People that Refused to use Outfitter as Taxidermist

[Sabre]

I am curious about people that have gone with an outfitter that also did in house dip & pack, and taxidermy and refused to use them as their D&P/taxidermist.

How awkward was it during the trip, and did you feel there were negative repercussions, such as them not treating your skulls and hides as well? Any issue with getting another taxidermist to pick up from them or issues with them coordinating well with the other taxidermist for hand off?

 

[Red Leg]

In Africa, I have never used the outfitter's taxidermist for finished trophies. I have always used whomever he has locally for D&P/shipping. It is never an issue.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

What Red Leg said.

Frankly, and maybe I got lucky, I could not have found a better guy for dip and pack than my outfitter's taxidermist. His rates were far lower than any I have seen on here, and the skulls arrived ready to display. He was also really fast and very communicative.

 

[grand veneur]

It is possible that your hunts are planned a bit differently, but I book in the most cases everything through an agent in my country. I am then only asked how I want to proceed with the trophies. They are always delivered to my home first, and then I take them to a taxidermist in my region. Of course that are skulls, since I only have euro mounts made, but I never has problems with an outfitter in Africa and the trophies were in all cases perfectly treated before being sent to me. It would not be possible to import them into the EU any other way anyway.

 

[mark-hunter]

For me is the same as red leg, and grand veneur said. Both ways, i tried.

But I remember some bitter reports on the forum when clients did not use taxidermist as suggested by outfitter.

 

[buck wild]

The nuance of the OP's question, IN-HOUSE services meaning the D&P and taxidermy were done by the same outfitter- usually a family member associated with the outfitter/PH.
I think if you are doing D&P, the in-house would be OK. But if you don't want to use the in-house taxidermy services, I'd just let it be known upfront and get the awkwardness out of the way early. If it does become an issue, I'd never use the outfitter again.... ever.

Some of the "worst" taxidermy I have seen, has come from these smaller in-house taxidermy services offered on site. I believe one was the wife of the outfitter doing the taxidermy.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’ve used the recommended taxidermist once and it turned out fine, but I was able to tour and critique the work not only the show room but clients mounts that were being crated and about to ship.
I combined two safaris in 2021 and used an in house taxidermist, he had worked for one of the big South African taxidermy houses and got tired of the assembly line production of trophies. I was also able to critique his work and it turned out fine as well.
A friend of mine didn’t use a recommended taxidermist and from what he’s told me everything went okay.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I refused to use my outfitter's designated taxidermist for third and fourth safaris. No problem. But it was a bit awkward when the taxidermist showed up at the salt shed during my third safari to pick up a load when I was there. I blasted their horrible work on this forum and it didn't go over very well. But hey, I gave them two kicks at the can and the second shipment arrived worse than the first. Much worse. We didn't resort to fisticuffs in the salt shed but it was frosty in there for a while even with the meat cooler door closed. The outfitter had another option for me to try and 100% improvement. There is a third more well known taxidermist in Eastern Cape but my outfitter flat refuses to allow them on the property. He had some kind of blowup with them over, as I recall, highballing fees after clients placed orders.

 

[MarkB]

I always get quotes, then choose long before I am in Africa. On Zim and Namibia hunts this was the PH recommended company, they gave me best price and had many great references.

My preferred D&P company on my SA safari was 50% less than the recommended in house one my outfitter wanted me to use. He would also not tell me the name of theirs before safari or deposit, just sent price lists, so warning flag.

There was a bit of stress at end of safari when delivery of skins/skulls came up. He stated there would be an "extra" fee for delivery, glad I had contract with me as it stated "delivery of trophies to taxidermist" not specifically his so in end he did ship all parts to my chosen taxidermist for D&P.

I say get quotes to compare then decide, definitely talk to the outfitter to clarify this safari point long before sending any deposit. Seams SA has many "rackets, kickbacks" to be aware of.

MB

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

I always employ my local taxidermist. I decide on species and country to safari. I decide on how and where potential trophy will be displayed in our home and have taxidermist visit our home if necessary. I am forthcoming and upfront in these details with the safari outfitter including realistic trophy size I’m looking for and whether I will consider male or female of species. I am not afraid to have safari end without shooting if we are unable to find what I am specifically looking for on the journey. I make all our own travel arrangements. I leave dip & pack with my PH and coordinate worldwide shipping with my taxidermist.

 

[Sabre]

The nuance of the OP's question, IN-HOUSE services meaning the D&P and taxidermy were done by the same outfitter- usually a family member associated with the outfitter/PH.
I think if you are doing D&P, the in-house would be OK. But if you don't want to use the in-house taxidermy services, I'd just let it be known upfront and get the awkwardness out of the way early. If it does become an issue, I'd never use the outfitter again.... ever.

Some of the "worst" taxidermy I have seen, has come from these smaller in-house taxidermy services offered on site. I believe one was the wife of the outfitter doing the taxidermy.

Yes, correct. I feel like that might be being missed based on the recommendations. I remember reading some horror stories from people on here about refusing to use an outfitter's IN-HOUSE taxidermy and/or D&P.

I have used this outfitters D&P services before. And they were actually very good. However, their prices have become so out of range from what is average it feels like taking advantage of people just using them because it's there and sort of "baked into the cake".

However, from horror stories I have heard on hunting forums where clients said they didn't want to use the D&P or taxi service of an outfitters in-house and then they felt like the outfitter put them on worse animals, no communication in getting things done, taxi done poorly, damaged items etc. It is worth considering that some may act scorned and your outcome may be less than.

 

[D-Orcutt]

I refused to use my outfitter's designated taxidermist for third and fourth safaris. No problem. But it was a bit awkward when the taxidermist showed up at the salt shed during my third safari to pick up a load when I was there. I blasted their horrible work on this forum and it didn't go over very well. But hey, I gave them two kicks at the can and the second shipment arrived worse than the first. Much worse. We didn't resort to fisticuffs in the salt shed but it was frosty in there for a while even with the meat cooler door closed. The outfitter had another option for me to try and 100% improvement. There is a third more well known taxidermist in Eastern Cape but my outfitter flat refuses to allow them on the property. He had some kind of blowup with them over, as I recall, highballing fees after clients placed orders.

Who would you recommend in the eastern cape?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Who would you recommend in the eastern cape?

You can find an old thread of mine that will point you to who to avoid. The last two safaris I have had good luck with "Hunters & Collectors" but I only order skulls and hides. Kevin does just what I ask. Nicely bleached and not overcooked. A few front teeth were lost but that's not unusual, especially with older animals. He somehow managed to remove all horns from skulls, even black wildebeest (how did he do that?!). Consequently everything is always very clean and packed efficiently. Only "mistake" was them repairing a culled springbuck ram's skull. I made a helluva offhand shot. All I could see was its head looking at me. The hole in the skull would have been a cool part of the story. My fault for not specifying "as is" in the instructions. Of course they naturally assumed I wanted it repaired. Why wouldn't they? And they did an exceptional job. I can't see where the bullet hole was. They put a lot of extra work into repairing the skull but didn't charge extra. My daughter and I run a taxidermist business and when we have to clean up those kinds of messes, the client pays extra. Usually a lot extra so I don't have to fool with it. I make it a lot cheaper to go with a cap mount and just cut the horns off. The downside is he runs a small business (I presume?) not a big factory, so it can take some time before the stuff gets done. He maybe charges a bit more but I know when it gets here, the skulls are ready to put on the wall. I haven't been to their showroom so really can't verify what his fur-and-glass-eyes work looks like beyond what's on their website.

 

[coreydb]

I'd go with the in-house D&P only if there are other favorable reports of their work. Otherwise, use a reputable taxidermist.

 

[MarkB]

My D&P from my last was done by Hunters and Collectors. Best price, awesome work, and constant communication. I highly recommend them, they are in Port Elizabeth. Kevin and Nicole were a pleasure to work with. I do have them in my hunt report, I will use again.

MB

 

[BRICKBURN]

I changed Taxidermists after the Outfitters preferred taxidermist changed the price on one item by 100% after I had been provided a quote. That is terminal in my books. I refuse to be held hostage.

I knew other good options from prior research and called another taxidermist and had them drive over and pick up all my items.

Do Outfitters get a commission from the preferred taxidermist? It's a business, so I'd expect it to be so.
Pressuring you to use only their preferred taxidermist or allowing you to make a choice of an option to use of a convenient service they arrange for you. Two different things. Reputable Outfitters provide an option.