Can't believe shipping costs

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Kalahari Ferrari

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I've never had taxidermy shipped before so after recently getting the projected shipping quotes from SA to USA outlined below it came as a shock. I knew it wasn't going to be cheap but at this rate it's considerably more than the cost of the projected taxidermy work.

Do these prices seem reasonable based on todays market?

Keep in mind this would be for just one kudu pedestal mount so I'm wondering how much the shipping cost would drop if I did just a standard shoulder mount or a euro mount. Or just dip&pack it back to the USA and have taxidermy done here would drop the cost.

I'm in DFW but would drive down to Houston to pick it up assuming the cost savings are close to the difference below. However I don't know the logistics on picking it up at a port versus having it straight delivered to my house.

Would appreciate any advice, thanks in advance.


Air Delta - DFW Airport: $3896
Air Turkish - DFW Airport: $4616
Ocean - Houston Port: $2451

Size (Dimensions – DIMS):​
200 x 100 x 100 CM
Gross Weight:​
150.0 KG
Chargeable Mass:​
333.0 KG
 
Yes sir, that’s the going rate. I just had a crate shipped to GA from SA, and because I had a Buffalo (Big-5), my crate could only be shipped using Turkish Airline.
 
Yes, it's become ridiculous. I had a freight company in Port Elizabeth hook me $2K just to pick up one crate of euro trophies at taxidermist and take to airport. They also billed for veterinary inspection which was bullshit. I know now that vet doesn't charge for inspection. Turkish charged additional $900 for air freight. Then the ripping off accelerated once the crate arrived at Toronto. I just brought back three 2026 skulls as extra checked baggage when I returned from recent safari. Unfortunately, trophies and my guns missed the plane in Zurich. Should be here today. Customs here has already cleared the stuff. My plane landed at Toronto at 4:30 and I barely made my 9:00 connection by the time the paperwork was done. I will post the routine once trophies are at my door. Best to know what the ending will be before writing the story.

Edit: Re ripoff PE freight shipper, Rex Forwarders, the taxidermist released the crate to them without authorization from me or a freight handling estimate. Rex then could charge whatever they wanted or make trophies disappear if I didn't pay them. Taxidermist said "it's not my problem, man." You are entitled to shop for shipper getting estimates once trophies have been crated. Be very wary of safari operators who require certain taxidermist, and/or taxidermists who require certain shippers. Equals money floating between them under the table.
 
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If I had a pedestal mount done in Africa, I would have horns detached and pedestal disassembled into panels. That could dramatically reduce crate size and shipping costs. Any taxidermist, or even client, could reassemble after arrival.
 
I don’t think that’s unreasonable today for a pedestal kudu. If you went euro mount or dip and pack I’d expect around $1000 shipping. Unfortunately, the price to clear 1 kudu (dip and pack or full mount) or 10 animals will largely be the same. Likely another $1000-$1500. If you’ll ever hunt Africa again, I’d wait for a return trip and ship this 1 kudu with your next shipment. Hunting Africa for only one animal or only exporting one animal really isn’t economical.
 
WAS DURING COVID SO HAS BEEN A WHILE BUT WE SHIPPED OUR CRATE OCEAN TO HOUSTON WITH COPPERSMITH. THEY MADE PICKUP REAL EASY AT THEIR WHAREHOUSE. THE GUYS EVEN HELPED ME UNCRATE AND GET THE MOUNTS INTO MY EXCURSION.
 
Unfortunately, the prices have shot way up over the last few years. I take a lot more pictures now and bring home a lot less trophies.

HH
 
Adam Stevens said:
That seems very heavy. The pedestal weight maybe?

I had buff skull and hide. Impala. Kudu skulls. Only weighed 90kg
Click to expand...
Agreed, I also thought is was very heavy, my only thought was maybe the crate added the extra weight?

I was thinking also of asking the taxidermist to have it setup for pedestal mount and choose the pedestal base stateside to got with it that way I can see it in person beforehand and drop shipping costs some.
 
Ontario Hunter said:
If I had a pedestal mount done in Africa, I would have horns detached and pedestal disassembled into panels. That could dramatically reduce crate size and shipping costs. Any taxidermist, or even client, could reassemble after arrival.
Click to expand...
Ontario Hunter said:
Yes, it's become ridiculous. I had a freight company in Port Elizabeth hook me $2K just to pick up one crate of euro trophies at taxidermist and take to airport. They also billed for veterinary inspection which was bullshit. I know now that vet doesn't charge for inspection. Turkish charged additional $900 for air freight. Then the ripping off accelerated once the crate arrived at Toronto. I just brought back three 2026 skulls as extra checked baggage when I returned from recent safari. Unfortunately, trophies and my guns missed the plane in Zurich. Should be here today. Customs here has already cleared the stuff. My plane landed at Toronto at 4:30 and I barely made my 9:00 connection by the time the paperwork was done. I will post the routine once trophies are at my door. Best to know what the ending will be before writing the story.

Edit: Re ripoff PE freight shipper, Rex Forwarders, the taxidermist released the crate to them without authorization from me or a freight handling estimate. Rex then could charge whatever they wanted or make trophies disappear if I didn't pay them. Taxidermist said "it's not my problem, man." You are entitled to shop for shipper getting estimates once trophies have been crated. Be very wary of safari operators who require certain taxidermist, and/or taxidermists who require certain shippers. Equals money floating between them under the table.
Click to expand...
Yes I'd hope the taxidermist would be somewhat efficient with the space when they do get around to packing it.

Also you raise a good point about the potential for taxidermists and shippers to work alongisde eachother in getting more favorable rates. I'm not assuming thats happening in my case but wanted to check here if the quotes at least seemed reasonable which at this point they do.
 
Once the taxidermist has the crate finished, have him furnish you with weight and dimensions (shipping company/airline has option of charging you rate based on dimensions or weight, whichever is most favorable ... to them, not you). With dimensions and weight in hand you can go shopping online for quotes. There are a surprising number of shipping agents to choose from. Have the regional govt veterinarian inspect the crate at the taxidermist. Vet will seal the crate there and taxidermist or vet can send you and/or your chosen shipping agent the signed paperwork for customs inspections.
 
You need to make sure that Dallas is not your first port of entry. If it is, the USDA charges will be extremely high. While that Ocean freight looks reasonable, when you add port charges it might be more then air.

That Delta Air first port of entry will be ATL, the Turkish will be IAH. No problems with either of those two port currently. Turkish direct to DFW will kill you on USDA charges.
 
Also, have taxidermist attach the skull(s) to temporary "plaques" made of scrap plywood. That way they go through customs as "finished taxidermy." Otherwise they may get delayed for Dept of Agriculture inspections (in Canada) if just naked skulls (classed as animal products).
 
wesheltonj said:
You need to make sure that Dallas is not your first port of entry. If it is, the USDA charges will be extremely high. While that Ocean freight looks reasonable, when you add port charges it might be more then air.

That Delta Air first port of entry will be ATL, the Turkish will be IAH. No problems with either of those two port currently. Turkish direct to DFW will kill you on USDA charges.
Click to expand...
Great advice, that'll definitely make me reconsider port then. Would also probably be leaning delta anyways if I did air since it looks cheaper at this time.
 
Shipping one animal is a very expensive way to do it. That said, to me, those quotes still seem high and the weight seems high.

I personally would not have the pedestal done in Africa because of the added shipping cost. One Kudu pedestal mount without the pedestal should be significantly cheaper to ship.

As someone else already said, if you are going to go to Africa again I would see if you can wait and add this to the next shipment.
 
I just really like skulls.
 
Kalahari Ferrari said:
Would appreciate any advice, thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Facts:

Fact 1. My shipping and dip and pack costs, from Zim to EU, amount close to solid starter plains game safari in Namibia.

Fact 2. When I add local taxidermy costs to finally mount animals on the wall, it amounts to very good plains game safari in Namibia.

Fact 3. My home is already full of trophies and memories. No more space. I am not collector. I am just average Joe hunter.

Fact 4. My kids will have no use of my trophies when I am gone. Even now they have no use for them.

Fact 5. Considering all above, I am moving out of trophy stage in my life.
My next safaris will not include shipping and taxidermy, unless I shoot something extraordinary. I will just have photos, albums, memory and experience.
That is my advise.

For first time safari hunter it is unimaginable to return home without trophies.
After few multiple species safaris, perspective changes.
 
Gross weight for 1 kudu and pedestal at 150kg including the crate is unreal, I believe my last shipment of a roan + pedestal, gemsbok WP, springbok WP, bushbuck WP, blesbok WP and full body klipspringer came in at about 200kg
 
@Kalahari Ferrari , unless you’re 100% sure on a plain shoulder mount I would get a wall pedestal mount done. If later on you want you can easily have a pedestal made or buy one from a taxidermy supply shop and put it on it.

I’ve shopped with McKenzie taxidermy supply and they could have just what you want. I put a blesbok WP mount on one of their faux termite mounds and I think it turned out pretty well with some added vegetation.
 
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