This is not what you asked. But many of us wish we would not have spent the money on taxidermy and shipping. Many have switched to having the hunt filmed. Or use quality photos instead of taxidermy.
when starting out we all want our animals mounted.
May I suggest looking into quality used taxidermy. There is so much taxidermy for sale that an exact or close representation can be purchased for pennies on the dollar.
Many go on there first safari and then hand their Impala, Kudu, gemsbok over to whoever the PH recommends. No money down. Then you’re committed. The cash outlay just keeps coming in non stop increments, taxidermy, or dip and pack. Then crating, then shipping to your country, then someone to receive the crate, fees to inspect and clear it, shipping to your home. Or the time and expense to go pick it up.
For a year, it feels like nonstop, people dipping into your wallet, but you’ve already laid out so much money you just keep digging for more.
The fact is there’s already so much taxidermy in this country nobody wants, and can’t get rid of. It’s going very cheaply and will continue to get cheaper and cheaper as boomers age out.
I am in that group myself. My daughter already has my moose mount. My son in law wants my 370” elk pedestal. I’ll give nieces nephews what they want. The rest will be sold at a pittance or given to local businesses.
I didn’t do what I suggest either. And now have a house full of high quality mounts worth very little and diminishing in value more every day as me and other hunters age out and families dump them at auction.
Sorry again. Not what you asked but feel obliged to tell you that you can put a quality photo of you and the animal below a representative Impala mount that zero people care if it’s the same one. I also have fiberglass fish mounts that are also not the same animal.
Good luck with your search.
