butts, and have to wait for the shot, or did you find the bull off by itself? Would also like to see what you've done with head and hide if you wouldn't mind.
He was paired with another mature bull.
We spotted the two bulls from a half mile away and got glass on them. We could immediately tell that they were both mature bulls. We made a move on them with my hunting partner taking a flanking position. I made a final stalk to 28 yards, picked my bull, and stuck an arrow through his lungs. My buddy took the other bull and they died lying next to each other.
FWIW he made the books with a score of 106 7/8"
I don't have the room for a life-size muskox, so I had him mounted on a pedestal and it turned out awesome!
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4merguide
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Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the short story as well. That had to be an amazing hunt!
mark knapp
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No, I've heard of beetles becoming an invasive species, being transported into your house inside the head (eggs). With all the stuff I have around here, I don't need that.
A friend of mine boils and prepares heads for a living. I'm hiring him to do mine, I'd rather be fishing.
mark knapp
Well-known member
Congratulations. Mine was with five others and they were very clumped together for a long time. We waited for almost an hour to get a shot and they ran away in the mean time.
Good job.
spoiled one
Well-known member
Interesting. They must not have had the whitening treatment. I cannot imagine the eggs or larvae surviving that.
4merguide
Well-known member
Yes, that CAN happen with beetles when people don't take all the precautions needed. Just have to know what you're doing. Boiling "works," but imo, to do it right it really shouldn't be boiled. Just soaked in hot water for a long time. And if it does boil it shouldn't be boiled for very long at all. You see, boiling can remove a lot of definition especially in the nasal area. I've seen heads set next to each other, one boiled and one beetle cleaned, and the difference is pretty striking.
mark knapp
Well-known member
I'm sure you are right.
We've had beetles up here for a long time. I know many of the past owners of the beetle herd. The beetle farm keeps changing hands up here. Eggs, larva and adults can migrate on almost anything once you go to a beetle farm. IMHO.
I have had my share of infestations with flesh eating vermin and do not enjoy it.
The guys that boil skulls have been doing it for forty years, do it well and don't get complaints.
spoiled one
Well-known member
If those beetles get into your house I have heard that they will eat anything leather including the mounts! I have been putting my skulls down in the shrimp pots, degreasing them, and then whitening them myself for years. Seems to work and the pots with skulls tend to have more shrimp. Those sand fleas do a great job cleaning up the skulls. Just make sure to tie them up so they do not lay on the bottom. The pores in the bone will fill with silt.
mark knapp
Well-known member
That's a great idea. I know others do it too. I don't live near the coast or it would be an option for me too. The head boiler is quite a bit closer to me than the coast. He's only a half mile away but the coast is about 400 miles away.
The by-product shrimp and crabs from the pots are an additional Bonus.
The "whitened" skulls look good but I think I prefer the regular bone color over the whitened ones. (As long as the grease is all gone). To each his own on that.
Nice talking to you.
spoiled one
Well-known member
I agree with you about the natural bone color. The key is to get all the grease out otherwise it will yellow.
PRDATR
Active member
Congratulations. I know the hair is thick but how thick is the hide itself? I had one walk past me in the early 90's as I was butchering a caribou on the air strip at Granite Mountain east of Nome. It was about 30 yards from us and didn't have a care in the world. I remember thinking I thought they would be taller.
mark knapp
Well-known member
It can be very thick, mine was about 1/2 inch thick in places.
338reloader
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Might have to turn those horns in to knife handles to help pay for the hunt, eh? How much are you out after all the expenses?
mark knapp
Well-known member
The guided hunt cost $6,000.00, well worth it. We used miles for the airline and we bought some food. The tag was free because I won it. Now the tag comes with $5,000.00 but it didn't then. With extras, it was about $6,500.00. For a hunt of a lifetime, it was a deal. The meat is the best I've had ever.
Not sure I need the horns for a trophy but using them for knife handles has always been a possibility. My best to you.
