RichD
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2022
- Messages
- 277
- Reaction score
- 408
- Location
- Parker, Colorado
- Media
- 8
- Member of
- NRA (Life), RMEF, SCI, Aurora Gun Club (CO)
- Hunted
- Botswana
I was able to receive my trophies this past Friday from our group trip in June with @NKWE SAFARIS and have just a few comments. Everything was great, with one flat spot which I will mention at the end.
1) PH Jaco Visser and his entire operation presented one of the most rewarding hunting experiences I have ever had in 50+ years of hunting stateside. As I mentioned in previous posts, this was my first Africa hunt and hopefully not my last. Jaco and his PH Quinton, Chef Godfrey, drivers, trackers, housekeeping, skinners all earned full praise from our group.
2) Mochaba Developments, Maun took care of the dip & pack. Debbie was so kind to answer all this rookie's questions and I believe the charges for all of their services were very reasonable. The skulls came back very clean and the hides were well salted and preserved. All the appropriate paperwork was done as required.
3) African Trophy Exports in SA was handling the transportation from Maun to Jo'burg to Denver. Yolanda at ATE was the rep handling my stuff and she kept me very well informed as things progressed. I had to heed the words of some experienced safari experts who kept telling me to not be so impatient and that "Africa time" was very different than US time.
4) I contracted with Gallagher Transport I'ntl in Denver as my import agent. Jen K was my Import Specialist and I owe her deep kudos for being patient with my endless questions. She kept me well informed and talked me off the ledge more than once.
5) My crate was sent from Denver airport to Artworks Taxidermy in Broomfield, Co as they are an "Exception to Designated Port". They cleared all items within a few days, and all was ready for me to pick up.
Flat spot: I learned here on AH that my understanding of a European mount was not correct - the European consists only of the upper portion of the skull, and does not include the lower mandible. I prefer a full skull as it looks more realistic to me and was told that I needed to specify such. I advised Jaco of that and I saw a netting around the skulls of the gemsbok and wildebeest which included the entire skull and I believe the bull eland was also complete. However, when all items were received the lower jaws were not included. In the end, I was a bit disappointed, but not to the point of dissing anyone as I don't know where things went off. This is more to advise hunters that if you have a special desire, maybe something out of the norm, be sure to clearly state that in writing so that the entire process is what you want.
By the way, if anyone has a detached lower mandible for a gemsbok, wildebeest, or eland let me know.
1) PH Jaco Visser and his entire operation presented one of the most rewarding hunting experiences I have ever had in 50+ years of hunting stateside. As I mentioned in previous posts, this was my first Africa hunt and hopefully not my last. Jaco and his PH Quinton, Chef Godfrey, drivers, trackers, housekeeping, skinners all earned full praise from our group.
2) Mochaba Developments, Maun took care of the dip & pack. Debbie was so kind to answer all this rookie's questions and I believe the charges for all of their services were very reasonable. The skulls came back very clean and the hides were well salted and preserved. All the appropriate paperwork was done as required.
3) African Trophy Exports in SA was handling the transportation from Maun to Jo'burg to Denver. Yolanda at ATE was the rep handling my stuff and she kept me very well informed as things progressed. I had to heed the words of some experienced safari experts who kept telling me to not be so impatient and that "Africa time" was very different than US time.
4) I contracted with Gallagher Transport I'ntl in Denver as my import agent. Jen K was my Import Specialist and I owe her deep kudos for being patient with my endless questions. She kept me well informed and talked me off the ledge more than once.
5) My crate was sent from Denver airport to Artworks Taxidermy in Broomfield, Co as they are an "Exception to Designated Port". They cleared all items within a few days, and all was ready for me to pick up.
Flat spot: I learned here on AH that my understanding of a European mount was not correct - the European consists only of the upper portion of the skull, and does not include the lower mandible. I prefer a full skull as it looks more realistic to me and was told that I needed to specify such. I advised Jaco of that and I saw a netting around the skulls of the gemsbok and wildebeest which included the entire skull and I believe the bull eland was also complete. However, when all items were received the lower jaws were not included. In the end, I was a bit disappointed, but not to the point of dissing anyone as I don't know where things went off. This is more to advise hunters that if you have a special desire, maybe something out of the norm, be sure to clearly state that in writing so that the entire process is what you want.
By the way, if anyone has a detached lower mandible for a gemsbok, wildebeest, or eland let me know.
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