Buffalo trophy lost in Africa-would you do this..........

[Foxi]

the trophy of the buffalo pictured is lost somewhere in Africa (my wife is not unhappy about it ).
The great hunt back then is always on my mental hard disk; I have also taken enough photos. But-somehow I would like to have it at home and so the thought sometimes germinates in me to buy a similar trophy on E-bay so that it is “finally there”.
I don't know if anyone understands that.
There are a few sold there over the year from estates; cheap.
I really hunted for it and finally shot it in the Save, it just went over the wall somehow on the way to the taxidermist, so I'm not boasting about Münchhausen stories.
I'm not lying then,or,or only a little bit ??

What would be your opinion on this idea?
Heretical?

Regards
Foxi

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I say go for it, if you can find a reasonable facsimile. As a former fish taxidermist, the bulk of my work was reproductions due to catch and release. If it brings you joy, why not?

 

[Foxi]

Tiger,
you give me courage, thank you.
My friends find that “bold”

 

[cmk]

A very personal decision, there is no right or wrong. Myselff, I would not do it, even if I was the only one who knew it wasn't the correct one. I don't really think anyone else would care, but I would.

Nice buffalo btw.

 

[saswart]

I would say go for it... My dad had a similar incident never received his Buff (hunted in Selous). He got another trophy. Yes it is not yours, but you would have placed it on the wall as a remembrance. Now, there is nothing. Get one, at least it will remind you and you would have a bit extra to tell others of the story should they ever ask.

 

[mark-hunter]

Do it.
Force majeure. Justified.

 

[Gerry Addison]

I have a very well done pedestal mount I'm interested in selling if that would help you. I'm located near Cincinnati, Ohio. Only reason I'm selling is I've taken a larger bull and I don't have room for two in my trophy room.

 

[grand veneur]

I would not do it.

Unfortunately, things like that happen. I am missing two buffalo trophies.

 

[SETH RINGER]

+1 ON YES

 

[russ473]

Foxi they also can do pretty good fibreglass replicas of your buff from photos, hunt a buff cow and get the replica mounted that way, just a thought

 

[VINOYASADO]

First, really nice Buff!!

I would never ever hang a trophy on my wall if I hadn't hunted it myself

However in your case, you did hunt the buff so i think a replica on top of a picture would be awesome.

+1 go for it

 

[thi9elsp]

I would not. I would look into having one of the photos printed on canvas - size dependent on your space. You could do it sepia toned to give a vintage look include the date and location


BTW. I’ve had a loss. My wife’s cat used my color phase black bear rug for a litter box. Unsalvageable. Another rug just never would have felt the same for me.

 

[Hunt anything]

If you have decent measurements someone should be able to make you a replica euro mount. I’ve seen them advertised. Like @Tundra Tiger said most fish taxidermy is reproduction now and no one ever looks down on that.

 

[Red Leg]

I did something similar. My first buffalo was my best, and I had it done as a Euro due to the size of our display space in Virginia. Upon moving to Texas, where things are larger , I sent it to a taxidermist who located a cape and had a pedestal mount created. Doesn’t bother me in the least.

I would explore the replica idea. I would suspect someone in Europe does them.

Whichever route you go, we keep these things to evoke a memory, not to pass a forensics test.

 

[Bandera]

I had a similar experience with a Zebra.
The Zebra was caped wrong.
The Taxidermy company tried to make it right.
The owner offered to redo the mount with another zebra or pay for another Zebra on a different hunt or send a replacement hide. I opted for the hide.
The hide is being made into a rifle slip.

 

[uplander01]

I'd let it go and go shoot another one.

 

[MS 9x56]

+1 ON YES

+2on yes.

 

[Randy F]

Great Buff!!
I say go for it. If it makes you happy, that's all that matters.

I have to say though, I really like the replica idea if a mount is what will satisfy you. Otherwise, you have at least one great photo and probably others that can be blown up on canvas to have your actual buff on display.

Or maybe both?

No rules.

 

[RR 314]

Have free reins. Sounds like you have a lot of pictures (and likely at least rough measurements). A good taxidermist with fiberglass, bondo etc. can recreate him fairly close.

 

[318AE]

Make finding the right replacement your second “hunt”. I’m sure when you were planning and anticipating the hunt, you thought all the way through to having the trophy on your wall. This is just a different path. My favorite trophy is my Dad’s sable, and it reminds me of our best hunt together. It’s your living room, not a natural history museum.