First trip to africa trouble with Taxidermy and shipping

[Sabre]

I’d recommend trading a warthog for something else if costs are a concern.

This is a good point and a warning worth taking seriously.

Many of us have been lucky to not have an issue importing a warthog. Especially when taking some extra precautions. However, there are horror stories. In theory, if you have the skull finished over there, you shouldn't have an issue. But, it's not a guarantee. It just takes one overzealous agent in inspection to cause issues.

 

[BryceM]

If you live near a major airport that is a designated US port of entry, you could take a day off work and clear the shipment yourself. It’s perfectly possible. The whole import clearance thing is a bit of a scam for the actual work involved. But, for those of without time off or who live too far away, it’s the only option.

 

[375Fox]

If you live near a major airport that is a designated US port of entry, you could take a day off work and clear the shipment yourself. It’s perfectly possible. The whole import clearance thing is a bit of a scam for the actual work involved. But, for those of without time off or who live too far away, it’s the only option.

Save $400 dollars in broker fees to risk delays and airline storage and possible 2nd trip. It might work out, but it’s not worth the risk.

 

[doitforthechase321]

You all have been very helpful thank you for your input I think I may just pack and dip my skulls and hides i also may do a hunt in namibia with khomas does anyone have an idea of what it would cost to just ship the hides and skulls of
2 impala
1 wildebeest
1 oryx
1 springbok

 

[375Fox]

You all have been very helpful thank you for your input I think I may just pack and dip my skulls and hides i also may do a hunt in namibia with khomas does anyone have an idea of what it would cost to just ship the hides and skulls of
2 impala
1 wildebeest
1 oryx
1 springbok

There will not be a clear cost until ready to ship. Ask the outfitter to put you in contact with a shipper for an estimate. I’d estimate around the $1000 mark for a small crate like that. Keep in mind hunters are not allowed to share crates, but you can export 2 of each species from Namibia on one hunter’s license.
If you are going to hunt Namibia I’d suggest you replace impala with a different species like a hartebeest. Impala aren’t endemic to all parts of Namibia. There are better regions to hunt them. Some game farms have good herds though, generally not free range though.

 

[dchum]

There will not be a clear cost until ready to ship. Ask the outfitter to put you in contact with a shipper for an estimate. I’d estimate around the $1000 mark for a small crate like that. Keep in mind hunters are not allowed to share crates, but you can export 2 of each species from Namibia on one hunter’s license.
If you are going to hunt Namibia I’d suggest you replace impala with a different species like a hartebeest. Impala aren’t endemic to all parts of Namibia. There are better regions to hunt them. Some game farms have good herds though, generally not free range though.

good call on the impala, @375Fox is right.

If you’re going to change to Namibia be open to changing your list! It’s a whole new country!

@doitforthechase321 you should also sub wildebeest for Hartmanns Zebra, you will be glad you did.

Really hard mountain hunt but plentiful numbers. Fun to hunt and can only be found in central regions of Namibia. Special trophy you will be glad you got.

My favorite hunts on my two central Namibia safaris was always the Hartmanns zebra.

 

[BryceM]

Maybe my favorite PG hunt in Namibia was Hartmann's zebra. It was a very fun and surprisingly challenging hunt we did in the Khomas region in mountainous terrain on horseback. They can be hunted spot-and-stalk from a vehicle too. They're almost always found truly wild in no-fence areas. I have a special affinity for Red Hartebeest too. Maybe they're not as pretty or graceful as impala, but they are truly fascinating animals. In Namibia, except for the Caprivi, impala are usually only on farms. Also, nothing screams Africa like a nice zebra flatskin.

Maybe consider adding one of the smaller critters like steenbok or duiker. They're inexpensive and will add almost nothing to the shipping costs.

 

[BryceM]

Save $400 dollars in broker fees to risk delays and airline storage and possible 2nd trip. It might work out, but it’s not worth the risk.

If you have a broker that will clear a shipment for $400, I'd like to use them next time! My last bill was $1475, and only $360 of that was ground transportation. The box contained a Hartmann zebra, but no other CITES or unusual animals. No big 5.

 

[375Fox]

If you have a broker that will clear a shipment for $400, I'd like to use them next time! My last bill was $1475, and only $360 of that was ground transportation. The box contained a Hartmann zebra, but no other CITES or unusual animals. No big 5.

Not sure who you used, but the broker’s fee is typically $400. I’m uncertain how many of the other fees you’ll be able to avoid clearing yourself or how many you’ll add if the crate sits in airline storage waiting on inspection.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello to all me and my brother are planning our first safari we are in our 20s and are on a very tight budget of 15k for a 2x1 7 day hunt we wanted to take the following species
1 wildebeest
2 impala
1 springbok
1 warthog
The best deal I've found was
3500 for day rate
2700 for trophy fees
Rifle rental and gratuities
1700
2-3k for airline tickets
Now the unsure part is
Taxidermy estimated around 2-3k
From what I've read dip pack and shipping costs could be up to 5 k which puts us over budget is there anything I can do to lower the taxidermy costs and the shipping cost im really not interested in not bring home a trophy

First of all read up on my and others advice here (safari planning guide and my YouTube) and take your own rifles! It's complete BS that it's too hard or cumbersome.
$3000 for total travel expenses is what I pencil in.
You should plan to buy a decent package, have a great first safari, and forget about shipping the stuff home. I know this bursts some people's balloons but guys it's not worth it for the average person to pay all those expenses anymore. You will be unlikely to get a crate of any kind door to door for less than $5000 then the taxidermy. Seriously, taxidermy and shipping and fees is more than your hunt.
I can tell you from personal experience that the trip is not to be missed but the dusty ani Al's on the wall lose their luster after some time.

 

[DaddyFlip]

Out of curiosity, what happens to the "trophy" part of the animal(s) if one does not bring them home? The non-meat, non-hide parts?

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I hunted 2024 six animals and had them mounted in Limpopo by Nylstroom. Did not have to pay for the mounts until they were nearly finished and ready to ship which give you about a year to save up. Six animals was about $4500 and the shipping depends on method and destination. I know an outfitter with a really good offer for a 2 x 1 package that you might like. I will PM the info to you. I have hunted with him twice and he is honest and good at his job.

 

[JimP]

One big thing if you still plan on bringing trophies home is to find a importer who has USDA certified warehouses where they can store your crate while they are waiting for inspection. If you try and do it yourself and for some reason there is a hangup you could be looking at thousands of storage fees by the airlines while your crate just sits there waiting for a inspector.

For a first time importer I wouldn't even think of trying to do it myself. Between the paperwork and storage fees that might be imposed a importer is well worth the money.

 

[thi9elsp]

I echo @Philip Glass comments. I'm currently purging a home to get ready to sell and move to a new possibly slightly smaller home. Those mounts and skulls are truly being evaluated. What I realize matters the most are the memories. Thinking out of the box you might consider this:

Take quality photos and video (use your phone) of each other's stalks, shots, the lodge/tents, terrain etc. Then in your home den / office / room - install a TV / Monitor and create your own slide show / video mix with photos and video and play it through the monitor when you use the room.

You could shoot a couple more animals using the shipping / taxidermy costs and still have the memories.

If you really want to bring the stuff home, just bring the euros and flat skins to minimize the costs. You can always do a shield display or something else later.

John

 

[Hunt anything]

Just trying to help provide perspective. You can get a Kudu, Black Widebeest, Zebra, Impala and Springbok; 5 better animals you are showing for $5200 all in day rates and trophy fees combined with both Game4Africa and Fronteer Safaries both in the Eastern Cape which frees up $1,000 and a much better hunt and experience.

Agree on @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS , great family operation, animals and area.

If taxidermy is important to you, mount tour trophies. It’s important to me, I have several videos of hunts and they may get viewed once every six months, I also have a bookshelf full of picture books, they may get viewed once a month or so. But I sit in my trophy room daily and it brings back the memories of past hunts. This is just my opinion of course.

If taxidermy is not important, do euros, flat skins, videos or just pictures. This is a personal decision.

Planning is a fun part of safari, enjoy, go and have the hunt of your life!!

 

[Sabre]

First of all read up on my and others advice here (safari planning guide and my YouTube) and take your own rifles! It's complete BS that it's too hard or cumbersome.
$3000 for total travel expenses is what I pencil in.
You should plan to buy a decent package, have a great first safari, and forget about shipping the stuff home. I know this bursts some people's balloons but guys it's not worth it for the average person to pay all those expenses anymore. You will be unlikely to get a crate of any kind door to door for less than $5000 then the taxidermy. Seriously, taxidermy and shipping and fees is more than your hunt.
I can tell you from personal experience that the trip is not to be missed but the dusty ani Al's on the wall lose their luster after some time.

I agree with most of what you are saying and the sentiment of it all. However, it's much easier for a person who has been on many hunts and safaris to leave their trophies behind. That person already has so many at home that they often can't reasonably fit more.

If a person really wants to have part of the trophies, a good compromise is skulls and maybe some skins. It's the most cost effective version. However, @Philip Glass is right that it is still not a completely cheap endeavor. It seems to be getting more and more expensive all the time due to greed more than realistic cost of business though. If OP is a person who would be completely comfortable just having the photos and no taxidermy it would definitely save a ton of money.

 

[Hunt anything]

Back in August I was quoted $3970 for a mix of shoulder and wall pedestal mounts of tsessebe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest wall pedestals, impala, springbok and black wildebeest shoulder mounts plus $200 for 2 fly whisks from the black and blue wildebeest tails. With a 10-12 month turn around.

Shipping costs will be determined by the volumetric weight calculations. It’s amazing how much and how efficient African taxidermist can use space in a crate.

If it works out and the taxidermy is of good quality or poor quality (pictures looked great) I will let forum members know.

This may be my last higher volume shipment due to lack of available space but I’m saving space for anymore tiny tens, small predators and if I ever get a truly giant buffalo to book end my Mozambique bull.

 

[JimP]

Concerning mounts a couple weeks ago a friend came over and was looking at mine and started asking questions about them.

I could go into detail about each and every one all the way back to my first one. I can look at the pictures of them and while I can do the same thing, it just isn't the same. Plus I need to get the album out to do so.

Mounts are different for everyone but I'll take them over pictures anytime especially when this may be a onetime hunt.

 

[BGHNTR416]

As one commentor stated, much easier to leave trophies behind when you have been to Africa many times, killed about everything multiple times, and are out of space on the walls. At least I think it would be easier! I just have a hard time with that, especially for a first time safari. I really enjoy the mounts on my walls. However, these costs are ridiculous.