How good is Taxidermy Enterprises (TCI) in Bulawayo?

If I get a dagga boy I want to have the horns mounted on a shield. A friend recommended TCI, previously Taxidermy Enterprises. Any experiences with that taxidermist?

Any photos of buffalo on a shield?

No photos they cleaned our buff skulls and tanned the hides for us. they did a very nice job of them.

Can't help on buff. The following is my experience with TCI:

Taxidermy was marginal on a skull in leopard rug. Head was good. Felt backing was not matched up well to skin so there are wrinkles that won't come out.

Accessories like wallets and belts were pathetic quality. Handbags were good quality. I'm sure it just depends on the craftsman you get doing the job. Completely ruined elephant ears. They look nothing like ears, just tanned elephant skin that bare no shape to an ear.


You can notice on wallets they cut all pieces to the same length instead of making insides smaller, so when they fold they are now warped and wrinkled.


You can notice the stitching and shape. The corners come to points and are not square.


The lining leather of the belts are spliced instead of being cut from a solid piece.


Notice the alignment of the rivets.



Talked to Cuan at DSC about situation and showed him photos. He took my info and was going to get back with me. It never happened. Talked to him about it at DSC the next year and showed him photos. He was going to follow up when he got home. He never did. That's the extent of my experience with TCI.

I know TCI is the "go to taxidermist" in Bulawayo. Next time I hunt out of the west side of the country, I will stop in and visit Collet's before making a decision. Will also follow up to see if there are other taxidermists in Bulawayo to use.

Wheels said:

Can't help on buff. The following is my experience with TCI:

Taxidermy was marginal on a skull in leopard rug. Head was good. Felt backing was not matched up well to skin so there are wrinkles that won't come out.

Accessories like wallets and belts were pathetic quality. Handbags were good quality. I'm sure it just depends on the craftsman you get doing the job. Completely ruined elephant ears. They look nothing like ears, just tanned elephant skin that bare no shape to an ear.

View attachment 273053
You can notice on wallets they cut all pieces to the same length instead of making insides smaller, so when they fold they are now warped and wrinkled.

View attachment 273054
You can notice the stitching and shape. The corners come to points and are not square.

View attachment 273055
The lining leather of the belts are spliced instead of being cut from a solid piece.

View attachment 273056
Notice the alignment of the rivets.



Talked to Cuan at DSC about situation and showed him photos. He took my info and was going to get back with me. It never happened. Talked to him about it at DSC the next year and showed him photos. He was going to follow up when he got home. He never did. That's the extent of my experience with TCI.

I know TCI is the "go to taxidermist" in Bulawayo. Next time I hunt out of the west side of the country, I will stop in and visit Collet's before making a decision. Will also follow up to see if there are other taxidermists in Bulawayo to use.

Click to expand...

I saw some of Collet’s work at our camp in the BVC a few years ago: a Nyala and a blue wildebeest... looked good.

Wheels when did you have your stuff done?

jduckhunter said:

Wheels when did you have your stuff done?

Click to expand...

2014-2015

Pretty sure my conversations with Cuan were at DSC 2016, 2017.

I was just wondering cause my son and I had our stuff done ( belts, wallets, gun bags ) in the fall of 2013 and they turned out great. Probably an employee turn over problem.

jduckhunter said:

I was just wondering cause my son and I had our stuff done ( belts, wallets, gun bags ) in the fall of 2013 and they turned out great. Probably an employee turn over problem.

Click to expand...

It probably was. I understand the possibility of having quality issues periodically. Especially in Africa. As I said, the purses were good quality. My trouble with Cuan is that he said he would look into it and get back with me two times and he blew me off both times. That lets me know that he really doesn't care. I'm just a number and if I am a number then most people are probably numbers too.

I just got back last fall a full flat croc from them. Took 2 years and quality is just average, not really bad but not really great. No communication until they wanted my money, then a flurry of e-mails. Told them I wanted a picture of the finished work before funds sent and they sent a single picture of a rolled up hide. I will never use them again, no matter how convenient.

K-man said:

I just got back last fall a full flat croc from them. Took 2 years and quality is just average, not really bad but not really great. No communication until they wanted my money, then a flurry of e-mails. Told them I wanted a picture of the finished work before funds sent and they sent a single picture of a rolled up hide. I will never use them again, no matter how convenient.

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Since it happened to both of us, Cuan must be a UT fan.

Kudu off TCI Public website.

The Artistry of Wildlife said:

Kudu off TCI Public website.View attachment 273082

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Pretty pathetic.

I was highly recommended to not get any taxidermy done in Zim. But to bring it home to be done.

Was enough for me to know which route to go

I used TCI a few years ago and had no delays or problems - and their work on the mount, belts and rifle case was good. No complaints from me.

I'm in the process of getting 3 mounts done by Collett's - based on a personal recommendation. Of what I've seen his work is good as well, AND, he has a second work shop in SA - which must indicate his work is above par.

Because Oz is a strange place with everyone in authority shitting themselves in fright with anything to do with firearms or taxidermy (Customs here love screwing your trophies from an anti gun/anti hunting vindictive spitefulness), I always get my trophies done overseas - apart from IMO I don't think there is anyone currently in Oz to competently produce good taxidermy on anything other than Oz species.

But, crucially, by having my taxidermy done overseas, my imported trophies then don't pose a biological/ecological hazard - that would otherwise keenly raise the bile of the authorities here!!

Thanks to all of you. A friend of mine owns a taxidermy business in South Africa, he recommended TCI to me. Will have to listen to the ph's advise - however before that I have to get a buffalo first...

Wheels said:

Can't help on buff. The following is my experience with TCI:

Taxidermy was marginal on a skull in leopard rug. Head was good. Felt backing was not matched up well to skin so there are wrinkles that won't come out.

Accessories like wallets and belts were pathetic quality. Handbags were good quality. I'm sure it just depends on the craftsman you get doing the job. Completely ruined elephant ears. They look nothing like ears, just tanned elephant skin that bare no shape to an ear.

View attachment 273053
You can notice on wallets they cut all pieces to the same length instead of making insides smaller, so when they fold they are now warped and wrinkled.

View attachment 273054
You can notice the stitching and shape. The corners come to points and are not square.

View attachment 273055
The lining leather of the belts are spliced instead of being cut from a solid piece.

View attachment 273056
Notice the alignment of the rivets.



Talked to Cuan at DSC about situation and showed him photos. He took my info and was going to get back with me. It never happened. Talked to him about it at DSC the next year and showed him photos. He was going to follow up when he got home. He never did. That's the extent of my experience with TCI.

I know TCI is the "go to taxidermist" in Bulawayo. Next time I hunt out of the west side of the country, I will stop in and visit Collet's before making a decision. Will also follow up to see if there are other taxidermists in Bulawayo to use.

Click to expand...

Yes you can visit Colletts thats were i work.

Bushpig4Ever said:

If I get a dagga boy I want to have the horns mounted on a shield. A friend recommended TCI, previously Taxidermy Enterprises. Any experiences with that taxidermist?

Any photos of buffalo on a shield?

Click to expand...

Hi you can also visit other taxidermies in Bulawayo they are not that far from each other

The Artistry of Wildlife said:

Kudu off TCI Public website.View attachment 273082

Click to expand...

The face looks more like a Labradors.

The Artistry of Wildlife said:

Kudu off TCI Public website.View attachment 273082

Click to expand...

That is the type of work that makes a person want to have their taxidermy performed where they live instead of 8,000 miles away.

It doesn't matter where you have the work done but if there is a problem like this are you prepared to ship it back to have it fixed? If the taxidermist is only a town away or even a couple of states away you can take a couple days and take it back to them for very little. But if you get him home and there is a problem then you are going to have to pay twice for one mount just to have it taken care of.

PHOENIX PHIL said:

The face looks more like a Labradors.

Click to expand...

Yes this is the rare barking canine kudu !! Exceptional trophy. One must be very careful when hunting them so as not to get bitten!