Euro Mounts

[Hyde Hunter]

Truthfully, I've been doing euro's only for a number of years just due to space and cost. That being said, I do all my African animals euro due to cost of the taxidermy as well as freight as well. Additionally, I don't have them put on a shield, as is a very popular African option, because it adds freight cost. Once I get them home, I'll mount them on a shield or plaque if I choose to.

also they like to charge way to much for a scrap of wood

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Who are the taxidermists you disliked? And who is the one you liked that you mentioned in another post a while back?

Why avoid Rex Shipping?

dislike Lauriston Taxidermy East Cape like Trophy Solutions in Polokwane did nice work

 

[Sabre]

dislike Lauriston Taxidermy East Cape like Trophy Solutions in Polokwane did nice work

What did you not like about Lauriston? I have not used them, but had heard good things about them and was considering using them.

 

[Hooknbullet2]

Here are my Euros done in Africa from my 2024 Safari.

I am pleased with the results. The tanned hides came back nice as well.

 

[Sabre]

Here are my Euros done in Africa from my 2024 Safari.

I am pleased with the results. The tanned hides came back nice as well.
View attachment 742366

Is this a home built inside an airplane hangar?

I really like your Africa shaped plaques the mounts are on.

 

[Hooknbullet2]

Is this a home built inside an airplane hangar?

I really like your Africa shaped plaques the mounts are on.

It’s a house I just built on Lake LBJ in Texas. The lot is only 50’ wide so I had to be creative in the design to maximize square footage. But the reward is worth it.

 

[Sarg]

Euro's are a great choice for most African game. I do not care for leaving the upper teeth in. Except for Spain, most of Europe slices the skull so it lies flat on the mounting plaque. Perhaps the whole skull, which to me looks like something found on the back forty, should be called an Amerco or something. Some examples of African game done as Euro's. They also mix well well with traditional taxidermy.

View attachment 742291
View attachment 742292

You can also find really nice plaques to mount warthog and bushpig tusks. The three Ibex and two roe deer are Spanish full skull mounts.
View attachment 742302

Arr @Red Leg your walls & furnishings always exude high quality & Good taste (maybe a Bob or two as well) lol

I just noticed by fluke I painted my garage wall a very similar shade of Green & it does set off the Euro Skulls.

Emm ok doesn’t show in the photos but it is close !

 

[Garciamarquez1918]

At first I used a SA taxidermist for my Euro mounts but found they over bleached them and made them brittle. Subsequently I found a taxidermist that specializes in skull mounts. Much better quality.

Who is the taxidermist who specializes in skull/euro mounts?

 

[PARA45]

What did you not like about Lauriston? I have not used them, but had heard good things about them and was considering using them.

I'd like to know as well. I used them in 2022 for dip and pack, and to the taxidermist here in the states everything was done properly, and my mounts (shoulder mounts) came out beautifully.

Last year, I also went with Lauriston Taxidermist, and they are doing the taxidermist work this time, will report back when I receive the mounts. I'm having done a Cape Buffalo on a pedestal, and a shoulder mount Waterbuck, 2 kudus, 2 impalas euro mounts, on local South African wood.

 

[Muntjacer23]

I’m hopefully going to have Lauriston do a buff euro mount for me so I’m keen to hear what it is that is to be avoided about them?

 

[Hyde Hunter]

What did you not like about Lauriston? I have not used them, but had heard good things about them and was considering using them.

when I received my Sable from previous year, the left side upper neck right by the mane looked like it had been burned and the stitching looked to be done a little kid with 1/2 stiches trying to fit the hide to a to big form. I sent Greg pictures and he blew me off saying there was nothing wrong and that's it. So forward a year back in the East Cape the guys I hunted with wanted to go to his shop on the way back to the airport. they liked his previous work ad were going to use him again. At the shop I bumped into his new shop manager and showed her the pictures and did not tell her it was their work before she got there, her comment was this is terrible work and should never left the shop. Then I told her it was from her shop and she was speechless. A little bit later Greg walked by and she introduced he to him and I showed the pictures and remined him of of our previous contact, his response was (I'll make it right on the next work) then he started to walk away I stopped him and said what does that mean and he turned a walked away. Then the Zebra shoulder mount I told him that I waned it a 1/4 left turn and received a straight mount. Shoddy work poor customer service after he said the work was done, I had to ask him for the finished pictures and the one he sent of the Sable you could not really see any detail as the picture was a black Sable on the wall with a black back ground so it blended together. Never again, but I now will only take pictures. If you use him good luck.

 

[Hunt anything]

Sorry to hear about the trouble with Lauriston, my buddy and I used them on our 2018 safari and the finished taxidermy turned out well.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I had multiple issues with Karoo Taxidermy including painted skulls, rotting flesh, bugs, and cattle teeth cobbled on with big gobs of epoxy. I have laid out their shoddy work (with photos) in another thread. They sent the crate off to Rex Forwarders without an estimate from them or even telling me. Once Rex had the stuff I was stuck paying them whatever they wanted or else. The air freight from Turkish Airlines was $900. Rex charged me more than $2,000 apparently just to haul it to the airline. Then they didn't send me the paperwork to provide to broker here. We had no idea the crate was on its way. So it sat in the warehouse in Toronto till we could track it down = $$$!. Jerks to deal with.

I STRONGLY suggest that you shop for African freight company rather than turn it over to taxidermist. There are quite a few available that handle trophy shipments. They will catch on quickly that you're shopping and the good ones will try hard to get your business with a sensible bid. Once the taxidermist has the stuff crated he can give you dimensions and weight so you can look for bids.

Also, unless dealing with a broker on this side who has its own bonded warehouse, try to ensure the shipment leaves Africa early in the week. If it arrives late in the week, even Thursday, the air freight company will find ways to delay it in their warehouse over the weekend. Expect that it may be a day or two waiting for customs inspection anyway. The bloody warehouse fees are terrible. Also, if you can pick the stuff up yourself at the airport that can significantly speed up inspection. Personal effects goes through a different customs queue than commercial. If a broker handles it, it's commercial goods.

I use Hunters & Collectors Taxidermy in Port Elizabeth. They do very good work but it takes a while. He's never charged extra for sticking the skulls on scraps of plywood cut in shape of plaque. That way it goes through inspection as finished taxidermy. Also the wood "plaques" can be attached to side of crate so skulls aren't rolling around. And client can see how the skulls are properly attached to plaques if he wants to make his own.

 

[Sabre]

I'd like to know as well. I used them in 2022 for dip and pack, and to the taxidermist here in the states everything was done properly, and my mounts (shoulder mounts) came out beautifully.

Last year, I also went with Lauriston Taxidermist, and they are doing the taxidermist work this time, will report back when I receive the mounts. I'm having done a Cape Buffalo on a pedestal, and a shoulder mount Waterbuck, 2 kudus, 2 impalas euro mounts, on local South African wood.

When you did dip and pack how did the skulls and horns come back. Were the skulls fragile or broken? Were the horns painted black, or did they remain mostly natural?

Also interested in an update when you get your mounts back this time. If you would tag me in your update, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Sabre]

I had multiple issues with Karoo Taxidermy including painted skulls, rotting flesh, bugs, and cattle teeth cobbled on with big gobs of epoxy. I have laid out their shoddy work (with photos) in another thread. They sent the crate off to Rex Forwarders without an estimate from them or even telling me. Once Rex had the stuff I was stuck paying them whatever they wanted or else. The air freight from Turkish Airlines was $900. Rex charged me more than $2,000 apparently just to haul it to the airline. Then they didn't send me the paperwork to provide to broker here. We had no idea the crate was on its way. So it sat in the warehouse in Toronto till we could track it down = $$$!. Jerks to deal with.

I STRONGLY suggest that you shop for African freight company rather than turn it over to taxidermist. There are quite a few available that handle trophy shipments. They will catch on quickly that you're shopping and the good ones will try hard to get your business with a sensible bid. Once the taxidermist has the stuff crated he can give you dimensions and weight so you can look for bids.

Also, unless dealing with a broker on this side who has its own bonded warehouse, try to ensure the shipment leaves Africa early in the week. If it arrives late in the week, even Thursday, the air freight company will find ways to delay it in their warehouse over the weekend. Expect that it may be a day or two waiting for customs inspection anyway. The bloody warehouse fees are terrible. Also, if you can pick the stuff up yourself at the airport that can significantly speed up inspection. Personal effects goes through a different customs queue than commercial. If a broker handles it, it's commercial goods.

I use Hunters & Collectors Taxidermy in Port Elizabeth. They do very good work but it takes a while. He's never charged extra for sticking the skulls on scraps of plywood cut in shape of plaque. That way it goes through inspection as finished taxidermy. Also the wood "plaques" can be attached to side of crate so skulls aren't rolling around. And client can see how the skulls are properly attached to plaques if he wants to make his own.

I had used Rex Shippers for my most recent shipment and it went ok not great. The main issue was it seemed like they kept missing deadlines of when they said they would do things and I believe they didn't confirm the shipment with the airline. So it kept saying it was going to leave, and then not leaving.

Their fee (I had to go back and look) for all their different fees and freight was about $600, airfreight with delta was about $1,500. When I had asked around to others I know that recently went they said their prices were higher, so I was ok with the quote I was given.

What shippers have you used other than Rex that you liked?

 

[MarkB]

Euro's are a great choice for most African game. I do not care for leaving the upper teeth in. Except for Spain, most of Europe slices the skull so it lies flat on the mounting plaque. Perhaps the whole skull, which to me looks like something found on the back forty, should be called an Amerco or something. Some examples of African game done as Euro's. They also mix well well with traditional taxidermy.

View attachment 742291
View attachment 742292

You can also find really nice plaques to mount warthog and bushpig tusks. The three Ibex and two roe deer are Spanish full skull mounts.
View attachment 742302

Every time I see pics of your room I get envious. That colour is awesome, love it. I say again well done Sir.

MB