HOW DO I CLEAN A DALL RAM SHOULDER MOUNT?

[HLH]

I have a dall ram sheep shoulder mount that either is discolored in places
(light tan/fawn color) outer 1/3 of hair shafts. Or perhaps this was part
of the original coloration.. but I don't think so.

How might I whiten it without damaging it?
One person suggested Hydrogen Peroxide, another Borax solution, etc.
At this point I don't want to do something that may damage it
now or down the road.
I tried a mount cleaner from a Taxidermy house and it didn't touch it.

Who has done this before?

HH

[Sean Williamson]

In article <4mehnb$l...@newshound.csrv.uidaho.edu>, hug...@uidaho.edu says...

I strongly suggest that you be careful using any thing such as a hydrogen
peroxide on a trophy such as a dall sheep - my father has two dall mounts (as
well as 2 stone, 1 fannon (hybrid) and 2 bighorns), both are turning yellow -
the problem apparently lies in the structure of the hair - the hair is somewhat
hollow which allowed some blood penetration during the kill, apparently it is
extremely difficult to flush all the blood out in the preperation of the cape
for mounting (don't quote me on any of this, I seem to remember my Dad mention
something to this effect - in fact he's going to NWT this August for another
Dall hunt and hopefully some new capes for his one terribly stained Dall shot
in '78).

Your best bet would be to contact a reputable sheep taxidermist (Steve Weber in
Fort St. John, or Gary Schaeffer in Caroline Alberta). If they can't help you
contact someone at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS),
someone there should be able to give you a definite answer on your best course
of action.

If all else fails book a hunt with Stan Simpson in NWT to get a new cape (If
only things were this easy and the wife would allow it!), tell him Don
Williamson sent you.

Hope this helps,

Sean Williamson (dr...@cnwl.igs.net)