Hunt Africa, no room for trophies. Advice please

A

AJ Peacock

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Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Michigan
The subject says most of it. I've hunted all my life and have taken some nice animals (all DIY). Even my 34+" Muley is just a set of horns stored in the basement.

I've heard of non-traditional taxidermy (like just skull mounts, hides etc.). I have no particular 'dream' animals beyond Leapord and that is likely out of my price range (at least for now).

So, I'm open to advice on what type of hunt/animals/package you experienced Africa hunters might recommend.

I have a rifle battery that is up for anything, plenty to choose from (243win, 7mm-08, 7mmRM, 300WSM, 338 Edge, 375H&H), all very accurate (375 yet to be shot, but I have no doubts).

I'm 62 years old, excellent health, can shoot from all field positions and can walk as far as required.

I truly appreciate any input you all can give,
Thanks,
AJ
 
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Just do what I do. Keep hunting, keep having everything mounted, and rent more climate controlled and air-conditioning storage until you figure out what you’re gonna do with it all.
 
That won't happen, I have the memories of the hunts. I'm retiring in this house and have no room for trophies. I'd rather do more hunts, instead of spending money on taxidermy. I do like hides, I have a coyote skin that has some meaning, a large set of Muley horns my dad shot that have meaning and a Beaver pelt that also has special meaning.

Thanks,
AJ
 
Just take pictures and nothing else. No requirement to keep trophies or mount things. Or just do skull mounts. I have quite a few euro mounts and enjoy them
 
Hunt whatever you like. No outfitter will object to only taking photos and leaving trophies behind. Africa is a big continent. Stating your price range and the what you expect from a hunt will get you some better answers. I think Namibia for kudu, gemsbok, mountain zebra is the ideal first safari.
 
Book a cull hunt with one of the sponsors on the sight, take good pictures and enjoy.
I can’t believe I recommended this as I am a hopeless taxidermy aholic.
 
If you look back at several previous OPs. A few members are forgoing taxidermy due to: lack of space, too much taxidermy already, shipping costs, taxidermy costs, etc, etc.

Some suggestions were: photos only, photos combined with their journal, separate photos albums of their safaris, etc, etc.

Perhaps save a hide or two from special hunts to make something out of: ie belt(s), wallet(s), boots/shoes, bags, pillows, floor/wall mats, etc, etc.
 
Hunt anything said:
Book a cull hunt with one of the sponsors on the sight, take good pictures and enjoy.
I can’t believe I recommended this as I am a hopeless taxidermy aholic.
Click to expand...

+1, taxidermy aholic. I recommended options listed on similar OPs.
 
After numerous trip, I do mostly cull hunts vs trophy hunts as no interest or room in bringing back more trophies.

You get a much better value for the money when doing a cull hunt. Usually they will let you keep the hide or skull if you decide that you want it.

It seems that cull hunts based upon daily rates and ala carte charge per animal works best.
Also, found it a good idea to get a written commitment up front re details about species available, price per animal and number of each specie that can be taken.

Best trip was 36 animals over 8 days for approximately $8,000. Would have shot more, but tracker grabbed 375 ammo box instead of 30-06 ammo box and ran out of ammo last afternoon.

Good luck.
 
375Fox said:
Hunt whatever you like. No outfitter will object to only taking photos and leaving trophies behind. Africa is a big continent. Stating your price range and the what you expect from a hunt will get you some better answers. I think Namibia for kudu, gemsbok, mountain zebra is the ideal first safari.
Click to expand...
Budget wise? No actual budget, I just spent $15k today for a new AC. That would have been I nice first trip :)

It would be nice to have a $10k all in with travel/insurance/tips/tanning/transport ... first trip if that was doable. I was thinking a Zebra skin and a Warthog skull and whatever Diana provides beyond that.

AJ
 
AJ Peacock said:
That won't happen, I have the memories of the hunts. I'm retiring in this house and have no room for trophies. I'd rather do more hunts, instead of spending money on taxidermy. I do like hides, I have a coyote skin that has some meaning, a large set of Muley horns my dad shot that have meaning and a Beaver pelt that also has special meaning.

Thanks,
AJ
Click to expand...
Hunt, take pics and leave it. Period. Not easy, but smart and economical for sure. Then, go on another hunt with money saved from taxidermy and shipping .
 
Good thing I only have 6 more significant big game hunts over the next 3 years…

IMG_2694.jpeg
 
@NIGHTHAWK, heck of a trip! The individual prices are very good but the cumulative punches pretty hard.
 
I'll be 62 in June. I did a few ducks when I was younger but have given most of them away. I do mostly digital taxidermy but keep a few of my best deer antlers, a couple of Africa euro mounts, and warthog tusks on the top of a book shelf...it's my "trophy shelf"...btw the predator skull is a coyote that I opened up and dragged into a field. The vultures had it picked clean within a week. I was planning on putting the skull in a fire ant bed and let them finish the work but the vultures did enough "detail" work that all I had to do was boil it in some oxi-clean and glue the teeth back in. Basically $0 euro mount. Most of my big game, I write the date and something about the animal on the cartridge casing and throw it in the glass jar. I have a few shotguns shells in there too.

55209428247_51dd37b9da_b.jpg



I did my zebra hide as a tapestry...
53092064406_8e1c2727af_c.jpg



Oh, one other thing is get a ShotKam...

[media]
 
Pictures, pictures, and more pictures.

If I go back that is what I plan on doing unless someone that I know wants a warthog, zebra rug, or anything else.

I'm in the process of putting together a couple of pictures and story books, on for each trip. In them I'll have the story athe animal, what the stalk was about and other tidbits. Then there will be me and my trophy picture.

I can remember each one still from 11 years ago from my first trip. So it won't be so much for me but others who see my mounts and have questions and enjoy looking at pictures and reading about the hunts.

There are outfits out there that will put it together and bind it up in a nice coffee table book but I'll just use a nicer binder and plastic sleeves for the pictires.
 
That's one of the great things about Africa - it has something for everyone at any price point and/or hunting style.

For someone like yourself, with no "dream animals" to target, I think you would be best suited to find a few outfitters that fits your hunting style and meets your preferences for the land (free range or high fence, size of property, terrain, etc.). Then get their price lists for both trophies and culls. From there, if I were you, I would just do a week long hunt and see what opportunities arise within your budget. A really cool stalk opportunity? Go make it happen. "Massive" or unique animal standing in your crosshairs? Pull the trigger.

Excluding DG, I think the most iconic looking animals that come to mind when I think Africa are, in no particular order, impala, blue wildebeest, Kudu, Zebra, and Giraffe. I'm sure there is a wide range of opinions there. Even if I were only going to take pictures of my hunt, it would have to include at least a couple of my iconic list.

If you dont want any taxidermy, and possibly not even any skulls/hides, I like doing glass prints of my trophies. You can hunt "trophy" or "cull" animals, culls obviously are less expensive.

One thing is for sure, regardless of what you shoot and/or how you keep the memories, if you book with a quality outfit, you will certainly have a great time.

Good luck!
 
JGH said:
Video?
Click to expand...
I had video of my first hunt including a day hunting with cheetahs where we followed a pair as they actually hunted for food. They ended up taking down two springbok's, all on the video.

I haven't looked at the videos in 10 years.
 
AJ Peacock said:
Budget wise? No actual budget, I just spent $15k today for a new AC. That would have been I nice first trip :)

It would be nice to have a $10k all in with travel/insurance/tips/tanning/transport ... first trip if that was doable. I was thinking a Zebra skin and a Warthog skull and whatever Diana provides beyond that.

AJ
Click to expand...
this coming Sept I will be doing a 12 animal and a cow buffalo along with bird shooting and a night hunt for 7800.00 and got a great price on airfare Premium economy plus for 3357.00
 
I still hunt and take several animals per safari, I just get a picture taken and head back to camp. I no longer get anything mounted.
 
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