Condition of capes

[Hyde]

For those of you who chose to have your capes sent home, what kind of condition can I expect after they sit an extended period of time salted and dipped or whatever they do? They are quoting me 18 months to get my stuff back. Also, any recommendations on a tannery here would be great. I'm looking for a taxidermist in the Seattle area as the guy I have been using has a 3 year backup and he wants to retire.

 

[dchum]

They quoted you 18 months for dip and pack?
Or did I miss understand?

Can’t help on Seattle based taxi - but I bet there are some good taxidermist in the PNW. I’m sure some know them on here

 

[Schmidty]

In my three experiences with dip and pack I have not had any issues with the capes/hides conditions. Dip and pack and then shipment to me took 4-5 months from the time I left SA. All were sent off to the tannery after their arrival to me here in the states. All were mounted with no issues by a local taxidermist. The last two times my hides/capes were sent to The Wildlife Gallery Tannery in Michigan. No issues at all.

 

[Hyde]

They quoted you 18 months for dip and pack?
Or did I miss understand?

Can’t help on Seattle based taxi - but I bet there are some good taxidermist in the PNW. I’m sure some know them on here

They are doing European mounts on all the heads but no plaques, tanning a couple of skins, and then dipping/packing the capes (if I understand correctly). Their timeline given was 18 months to get items shipped. (Splitting Image)

 

[Spearhead]

@Hyde try not to limit yourself to just the Seattle area. Find someone whose work appeals to you, not someone that is merely local.
Monarch taxidermy in Helena, MT is who I plan on using next year and I’m down in Louisiana as an example. You have to look at your mounts almost daily. Good luck.

 

[Denvir Tire]

Something's wrong with that timeline....

 

[Firebird]

Splitting image very busy so not surprised. Capes will arrived salted and dry so you won’t even be able to unfold them. You can have them delivered to an approved tannery OR approved taxidermist. I’m in agreement-broaden your search into your neighboring states-Montana has several good ones for sure

 

[Hyde]

Something's wrong with that timeline....

I thought so too.

 

[Hyde]

In my three experiences with dip and pack I have not had any issues with the capes/hides conditions. Dip and pack and then shipment to me took 4-5 months from the time I left SA. All were sent off to the tannery after their arrival to me here in the states. All were mounted with no issues by a local taxidermist. The last two times my hides/capes were sent to The Wildlife Gallery Tannery in Michigan. No issues at all.

Thanks. I've used Wildlife Gallery in the past, not sure why I didn't think of that.

 

[Hatchetjack]

Why not have your euros done here? Who was your taxidermist?

 

[Hunt anything]

I was just quoted 90 days dip&pack and 10 months finished taxidermy. December probably doesn’t count during South Africa shutting down for the holidays.
I’ve used the Wildlife Gallery here as well.
Good luck!

 

[JimP]

Why not have your euros done here? Who was your taxidermist?

If you are saying here as in the US, all the meat and tissues need to be off the skull before leaving South Africa. A South African European mount will include a plaque that the skull will be attached to. A dip n pack skull will just be a bare skull .

 

[Hunt anything]

If you are saying here as in the US, all the meat and tissues need to be off the skull before leaving South Africa. A South African European mount will include a plaque that the skull will be attached to. A dip n pack skull will just be a bare skull .

Does the US still require a euro to be on a plaque? I had a bushpig and baboon skull bleached a few years ago and either USDA or USFWS wanted this. I use the Skull Hooker system to hang skulls so I just told the taxidermist in South Africa to zippy tie them to a piece of plywood as the plaque.

 

[JimP]

I have no idea, but the plaque qualifies as finished taxidermy and not a raw skull.

My warthog came with a plaque but I requested for my baboon skull not to have one and they just put the plaque into the shipment

 

[Hyde]

Why not have your euros done here? Who was your taxidermist?

I have used Rick at Cedar River Taxidermy. I was going to have Splitting Image provide the plaques, but they have a one size fits all kind of thing going, which I'm not interested in. I'll either find a source here or I'll make my own plaques once I get the stuff home. I have also used the Skull Hooker in the past.

 

[joker2400]

Highveld is running about 16-18 months on finished work per the email I received a couple weeks back

 

[BryceM]

Assuming they were cared for appropriately in the field, they’ll be just fine. The Wildlife Gallery Tannery in Michigan is the place to go. You can send them or your taxidermist can take care of it. Some taxidermists do their own tanning work too.