Happiness is picking up a crate of trophies........

375 Ruger Fan

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Happiness is picking up a crate of trophies........

In August of 2018, my daughter and I did a seven day PG hunt with @Game 4 Africa Safaris. The hunt report for that hunt is: https://www.africahunting.com/threa...orn-slam-x2-with-game-4-africa-safaris.44777/

Fast forward almost a year and the trophies were delivered to IAH and I picked them up yesterday (July 25) and they are hanging on the wall today! Zebra flatskin and shoulder mounts for Eland, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Bushbuck x2 and Warthog x2

This was the first and only time I had my taxidermy work done in RSA. The quality is okay, but not great. I think I will go back to the D&P routine and have the taxidermy work done in the US.


Coppersmith at IAH July 25 2019.jpg

Happiness is getting the email from Coppersmith that the trophies have cleared Customs and USF&W inspection and good to go. Beautiful, sunny clear day in Houston and only in the 80s with low humity.


Coppersmith at IAH 2 July 25 2019.jpg

Happiness is having a crate that will just barely fit in the truck...........and a skilled and friendly forklift operator to gently load it. The lady at Coppersmith that I had all my email correspondence with, Tammy, even came outside to say hello and thanked me for the business.


Crate Beer Drill.jpg

Happiness is unloading the crate into the garage, having a cold beer and a charged up drill to unscrew the mind boggling number of screws. I am guessing 10% of the 300 lb crate is from the screws.

Total happiness wasn't achieved until a friend showed up with the appropriate Robertson square bits for the screws. I've had crates with Phillips, Torx and now Robertson.........gee I wish the crating industry would standardize!

Delta Air Cargo label.jpg


Air shipping was via Delta. Once it landed in ATL, the crate had to be opened for a USDA vet inspection. The Delta "Flight" to IAH was actually via truck.

Trophy Room Fireplace wall July 26 2019.jpg


The two Bushbucks and two Warthogs fit nicely under the existing Kudu mounts.

Eland Waterbuck July 26 2019.jpg


The Eland and the Waterbuck on the right are new and both were taken by my daughter, Elise. Elise has dubbed them "The Dynamic Duo." The Waterbuck on the left is one I took in Zim a few years ago. This photo gives me new appreciation for the size of a Waterbuck, they too are quite large animals. The Eastern Cape WB is the bigger of the two and went 31.25".

Blue Wildebeest July 26 2019.jpg

The Blue Wildebeest I was not happy with. I had asked the taxidermist to give it a "looking down" pose, as I knew the place I would be hanging it was fairly high. Oh well.

Zebra flatskin July 26 2019.jpg


The zebra flatskin turned out nice, very happy with it!

The man cave is getting full!
 
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It looks great!
 
Beautiful trophies, and beautiful room. Congrats!!! (y)(y)(y)
 
Congratulations! I am patiently waiting for my similar day!!
 
375 Ruger Fan, that is a grand man cave! Oh am I envious! Some really fine trophies in there as well!
 
Great trophies and trophy room!!
 
Very nice Dave! What a splendid room! Only thing it is missing is @tarbe @me and @Macallen18!
 
Yes it is happiness!!

Congrats on getting them home and for sharing!
 
Looks great congrats. thanks for posting
 
That Elland/Kudu/Bushbuck/Warthog arrangement is perfect! And the rest ain't too shabby either! I'm gonna drive down from Saskatchewan just to get a better look! Lol!
 
Sry nice trophy room sir! Glad you got your items home!
 
O man! I wish I could like it three times!
And an open cold "Corona", on top of the the crate, has special meaning! :)

Congrats. Trophy room looks great! I can only imagine what great stories will be told there...
 
Wonderful trophies and a beautiful trophy room. The BWB maybe didn’t turn out like you wanted but still looks great.
 
Great room and trophies, congrats !
 

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