Fix Broken Points?

[ElmerFudd]

Sorry I didn't get better pictures. I got a nice bull on an AZ late rifle hunt this year. I hate to say xxx score as its all.a guess, but big in my book. I'm tall and am not standing way back for reference. The swords are almost completely broken off, as well as what I think would have been a cool kicker. Who would have a taxidermist take his guess at what was and fix them? Who would leave them as is? Thanks!

 

[YukonDall]

FUDD............HERE IS WHAT I DID ON A BULL I TOOK 4 YEARS AGO. I DRILLED HOLES IN THE CENTER OF THE BROKEN TINES....INSERTED A STRONG LIGHT METAL ROD......AND BACKED FILLED/MOLDED A HORN WITH BONDO......TURNED OUT GREAT. THEN MIX THE RIGHT COLOR OF STAIN. TAKE A KNIFE/AWL AND CREATE THE MATCHING ANTLER SURFACE.......THIS WILL BE A CREATIVE PROJECT BUT TURNS OUT NICE..................YD.

 

[Muley_73]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-13 AT 10:06AM (MST)[p]It really depends on what makes you happy when you look at it. I don't always think points should be fixed but personally I'd probably get them fixed in this case.
And congrats on a great bull!!!!

 

[elknut300]

I,m about 50/50 on fixing points , I didn't want fix a point on my best buck that I got 23 years ago , but now after all those years I'm thinking about fixing it. My best elk that I got 8 years ago has a broken point but I'm still not ready to fix it yet. I have fixed points on some of my other racks over the years.It's a tough decision but they can be fixed at anytime in the future there is no hurry.

 

[deerslayer88]

On this bull I would not fix it. My preferences is to only fix the point if you have a good idea of what it would look like, say only one sword was broken. However that is just that my preference and I won't talk crap if you come on here in a few months and say you fixed it. This is your trophy, and its great without the fixed points but it will still be a great trophy with fixed points.

 

[beech18]

I for one am not into having points fixed as thats the way the animal was at time of harvest. I did have a set of horns repaired from my own stupidity letting them get banged up in the truck on the way home though. As said before, its a great bull either way and its a matter of personal preferance if you do or dont.

 

[arrowone4me]

You can get a poster sized picture made at WalMart for about $25, frame it and hang it next to your repaired point bull on the wall. Now you have both.

 

[mntman]

I'd leave it. My reasoning is that first off you must be happy with him for shooting him, second there is absolutely no way of knowing what the exact dimensions are of the broken points so it would be a lie to have them "repaired". Third, I like the animals natural when they are on the wall either shoulder mount, skull or just a board...
With that said though, it is YOUR bull/choice. Congrats on a great bull

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"


Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?

 

[NVBighorn]

Its obviously a matter of personal preference. I don't think I would fix them. That's how you shot him. If he had broken them when you killed him it would be different. To put it in another perspective, I think I will have my ram horns "fixed" and extended back to include the lamb tips that he broomed off. Just a thought.

[font color="blue"]I don't make the soup, I just stir it.[/font]

 

[littlebighorn]

First congratulations Mr. Fudd! Another fine trophy for you.

One of the serious hazards of late season elk is broken tines.
So here is my take.
I have a beautiful Dall ram that is broke/broomed on one side. I chose to keep him that way because he was never going to change in the wild, although he would look killer with matching sides.
On the other hand, your bull, had he lived another year, would have unbroken horns next fall. He was going to restore them on his own, had you not stopped him from doing so. With that in mind, I would definitely have the taxi fix them. Especially Royals, because to me big royals is what attracts me to elk.
But again, that is just one old guy's perspective.
He's yours!

 

[Zeke]

+1

Antlers are different than horns. IMO
Fix antlers, savour the life history in horns.

Zeke

 

[VideoDude]

I think fixing them would be great!!!

 

[Deerlove]

Id fix it, I had a NV bull broke and the taxi fixed it but in reality I think I got cheated a few inches LOL.

 

[2lumpy]

You might consider having your taxidermist restore the broken antler with a removable antler section. Put the connecting pins in the new pieces so the only mark on the original antler is a small carefully drilled hole. That way you can display the bull as taken and then add the removable sections when ever you'd prefer to see how it might have looked, pre-broke.

Regardless, you should do what you like, it's your memory that's being preserved. Either way, congrats on a darn nice bull, worthy of honoring him and his wild life.

DC

 

[mightyhunter]

I can't say whether you should or should not do the fix. You don't need a taxidermist to do it. Place one or two 1/8" welding rods into the center of the broken point after drilling the appropriate holes. Glue them in with epoxy or some type of super glue. Line up the angle, bend and length with the matching point from the other side. Build the point up with Aves Fix It. It is like a two part epoxy putty that hardens a natural off white color. Some guys like to texture the antler while it is soft to make it match the texture and contours of the natural antlers. I think it is easier to use a Dremel after it is dried to match the texture. After it is sanded down and contoured you can do the painting. You can match the color with the following 4 artist oil paint colors from Hobby Lobby or elsewhere. The colors are titanium white, ground white, burnt umber and van dyke brown. Mix them with equal parts linseed oil and turpentine. Start with titanium white. The second coat would be a mix of titanium white and ground white to get the ivory undertone for the tips and runs. Mix the burnt umber, van dyke brown and the ground white to match the final antler color. Use a soft 3/8" painter's brush to do the job. You can also dab with a rag. If you screw up the color strip the brown off with some turpentine and try again. It isn't that hard. A great winter project.

 

[ElmerFudd]

Thanks for the thoughts and advice! I am not sure I want to do it, so Elknuts advice of later may be the best. I kind of have an idea what the points would have looked like as my favorite bull, a big 9x7 (would have been 10x8 but I didn't fix those), is shaped very simmilar. It even has a kicker by his right sword in the sme place this one is broken off. I got him only about a mile from this one 9 years ago. I'm sure this one is related. I made the decision opening morning to go after this one as I liked him best of all the bulls I saw scouting. So yes, wanted him broken points and all.