Finally Got My Elephant Back!!!

[Huntforever]

I had to tag on. Taxidermist sent me these pics today. I’m stoked. Will ship to me next week. I cannot waitView attachment 766084

I love them!! Simple and slick!!! How much did they charge?

 

[Vhunter5]

Congrats on bringing them home! Ear map turned out perfect, and the tusk pedestals look amazing.

 

[Huntforever]

Without question. It’s not the taxi that is expensive it is the storage and shipping. Don’t know why but I had trouble just getting it to the US so they called and said they could first get it to ORD first get US inspection then fly to ATL versus direct to ATL…don’t ask me why. Today you really have to want taxi to put up with the hassles and cost. Thankful now except for my leopard (hopefully) no more taxi for me just pictures and albums!

I probably need a lesson on elephant ivory but why is it so expensive . Is there a big process in preservation of elephant ivory? Is it simple the taxidermy assume since someone spent 50k on an elephant that will spend 3500 on a simple ivory base? Don’t get me wrong i love the look and want to do mine the same way but a guy in states can build the stands for $300 easy. Again maybe there a part of the elephant ivory i’m missing.

 

[Rare Breed]

Actually ivory taxi is no more expensive in my opinion than other cIt is the cost to import for example $3,000 for conservation Force

 

[Huntforever]

?

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I probably need a lesson on elephant ivory but why is it so expensive . Is there a big process in preservation of elephant ivory? Is it simple the taxidermy assume since someone spent 50k on an elephant that will spend 3500 on a simple ivory base? Don’t get me wrong i love the look and want to do mine the same way but a guy in states can build the stands for $300 easy. Again maybe there a part of the elephant ivory i’m missing.

With elephant ivory there are two ways to remove it from the skull;
1: chop it out - can leave marks on the ivory
2: let it sit and the tissue holding it rot - takes a lot longer.

In terms of preservation it depends what you’re doing with the tusks. There’s a fair bit of paper work and storage on the taxidermists side as well while they wait for paperwork. Time and Space = money. On the bases, each has to be made and balanced for each individual tusk as no two are alike. You also don’t want it to fall and break the ivory. Time = money

 

[Huntforever]

With elephant ivory there are two ways to remove it from the skull;
1: chop it out - can leave marks on the ivory
2: let it sit and the tissue holding it rot - takes a lot longer.

In terms of preservation it depends what you’re doing with the tusks. There’s a fair bit of paper work and storage on the taxidermists side as well while they wait for paperwork. Time and Space = money. On the bases, each has to be made and balanced for each individual tusk as no two are alike. You also don’t want it to fall and break the ivory. Time = money

You mentioned nothing that justifies $3300 to mount 2 ivory pedestals on a small wooden box even though it’s a nice piece.


Two pieces of ivory stored doesn’t cost much. Please!
The taxidermist doesn’t chop it out. That’s done in the field by the trackers and skinners.
Most of the paperwork is done by in country transporter and the imported and exporter hired separately. This isn’t done by the Taxidermist.
To counter weight the ivory is not complicated. You add weights in side the cabinet box.

The Truth
They are over charging elephant hunters because it’s an elephant and they know you spent big bucks on it so what’s another $3300 when you just spent 60k on the hunt. One should have nothing to do with the other in my opinion. That’s the simple truth. They do the same thing with a bongo mount.

I’ve in construction and confident I can make the exact same pedestals for under $500 which it appears i will be doing.

I tell you who does earn their money and should be tipped accordingly that’s the PH!! They typically earn that money and then some. If anyone should get more money it’s the PH not a taxidermist for placing ivory on a beautiful wooden cabinet probably made by someone else. The PH puts his life on the line every time the step foot out of the truck when hunting dangerous game!!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

You mentioned nothing that justifies $3300 to mount 2 ivory pedestals on a small wooden box even though it’s a nice piece.


Two pieces of ivory stored doesn’t cost much. Please!
The taxidermist doesn’t chop it out. That’s done in the field by the trackers and skinners.
Most of the paperwork is done by in country transporter and the imported and exporter hired separately. This isn’t done by the Taxidermist.
To counter weight the ivory is not complicated. You add weights in side the cabinet box.

The Truth
They are over charging elephant hunters because it’s an elephant and they know you spent big bucks on it so what’s another $3300 when you just spent 60k on the hunt. One should have nothing to do with the other in my opinion. That’s the simple truth. They do the same thing with a bongo mount.

I’ve in construction and confident I can make the exact same pedestals for under $500 which it appears i will be doing.

I tell you who does earn their money and should be tipped accordingly that’s the PH!! They typically earn that money and then some. If anyone should get more money it’s the PH not a taxidermist for placing ivory on a beautiful wooden cabinet probably made by someone else. The PH puts his life on the line every time the step foot out of the truck when hunting dangerous game!!

If that’s how you feel, then don’t have bases made or have the ivory capped after your hunt and do it all yourself. No one’s forcing you to do wooden boxes you can make for under $500 boxes. They are going to charge you something for your ivory, processing, permitting, cites stamping, and storage. Feel free to negotiate that with them and tip your PH the extra. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Looking at my final invoice (same taxidermist) the Ivory processing + bases + cites tag + paperwork fees + crating was nowhere close to the $3,000 you’re describing and I don’t think the OP was either as he’s say CTL (Cost to Land) as in Shipping + US Customs. Compared to my CTL, $3k is cheap; but I’m also not shipping tooth pick sized ivory thats as thick as my dick.

 

[kpoynter]

If that’s how you feel, then don’t have bases made or have the ivory capped after your hunt and do it all yourself. No one’s forcing you to do wooden boxes you can make for under $500 boxes. They are going to charge you something for your ivory, processing, permitting, cites stamping, and storage. Feel free to negotiate that with them and tip your PH the extra. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Looking at my final invoice (same taxidermist) the Ivory processing + bases + cites tag + paperwork fees + crating was nowhere close to the $3,000 you’re describing and I don’t think the OP was either as he’s say CTL (Cost to Land) as in Shipping + US Customs. Compared to my CTL, $3k is cheap; but I’m also not shipping tooth pick sized ivory thats as thick as my dick.

Man Down…Man Down….
We need a Medic over here… Code Blue

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

If that’s how you feel, then don’t have bases made or have the ivory capped after your hunt and do it all yourself. No one’s forcing you to do wooden boxes you can make for under $500 boxes. They are going to charge you something for your ivory, processing, permitting, cites stamping, and storage. Feel free to negotiate that with them and tip your PH the extra. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Looking at my final invoice (same taxidermist) the Ivory processing + bases + cites tag + paperwork fees + crating was nowhere close to the $3,000 you’re describing and I don’t think the OP was either as he’s say CTL (Cost to Land) as in Shipping + US Customs. Compared to my CTL, $3k is cheap; but I’m also not shipping tooth pick sized ivory thats as thick as my dick.

Oh man, you went and took a dig at the W ivory.

We call that W ivory because it’s top shelf for a walrus or warthog lol

 

[Huntforever]

If that’s how you feel, then don’t have bases made or have the ivory capped after your hunt and do it all yourself. No one’s forcing you to do wooden boxes you can make for under $500 boxes. They are going to charge you something for your ivory, processing, permitting, cites stamping, and storage. Feel free to negotiate that with them and tip your PH the extra. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Looking at my final invoice (same taxidermist) the Ivory processing + bases + cites tag + paperwork fees + crating was nowhere close to the $3,000 you’re describing and I don’t think the OP was either as he’s say CTL (Cost to Land) as in Shipping + US Customs. Compared to my CTL, $3k is cheap; but I’m also not shipping tooth pick sized ivory thats as thick as my dick.

In he’s message above they charged him $3300 just for the ivory alone. That did not include anything else. Are you talking about someone else? ???? Maybe i confused you but back a little in this thread they charged $3300 for barb’s ivory. Just the ivory alone none of the other fees you mentioned.

I love taxidermy work and think a few do amazing work. I just feel you should be charged for worked performed and not based on what the animal cost to hunt or a persons bank account. I don’t think people should be taken advantage of rich or poor!!! The amount of money someone does or doesn’t have should not be considered. Treat all people fairly and equal.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

In he’s message above they charged him $3300 just for the ivory alone. That did not include anything else. Are you talking about someone else? ???? Maybe i confused you but back a little in this thread they charged $3300 for barb’s ivory. Just the ivory alone none of the other fees you mentioned.

I love taxidermy work and think a few do amazing work. I just feel you should be charged for worked performed and not based on what the animal cost to hunt or a persons bank account. I don’t think people should be taken advantage of rich or poor!!! The amount of money someone does or doesn’t have should not be considered. Treat all people fairly and equal.

I was referring to him paying $2100 to coppersmith and $1700 to the shipper (more than $3300). I believe the Op also said he paid $3k to Conservation Force (the lawyer people who do your cities and argue on your behalf to USFWS if they decline your ivory import). I didn’t use them or pay for this service, but I also wasn’t trying to import Ivory or an ear that look like they could be off a calf, size wise.

I’ve seen Collette’s pricing, I’ve had work done by them including a painting, and can assure you it’s nowhere close to a rip off. The wood you go with with change the pricing but that’s about it.

I might’ve missed someone else saying the taxidermist charged $3300

 

[Rare Breed]

I was referring to him paying $2100 to coppersmith and $1700 to the shipper (more than $3300). I believe the Op also said he paid $3k to Conservation Force (the lawyer people who do your cities and argue on your behalf to USFWS if they decline your ivory import). I didn’t use them or pay for this service, but I also wasn’t trying to import Ivory or an ear that look like they could be off a calf, size wise.

I’ve seen Collette’s pricing, I’ve had work done by them including a painting, and can assure you it’s nowhere close to a rip off. The wood you go with with change the pricing but that’s about it.

I might’ve missed someone else saying the taxidermist charged $3300

You are correct with the above cost. At the beginning of my thread I said I just did not remember the cost of Colletts. So sorry I did not keep paper work. I do remember just like all my other Africa done taxi the cost of the taxi themselves always seems very reasonable to me…it’s the final cost with all fees and storage as I tried to show that can really add up when it finally arrives at your door.

 

[Huntforever]

I was referring to Bakerb Ivory pedestals not Rare breed. Bakerb were $3300 with nothing else

 

[45-70guy]

That map on the ear is an awesome idea, I love it