Buffalo cape

[chase0109]

Meaning to ask this question for a while. Long story shorter. I did my first Safari in Mozambique in 2023 and killed my first Buffalo. A 37.5” bull. Nothing exceptional trophy wise, but I am extremely happy with him. Had a fantastic hunt!

I had planned to do a wall pedestal mount with this bull as I didn’t know if it would be a one and done endeavor or not.

Now like most of us I have the bug and I’ll be on my third Safari in Mozambique in two months to take another Buffalo. I’m already booked for a Buffalo in Niassa for 2026, and I plan to take a Buffalo every year or every other year going forward.

I really want a wall pedestal, but now I’m thinking I’m going to hold off until I kill a very specific looking bull. I really only need one or two wall pedestals, the rest will be euros.

So the question I have is this first bull is going to be a euro. Do I have the cape dipped and packed and sent back with my other trophies and just store the cape in the freezer indefinitely?
Do I just leave the cape in Africa and not have it shipped back?
Or is there any value to selling the cape in the US?

Would appreciate any thoughts from the more experienced members and or taxidermists on the forum.

Thanks,
Chase

 

[wesheltonj]

I would have the cape dip/pack and shipped back. Who knows that maybe the one you actually want to mount or you could sell the cape. In any case, I would not leave the cape in Africa.

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

My buffalo hunt (and first Africa hunt) are in 2027. Im planning to do a shoulder mount (upon my wife’s request) and then turning the backskin into leather products. You should be able to turn the cape into leather products. As far as value, some taxidermists might be willing to pay a couple hundred bucks (max) to let any greenhorns practice with. Or you could donate it to a guy that’s practicing so at least it doesn’t waste

 

[RR 314]

No need to keep the cape in a freezer. Have it dipped and hold on to it. While there is a market here, you probably would be lucky to break even.

 

[Firebird]

You can have it dipped and packed and shipped home salted and dried. You can store it this way for years but it does degrade over time.
Or once it gets home you can have it tanned and then you could keep it in the freezer indefinitely.
If the horn structures are similar, you can use different capes for different animals.

 

[mark-hunter]

You can have it dipped and packed and shipped home salted and dried. You can store it this way for years but it does degrade over time.
Or once it gets home you can have it tanned and then you could keep it in the freezer indefinitely.
If the horn structures are similar, you can use different capes for different animals.

This is exactly what my taxidermists told me. And this is what I did with my eland cape.
The skin is tanned (after dip and pack shipping) and is now stored in the freezer.

 

[chase0109]

I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and feedback! I’ll have to make a final decision fairly soon. I’m already having the back skin turned into leather. So I suppose I could have the cape turned into leather products as well. Definitely would have a lifetime supply as all I can think of is a couple belts and cartridge holders at the moment.

Thanks,
Chase