Taxidermy Costs

[BETO]

Dear friends,

I'm planning a hunting trip to South Africa. I'm not looking for trophies, but for souvenirs and mementos with my family. However, I'd like to bring back memories of the trip. Taxidermy is a beautiful art, but in Brazil it's quite complicated; the waiting list is four years or more. In this respect, the wait becomes agonizing and doesn't bring happiness.

So I'm thinking of two rugs, one of zebra and another of giraffe, and about five skulls for European mounting, probably a kudu, impala, giraffe, wildebeest, and oryx.

I want everything to arrive at my house ready to hang on the wall.

What are my questions?

How long does it take on average to make trophies the way I've described?

What are the costs involved: shipping, taxidermy, packaging, etc.?

How long does it take to ship and what's the cheapest shipping cost from South Africa to Brazil?

Depending on the cost and time, only the photos will be included in the luggage.

Thank you.

Note: Which companies are reputable South African appointees?

 

[Hunt anything]

Where in South Africa are you hunting?

 

[algreffe]

Dear friends,

I'm planning a hunting trip to South Africa. I'm not looking for trophies, but for souvenirs and mementos with my family. However, I'd like to bring back memories of the trip. Taxidermy is a beautiful art, but in Brazil it's quite complicated; the waiting list is four years or more. In this respect, the wait becomes agonizing and doesn't bring happiness.

So I'm thinking of two rugs, one of zebra and another of giraffe, and about five skulls for European mounting, probably a kudu, impala, giraffe, wildebeest, and oryx.

I want everything to arrive at my house ready to hang on the wall.

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What convinced me wasn't marketing fluff but real users mentioning how it doesn't promise miracles – just raw data that helps you think clearly.

Australia has its share of dodgy platforms, so finding one that respects your intelligence felt rare. My long-term decisions have gotten way smarter since.

What are my questions?

How long does it take on average to make trophies the way I've described?

What are the costs involved: shipping, taxidermy, packaging, etc.?

How long does it take to ship and what's the cheapest shipping cost from South Africa to Brazil?

Depending on the cost and time, only the photos will be included in the luggage.

Thank you.

Note: Which companies are reputable South African appointees?

If you’re looking for 'ready to hang,' you're looking at about 8-12 months for the taxidermy (European mounts and rugs are faster than full mounts, but still take time) plus another 3-6 months for the shipping and CITES paperwork. For reputable companies, look into Life-Form Taxidermy or Splitting Image Taxidermy they have dedicated logistics departments that can give you a quote specifically for South America. It won't be cheap, but they are pros.

 

[coreydb]

Depending on the taxidermist, look at 18-24 months. You can get an estimate by contacting your PH for the taxidermist he uses. Then contact them for an estimate.

 

[DaleGribble82]

If you’re looking for 'ready to hang,' you're looking at about 8-12 months for the taxidermy (European mounts and rugs are faster than full mounts, but still take time) plus another 3-6 months for the shipping and CITES paperwork. For reputable companies, look into Life-Form Taxidermy or Splitting Image Taxidermy they have dedicated logistics departments that can give you a quote specifically for South America. It won't be cheap, but they are pros.

8-12 months is hysterical.

 

[dchum]

8-12 months is hysterical.

?

 

[Hunt anything]

8-12 months is hysterical.

Other than the Covid years I’ve never waited more than 12 months for mounts to ship from South Africa. My last shipment was a June 2021 safari and I picked up my mounts at Coppersmiths in Atlanta in May of 2022.
I have been sent some pictures of finished mounts from my August 2025 safari. Not sure when they may ship though. I had them tweak some mounts and that can take some time.
Getting dip & pack from Mozambique took a year and then another year for mounts to be done here in the states.

 

[DaleGribble82]

?

Hysterical, because I never get anything back within 8-12 months. I have the worst luck with taxidermy and gunsmith timelines. I'm laughing at myself, nobody but myself.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Other than the Covid years I’ve never waited more than 12 months for mounts to ship from South Africa. My last shipment was a June 2021 safari and I picked up my mounts at Coppersmiths in Atlanta in May of 2022.
I have been sent some pictures of finished mounts from my August 2025 safari. Not sure when they may ship though. I had them tweak some mounts and that can take some time.
Getting dip & pack from Mozambique took a year and then another year for mounts to be done here in the states.

Hysterical, because I never get anything back within 8-12 months. I have the worst luck with taxidermy and gunsmith timelines. I'm laughing at myself, nobody but myself.

 

[dchum]

Hysterical, because I never get anything back within 8-12 months. I have the worst luck with taxidermy and gunsmith timelines. I'm laughing at myself, nobody but myself.

Haha! Understood.

Good work takes time! Or that’s what’s they say at least

 

[DaleGribble82]

Haha! Understood.

Good work takes time! Or that’s what’s they say at least

Normally that is the case! I'll keep my fingers crossed. I am a patient man, but threading a barrel should not take 12+ months....

 

[gearguywb]

My items from July of '25 hunt hit the US in Dec. Dip and pack only

 

[Justbryan]

All my hunts in Africa have taken about 1 year (dip & pack) to arrive in the states but 1.5 years during covid. Then at least a year in the states before completely finished. I have shipped 10+ animals from every trip.

I am going to do complete mounts in Africa on my trip in September. Maybe I will get them this time in a year completed.

If doing a Zebra and/or Giraffe rug, get it done in Africa. Giraffe shipping to and tanning in the states is pricey. My taxidermist in the states tells all his customers to get Giraffe rugs done in Africa! Cost for Giraffe rug was $1,830 tanning, $225 black felt backing, $1200 shipping including 10 animals. Cost quoted to me in the states was $8,250 should mount, $50,000 full body, and $6000 for a rug.

 

[Bighorn191]

I hunted KZN in late June 2025 and just got my crate yesterday with 12 capes/horns/skins. Spirit of Africa did the crating and did a superb job. Badger Cargo did the shipping and I thought it was all decently priced.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Since you in Brazil......

Dear friends,

I'm planning a hunting trip to South Africa. I'm not looking for trophies, but for souvenirs and mementos with my family. However, I'd like to bring back memories of the trip. Taxidermy is a beautiful art, but in Brazil it's quite complicated; the waiting list is four years or more. In this respect, the wait becomes agonizing and doesn't bring happiness.

So I'm thinking of two rugs, one of zebra and another of giraffe, and about five skulls for European mounting, probably a kudu, impala, giraffe, wildebeest, and oryx.

I want everything to arrive at my house ready to hang on the wall.

What are my questions?

How long does it take on average to make trophies the way I've described?

If you have all of your taxidermy work done in Africa....it depends on where and what time of year you are hunting in Africa.

As @algreffe mentioned 8 - 12 months; My experience figure 8 to 18 months, depending on how busy your taxidermist /taxidermy shop is.

What are the costs involved: shipping, taxidermy, packaging, etc.?

How long does it take to ship and what's the cheapest shipping cost from South Africa to Brazil?

Taxidermy:

You can figure the cost by getting a taxidermy cost sheet from your taxidermy shop/taxidermist or your outfitter if they have a taxidermy shop on their grounds.

Crating/Packaging:

Generally runs by size of crate needed to accommodate your trophies. Your taxidermy shop/taxidermist can help fill in that amount.

For 2 rugs and 5 euro mounts just a guesstimate $200.00USD to $500.00USD (on the high side)

Shipping:

No clue on shipping costs to Brazil.

Crate size, weight, air, sea, exporter, importer, to many variables.

Get an approximate crate weight and size from your taxidermy shop/taxidermist, check with local importers, check with different exporters, this should help get you an approximate shipping cost.

Timeline for shipping depends on:

Again No Clue on Brazilian import regulations, procedures, and processing.

When you make your final payment for taxidermy, when your taxidermy shop/taxidermist completes your taxidermy, when your taxidermy shop transports your crate to the exporter, when your exporter can schedule your crate for transport to Brazil, what your importer has to do to clear your crate, and finally you pick up your crate.

From the RSA exporter to your delivery it could be a matter of 2 or 3 days to 2 or 3 weeks or longer.

Americans get screwed over by having to go through our bureaucracy of government departments: Customs, USDA, USFWS, CITES, Airport transfer and holding fees.

Depending on the cost and time, only the photos will be included in the luggage.

Thank you.

Note: Which companies are reputable South African appointees?

REX Shipping has done my exporting from RSA to USA.

Good communications all the way through to arrival to US. Coppersmith notified me of my crate's arrival to when I could pick up at their warehouse (in Atlanta).

Happy Hunting.

 

[Hunt anything]

Don’t expect anything to happen much in December either, it’s pretty much a lost month in South Africa.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

We hunted RSA in August 2024, and our crates finally ship next week.

 

[3chunter]

2022 trip. My animals were mounted and in the house right at the 1 year mark.
2024 trip. Animals were mounted within a year but taxidermist waited 6 months to do finish work at my direction.
Both times the crates were stateside within 6 months after my hunt.