taxidermy questions

Hey Fellas,
I need to send a shout-out to all you safari veterans. As I've yet to get the opportunity to hunt Africa, I am curious as to how much to budget for Dip,Crate and shipping of trophies. Approx how much will it cost a fellow to get, lets say, a buffalo or a kudu back to the usa. Will the cape be part of the package?? If a fellow needs to be very budget minded, would he be persona non grata if he spent his dollars on hunts rather than taxidermy??? Are there other options besides mounting all your heads?? Any and all options and opinions will be appreciated.

Thanks for listening,
Dave

mabesomeday

i would set a budget of around $3,000. from the information you have provided.

You did not say what country you would be hunting. It's makes a difference.

Or did you say where you would be bringing your trophies into the country. again this makes a difference.

Plus where you will be shipping your trophies to in the USA. again this will make a difference.

the price of dip and pack, shipping ,taxi work is greater than the price of your plains game safari. if you dont take anything home, you can go twice.

Check out some African taxidermists and look at their "european mounts" (Clean white skull and horns on a plaque). They look good and are much cheaper than full mounts. Cheaper to ship home also, by far.

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Originally Posted by Cliffy

Check out some African taxidermists and look at their "european mounts" (Clean white skull and horns on a plaque). They look good and are much cheaper than full mounts. Cheaper to ship home also, by far.

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I'd second that suggestion on the Euro mounts. And no you most likely will not be persona non grata if you decline on the taxidermy. I'd guess if you told your outfitter your not going to take trophies home so that you can come hunt again I would have think he'd be quite happy. Most of the outfitters are not doing their own taxidermy therefore it's really no business loss to them. And perhaps they'd be happy to have your horns for their own decorating.

As far as ship/dip/pack from south africa $250 per trophy is a good formula. If you only bag a couple animals it will be more and if you bag lots it will work out a bit less.

Taxidermy on the other hand has far too many variables such as where it is done, who is doing it etc. If you simply shop for price, plan on having inferior quality mounts. There is nothing wrong with this if you are comfortable with it. If however you want quality mounts look for someone who either specializes in african mounts or does a high volume of them and plan on paying more for quality.

The fellow who hunted before me this year chose to leave his trophies behind and my PH was glad to have them to decorate his boma.

I took Black Wildebeest, Blesbuck, Springbok, Impala, Kudu, Waterbuck, Gemsbok, and Zebra. Dip and pack with export fees for inspections was around $1,200. Air Freight for the crate from J-Burg to Chicago is $ 1,115. Throw in clearance over here and local freight and it will be a little under $3K.

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Originally Posted by mabesomeday

Hey Fellas,
I need to send a shout-out to all you safari veterans. As I've yet to get the opportunity to hunt Africa, I am curious as to how much to budget for Dip,Crate and shipping of trophies. Approx how much will it cost a fellow to get, lets say, a buffalo or a kudu back to the usa. Will the cape be part of the package?? If a fellow needs to be very budget minded, would he be persona non grata if he spent his dollars on hunts rather than taxidermy??? Are there other options besides mounting all your heads?? Any and all options and opinions will be appreciated.

Thanks for listening,
Dave

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It all depends on what you want to do with the trophies that you have harvested:
a) donate it to the Outfitter or PH;
b) Europeune mount (clean skull and horns on wooden plague);
c) Taxidermy work in the country where you harvested your trophies;
d) Taxidermy work in your country of origin.
I could provide you with the details of the Taxidermist which we use, in order to obtain a quotation for:
i) dip (treatment to be shipped to your own taxidermist;
ii) European mount on wooden plague;
iii) Shoulder mount
I could further more provide you withthe details of the Shipper which we use to obtain a quotatin for shipment of:
- raw trophies (skulls, horns and skins) to your own taxidermist;
- Europeune mounted wooden plagues;
- Shoulder mounts
The advantage is then you have a QUOTATION on hand prior to your safari.
You could provide an indication to the Taxidermist and Shipper on the trophies that you intend to harvest. Once you have the information on hand, it would be easier for you to take a decision from there.

Do not hesitate to indicate where we could provide any further information in this regard.

Dave, hmmm "safari vetran...." I'll give you some insights ....you have some great input thus far.

Next time I go, the trophies will come back with me but, they will be Euro mounts, unless it is a world record and then I will even hesitate on the shoulder mount.

The PH and outfitter work for you and will do what you want, that is their business.
The PH/Outfitter will get a small commission for the taxidermy referral, it is not THE source of the business income, repeat customers are.
Give him your deposit for the return trip and see how he reacts vs dragging your stuff to the taxidermist!

The "little extras" better interpreted as cost surprises:

Some charge for shipping from the "camp" to the airport.
Most (Shippers/Freight Forwarders) will include this in the over all shipping cost OR the outfitter will do it as part of the hunt cost. Make sure you know which for your trip.

Shipping Estimate versus Quote.
The Taxidermist or Dip and Pack specialist has to tell you EXACTLY how large the crate is (dimensions) and EXACTLY what the weight is going to be.
The formula for determining your cost for airline shipping is one/the other or both, depending on which attracts the highest rate. [ie. If you have a huge crate that weights nothing; your rate will be on volume. If you have a small crate that weighs a ton you will be charged on weight.]

Add custom clearance and transport at home. If you are at an "entry point" your costs will be lower if not.....

For a cost estimate, email any of the freight forwarders or shipping agents and they will give you a good guess of the cost close to your hunt date. There are several that are members of AH.

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Originally Posted by mabesomeday

Hey Fellas,
I need to send a shout-out to all you safari veterans. As I've yet to get the opportunity to hunt Africa, I am curious as to how much to budget for Dip,Crate and shipping of trophies. Approx how much will it cost a fellow to get, lets say, a buffalo or a kudu back to the usa. Will the cape be part of the package?? If a fellow needs to be very budget minded, would he be persona non grata if he spent his dollars on hunts rather than taxidermy??? Are there other options besides mounting all your heads?? Any and all options and opinions will be appreciated.

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If you are on a tight budget, I would recommend european mounts, they are much cheaper, look nice, take less space and are easy to clean.

But don t leave your trophies behind, you will always regret it.

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Originally Posted by Nyati

But don t leave your trophies behind, you will always regret it.

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I agree.

Also remember that VAT is applicable to any commodity that will remain in South Africa. So if you plan on leaving your trophies behind, plan on spending 14% more on trophy fees as well.

I hope you don't have to pay 14 percent VAT if you leave the animals behind? One way or another, once the animal is dead, all of the animal is going to used.

Lets say you take just the meat from it the skin and horns left in the bush, it will disappear in no time, and meat we all know will be used. If that is a true statement and I'm not doubting it...I say it's BS.

Enysse, technically if you wound an animal and do not recover it VAT is applicable on the trophy fee as well. Hows that for kicking a guy while he is down. I imagine most outfitters eat that charge though.

The whole GST, VAT gets me angry. We get taxed like crazy....especially on hunting stuff! I can understand paying our own way, but it gets out of control.

I am by no means a veteran, but here is some actual data that may be helpful. I posted this same info on another thread earlier this year.

For my safari in July 2010, my total dip/pack/ship/import bill came too.

Kudu skull, horns, cape, backskin
Eland skull, horns, cape, backskin
Impala skull, horns, cape, backskin
Blesbok skull, horns, cape, backskin
Gemsbok skull, horns, cape, backskin
Wildebeest skull, flatskin
Warthog European mount with plaque
Zebra full hide

Dip/Pack through Swift Dip: $920
Shipping through Safari Cargo Systems (Jo鍛urg to Coppersmiths in Chicago): $1338
Coppersmith痴 services and final shipment to Minneapolis: $613
Total: $2871

Just an FYI, I had estimated this was going to cost me about $2500 before I left - The biggest part that I missed in my estimate was the shipping charges. Hope the info helps.

nd

ND, And now you have to pay a taxi to mount all that stuff too! Aye yi yi! I just today got the invoice for my very meager trophies which I had done in Zim. Two bleached skulls and one mounted skin, a blue gnu. Bill was a grand not counting shipping to the states. Shouldnt be to bad with one smallish crate. When I go again I would be tempted to leave it all there except for possibly a record animal. If one has lots of good pictures they go a long way.

Yay, I hear you sestoppelman. My taxidermist is just finishing up and I should have my trophies in a couple weeks. For my first trip, I am glad I went to the extent I did to save the trophies, but if I ever go back, I will trim what I come home with by a lot.

No back skins will come home, and I think I will go with many more European mounts too.

nd

The first trip one is expected to do that. I actually brought back skins home from 3 trips and ended up selling a bunch of them and gave others to family. Last couple of trips I mostly had just clean and bleach skulls and maybe a Euro mount or two. Well, if you dont count the nyala and bushbuck shoulder mounts from RSA that is! My most recent trip was a bust in most respects so having to worry about ALL the animals I was bringing home wasnt a problem! Just 2 skulls and the gnu rug. Next time will be better.