Really ? I brought a few trophies home once. Learnt my lesson. I’ve never been charged a 15% vat fee on anything since.
You can decide for yourself. I’ll assume outfitter is doing some creative paperwork or it was already included in your quote. Most outfitters I see state VAT will be charged on wounded and lost or non-exported animals. I haven’t reached the point yet where I’ve seriously considered leaving trophies at the time. 5 years later there have been more than a few I wish I would have saved some money.
napha-namibia.com
It’s really not the shipping that is that expensive. It’s the overall process. You can get multiple quotes from different shippers. The real unknown is clearing once it arrives at a port of entry in US. It needs US fish wildlife and USDA clearances on their timeline. It’s not a simple as sending a package from point A to point B with FedEx.
I am the same with a few exceptions…otherwise I built a hut album of pictures using a good camera. For example, shortly I will have both my Rhino and elephant wall pictures done in oil like my lion back. I do have three exceptions; my elephant tusks on pedestals , A full body mount of my leopard if I get him in 25 and a new Blue Wildebeest rug to replace my worn out office zebra rug
I use them as well. Easy and inexpensiveShutterfly They have a custom option to build your own which is what I use. There are lots of layout options.
Most US taxidermist want nothing to do with African tanning processes
Will your taxidermist do this for you? Several I’ve spoke to have strongly suggested against it. I’ve got a friend that owns a big studio on the other side of the country that does a lot of African work and he explained the tanning process and materials used in Africa are very different than here in the states. For the most part it’s a significantly lesser quality and he hates trying to do this so someone can save a couple bucks on something they’ve ultimately invested a couple thousand into. He equates it to buying the cheapest ammo possible for your bucket list hunt.
Yes, i will find out how it goes after my 2025, trip. i get it has its risks, the way the taxidermist skins and takes care of the face during tanning and shipping might screw the idea up, but I'm going to try it for my 2025 trip. I also get where one might not want to do this with a 65+ kudu but your impala, blesbok or your second of something be ok. if your local taxidermist has seen and touched tanned hides from your Africa taxidermist and thinks he can do it, try it, I guess. never know tell you try.
I've only ever used the same taxidermist in Africa once across my multiple safaris which is somewhat due to hunting several different countries. When I hunt Zimbabwe again, I'll use Colletts once again but I guess having samples of those tanned backskins will be the issue since I'm not normally asking for backskins.
Could you post photos here of your paintings? Who does the work and is it similar cost as taxidermy?
Unfortunately any animal shot that is not exported will incur VAT tax in Namibia and I believe RSA.. That includes a wounded animal (just to add insult to injury).. Don't ask how I know that :-(
