Horner question

[bama]

What type of bug poison do you use to keep the bugs from eating your horns?

[Eric Krewson]

Don't know if this will work on horns but I had a lot of problems with bugs eating my wild turkey feathers. A guy I send them to for processing told me to dust them down with borax, no more bug problems.

[mark esterly]

+1 on the borax.     

[Tim Crosby]

 Raid, spray a rag with it throw it in the box/bag, no bugs. Some of my finished horns sit out garage in a chest between show, others in a cloth bag here in the shop. Raw, some sit out others are in a bag.

  Tim

[Marcruger]

Hi Jim, The bugs are small beetles, and not Volkswagens. ;-)
I use Raid or Begal. I spray a good shot of the poison in the spout. Like Tim, I then wipe the outside with the poison on a rag. No problems yet. Keeping a stopper in a finished horn helps. The beetles seek dark places to lay eggs.  Once hatched, the babies start eating, and the cycle starts over. Keeping out the first one is key in many cases. I lean towards Bengal. Our friends in Louisiana know I thing or two about killing bugs! Hope this helps. God Bless, Marc

[Robby]

I keep all my horns in a bag with moth balls, wild turkey feathers too, never had a problem. After they are made into something I still have no problem.
Robby

[Tim Crosby]

I keep all my horns in a bag with moth balls, wild turkey feathers too, never had a problem. After they are made into something I still have no problem.
Robby

 I gotta ask; Turkey feathers???

  Tim

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The only time I have had an issue with this was just recently.  Most of my horns are out where light hits them and I have never had an issue.  The one that I had the issue with was sitting under my bench away from the light. 

Cory Joe Stewart

[oldtravler61]

   Tim the feathers are for making
Clutching for arrows. That would be my wag. Oldtravler

[Robby]

Yep, I save all the primary feathers from the turkeys I kill. Hunters actually will hang a shopping bag with their turkey wings in it on my front door because they know that I will put them to use as fletching for the arrows I make. Never know what I will find, not UPS, but it works out pretty good.
Robby

[JCKelly]

I admit this is an impractical means of killing bugs, but you may find that some early 19th century horns are dark, somewhat greenish, in color. Soak the horn in copper acetate (nice blue chemical) an it becomes most unpalatable. Unfortunately also unesthetic to the modern eye.

Made one flat priming horn this way couple decades ago, for the late Loren Herrington. Left it soaking in a jar many many months and forgot about it. Loren was very polite when I mentioned it - meaning he had completely forgotten. Gave it to him, at that point couldn't charge him. Last I saw it was a nice green, being sold at Lapeer by his widow, Laura. No bug holes, though.

[Tim Crosby]

Yep, I save all the primary feathers from the turkeys I kill. Hunters actually will hang a shopping bag with their turkey wings in it on my front door because they know that I will put them to use as fletching for the arrows I make. Never know what I will find, not UPS, but it works out pretty good.
Robby

  LOL! I thought you meant you kept Turkey feathers and moth balls in the bag with your horns to keep the bugs out!   Jez, I may need more help than I thought.

   Tim

[oldtravler61]

  Tim that was fletching. But hey your not the only one who needs help.
  I fall into that category about five times a day.
  Well at least when the wife is home.  Oldtravler