Friday, October 13, 2017

House Of Horns For Freaky Friday...!

People collect all sorts of things...some strange, some ordinary. However, some are just plain Freaky. Take this collection of horns, for instance.

Jim's Horn House

A collection of 16,000 antlers crammed beautifully into a small shed.




For the last six decades, Jim Phillips’ favorite pastime has been to hike out into the Montana backcountry, braving the elements, for the sole purpose of picking up thousands of pairs of stray antlers. Since starting his collection as a 10-year-old boy, the “Antler Man” has amassed a grand total of 16,000 antlers, all of which are on display in one well-lit shed in Three Forks, Montana.

Most antlers in the collection are brilliantly white and in pristine condition, lining the 16-foot walls from top to bottom at such a high density that it’s nearly impossible to see the wood that lies beneath the horns.

Although Phillips could have easily acquired these antlers through purchase, he has been firmly committed to building his collection organically, and thus has never purchased a single set of horns. To collect the antlers, he drives out into the backcountry and takes long hikes, scavenging for antlers littered on the ground after being shed from moose, deer, and elk.

Some days, the turnout is low; Phillips once hiked for 26 miles and only to return empty-handed. But most of the time, Phillips’ efforts culminate in a truckload of bucks, with a record of 87 in one day (their horns only, of course; Phillips never kills for his collection). This painstaking process, which Phillips has been undertaking since 1958, makes for an incredible collection for the mere cost of gas money. If shed antlers are scarce out in the woods, he has a backup plan: Many hunters discard unused parts of their kill in waste bins, so dumpster diving serves as a great alternative way to expand the collection.

Although Phillips chose to sell 2,100 of the sheds to put his daughters through college, the collection in the Horn House is unfathomably large. And Phillips is still at it; he always has another “bone to pick.” According to Phillips, “now I’m over sixteen thousand and I know seventeen or eighteen thousand will not be enough. ”

See what I mean? Although I suppose that his collection isn't freaky, but it certainly falls into the strange category, don't you think?

Coffee out on the patio again today.

8 comments:

Hermit's Baby Sis said...

A little strange, to be sure, Bubba. But if selling them puts a kid through college, then something must be said for the positive, right? Just a tad harder to display than my Nutcrackers, I guess.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ... Big hugs ~

linda m said...

That is a strange object to collect. But I guess collectors are a strange "breed" of people. To each his own, I say. Have a great weekend.

Momlady said...

If you ever go to Jackson Hole, WY you'll see antler arches in the town square. Someone must go out and get them. It's pretty impressive, especially when you know no animal was killed for them. Strange hobby though.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sis...
I have to admit that they are pretty to look at.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Linda...
I think most collectors see things in a more organized fashion than most of us. Not better, but differently, ya know? Not that that's a bad thing.
Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Momlady...
Seems like I've seen pictures of that place before. There used to be a saloon in San Antonio
That displayed horns, I think. I don't remember the name.
Thanks for the visit today!

Rob said...

A hobby that paid for his kid's education (more than one), gives him plenty of exercise & one he can't let go of. Sounds like he is enjoying himself!

I found a deer antler once, I was looking for firewood (up by Yosemite) and there is was! It was a neat feeling actually.

JO said...

So not only does he collect fallen antlers for a hobby he can make some good money off them as well. And I think the display he has made is really beautiful looks like a winter scene I know I'm weird.

Ready for a bit of coffee, it has already been a busy morning.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Most all of us hunters keep at least the antlers from our kills, especially the extra large, multi-point ones. I quit hunting quite a few years ago, but loved it when I was younger. I did both archery and gun season.

HermitJim said...

Hey Rob...
Nothing wrong with doing what you love doing and getting some exercise at the same time.
Thanks for the visit today!


Hey Jo...
It does sorta look like a snow scene, but I reckon that's because all the antlers are white.
Thanks for dropping by, sweetie!


Hey Dizzy...
I was more of a fisherman than a hunter. Gave most of that up as I got older. I could use the exercise, though.
Thanks for coming by today!