Time to get excited!

[ArmyGrunt]

The countdown timer on my phone says 18 days, 14 hours, and some minutes until my flight is supposed to take off. Ammo was just ordered, Pelican rifle case has been cut out, and has successfully transported my trust rifle to the range on a number of occasions (including this morning). Itinerary was just double checked on the Delta website. I'm only working 3 days next week. Luggage will be packed on the off days. Boots are well worn, packing list has been printed for easy reference. Credit card companies to be called tomorrow.

I need to look over my taxidermy pricing another time or two, and decide on which location to get the work done. I have decided to get the work done in RSA. It's a toss between Bullseye, Kwiktan and New Creation. Anyone have experience with any of these? Brief review to tell? Zingela freight has given me the best shipping price. Any opinions on them?

My list o' critters is impala, blesbok, blue wildebeest, warthog and zebra. I'll drop a baboon, if he gets in my sights, and maybe a jackal. The zebra is extra over the cost of the package, so I think I'll save it until the last couple days, in case I see another beauty of a trophy that my PH says he'll do me a deal for. My better half isn't too thrilled about the zebra anyway.

I keep pining over the idea of not bringing each animal home in a shoulder mount or more, but I can't seem to talk myself out of any of them. This is my first ever safari, and to be honest my first hunt that wasn't for a feral cat or wild rabbit. How about an opinion on whether I should leave a few lying there versus going on with the plan of bringing them all home?

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

I've also got two US taxidermist that are no too far over the RSA places. Kapraun is one, the other is right here in my county, American Taxidermy in Boonville, IN. I've seen the photos from Kapraun, and obviously firsthand seen the work at American. Feel free to give me an opinion on these as well.

 

[ActionBob]

Sorry about that above post... I typed out a big long reply on taxidermy and bumped a key and lost it!

Basically, if the impala is nice one, do the shoulder mount (I think they are beautiful), otherwise consider a skull mount or just have the skull cleaned and order the skull hooker kit. Consider putting the wart hog tusks on a plaque or a wicked looking skull mount as it will make the tusks look bigger. Unless it is a really great trophy.. that goes for all, if they are really great, do the shoulder mounts if you want. If they are average, consider saving some money and just clean up the skulls. Personally I think they charge too much for Euro Mounts and would just get them cleaned and hme and then figure out a mounting or hanging system. Rugs can add up but simple flat skins tanned are cheap.

Have all the prices on a cheat sheet and be prepared to make a decision on the spot when the critter is down and you have your hands on it. You will need about 50% down and the balance of your taxidermy will likely be about a year out. You might even have 2 or 3 months after your trip to make the final decisions and pay the deposit.

Consider just tanning some hides. Our chalet had a simple tanned blue wildebeest hide on the floor for a rug. Pretty cheap with no backing and a nice rug. Consider various "curios" if you can't find examples contact me and I'll get some pictures to you or a link with them. How about a patchwork blanket or sofa cover with a couple patches from every animal you take? Pillows, cushion, chair, ottoman covers? A purse for your wife, soft gun case, computer case, maybe from the impala back skin (springbuck are great). A backpack? If you do the zebra, save all 4 feet and have book ends made (don't pay over $150/set, might get them closer to $100 in Africa, I was quoted $300-$400 in the US). If you don't want them, give them away as gifts. Perhaps the blue wildebeest feet as well.

Does the zebra bother your wife because she thinks your shooting a horse? (damned good reason to shoot one if you ask me, but I've owned enough horses to know some need shooting.. settle down, I've never actually shot one... the taxidermy bill was too high.. just kidding, I did not really check...... Or does she not want you to spend the money? If it is going to irritate or bother her every time she sees it, have a full rug made and hang it on your man room wall to keep her out! (sorry, just kidding again, well sort of ... seriously, if it bothers her, why go there? For us it was more for the zebra than the cape kudu, black wildebeest or red hartebeest... These prices all depend on where you are going and supply and demand... but pick another option. Consider a black wildebeest, they are incredible! Be sure to somehow save the tail. We are having the whole back skin done with the tail. Get a black and blue special, or go all out with a red hartebeest and do a "Beest Slam!"

Good luck with your decisions... keep in mind that shoulder mounts, packing and shipping will cost about half as much as the safari. Be darn sure you get good picture... ask your PH to bring along a couple gallons of water and a rag... Clean the blood off before taking pictures. Make it more professional, take enough time to get a couple poses and highlight the horns well on at least one pose. Spend some time looking over various hunt report pictures and you will notice a difference. You will be hard pressed to find more than a slight tint of red on a couple of ours.. Our PH was anal about that. He would even spread clean dirt on the ground and even on the animal to cove the blood if he could not get it off.



For less than a zebra you might be able to do a common and black springbuck? Think about a mountain reedbuck if they are in the area and cheap.

 

[James.Grage]

Army

On your taxidermy, i suggest that you consider doing a euro for some of your animals.
I try not to mount more than a few on each trip. also a cost factor, plus allows you planning time for your next safari.
Reason being is that not all your animals will be exceptional trophy's.
I try to mount the exceptional trophy's.
I will have them caped, however that does not result in the animal be mounted.
Check with your American taxidermist and see if they purchase African capes or if you can use it in trade for an euro mount.

As you take additional trips to Africa the Euro mounts can be cascaded to other areas in your home easier and replaced with new mounted trophy's.

With that , good luck on your sojourn and bring back some stories and pictures.

 

[CAustin]

Army Grunt I hope you have a great hunt!

 

[billc]

Have a great hunt and enjoy the trip.You will have time to workout the mounting even after the trip.I am a guy who almost gets everything I take the first time mounted.If you have the room and the funds to just do it.Pictures are nice but a good mount is like art work and really brings back the hunt in your mind.Most places keep the skins at there place for a month and the guy doing the work does not need to start them right away.Just make sure if you want them mounted or even think you do they must be skinned for how you want them.Even if you skin it for a rug have them keep the head on the skin to then if you change your mind you can still do a shoulder mount not the rug

I would tell you to look at relive tax. over in SA I have studied them all and he does some of the best work I have seen besides the stuff done in the states.I would say of the ones you listed bulleyes would be next.He was on my short list of guys but after seeing relives work in person I picked them.

As for animals the zebra is alot of fun and makes a great mount.If you change your mind and can swing it I would say a oryx or kudu would be my choices.For must places there season is coming to the end so you can work some deals maybe on some animals.Not sure what area you will be hunting but a nice springbuck is hard to bet also.

Enjoy the trip and just go with the flow and make the must of it.Look forward to seeing some picture and the report on how your trip went

 

[BRICKBURN]

Glad you're getting wound up. That is part of the fun.

On the Taxidermy question.
Figure out the space you have to display the critters. Plan it out NOW.
Unless you have unlimited space you have to make some choices.
Look at some forms and mounts and get some idea.

See which trophy is going to present the best story for you to remember your trip.
Shoulder mount that one.
It is hard for North Americans to get our heads around not having the fur on a mounted trophy.
I suggest you get over it. Put the savings into the second trip. (It's going to happen)
Learn to like European mounts and LOTS of pictures and you'll save money.

Of those RSA Taxis- Bullseye would be my choice.

Delaying the Zebra hunt might just be a good idea, because when you see a Kudu in the flesh your list will expand.

Enjoy yourself. It sounds like you have already started.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

My Darling says she told me no zebra from the beginning, when I first started talking about what animals to hunt. She has a very steadfast NO NO NO on giraffe, even though it's one I'd personally love to have. (I keep saying subsequent trip for that one.) She thinks they are just too pretty to shoot. She doesn't even like to shoot at the range, so grain of salt with that?
I was looking at the price list again last night. The red Hartebeest and Oryx are in the same price range. I love the looks of the oryx, for sure. The red beest I didn't used to like so much, but as I've seen more and more on this site, and the one at two of the local gun shops, it's grown on me.
I haven't even made this first trip, and I'm wishing I could bring down one of each animal. I really need a money tree, as discussed by ActionBob here: http://www.africahunting.com/threads/african-big-game-vital-diameters.16801/page-2#post-137597


Fun story...my Wife walked in from dropping off my son at daycare. She started reading this thread, and my current post. She asked what an oryx was, so I did a quick image search. She says, "Ooo, that's pretty. shoot that." Then some other colored commentary about the horns I'm supposed to omit. Perhaps I'll get one of those. (Credit card?) She laughed about the range shooting comment, but didn't say much about the zebra. I guess she's just accepted that it's almost a certainty.

I keep thinking that i need to bring home each head because of this being my first safari ever. I tend to dream big, and those dreams usually end up with big price tags. Only live once, right? My intent is to hunt all 6 continents, as one person had posted in a forum on AH. I think that idea hit me too hard in the beginning, but I'm going to make that happen for sure. I feel like I need one of everything in my home to remind me of a life well lived.

I'll gather some small photos in a notebook to carry with me for ideas on mounts. Make the tough choice while I'm getting the critter's first photo shoot.

I'll check into Relive as well.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

I'm hunting about 90 km NW of Jo'burg. I see that Relive is in Port Elizabeth. What kind of difficulty/extra cost is involved in the skin going there. Would it be better to use a different shipper, if I went with them? Zingela is located not far from Rustenburg.

 

[billc]

There would be some extra shipping down to them.My stuff is not ready to ship yet so I dont know how much yet.I hunted that same area my last trip before going to the east cape.I am thinking it will be about 400.00 but I have alot of animals going.I will get a price from relive and some I pick and decide then.You will get all kinds of ansewrs on mountiing them go with your gut.YOu can even have some done over there and dip and pack the rest to mount later.The hides will last years just salted if stored right.Can spread the cost out over years.Just make sure the warthog is finished as it makes it easier to ship into the states.
Just wait to you see a red hardbeast in the wild.I thought it was on of the ugliest animals ever till seeing one.Have not taken one yet as saving that one when I get to namibia.The oryx is a great animal but I have them tied with a zebra really.To me a nice zebra mount is as nice as they come.
Who are you hunting with?

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Going with Patrick Reynecke of Bushwack Safaris. He sent me that attached image of a zebra when I asked the difference between "filting" and not. Mean ol' dude got the zebra idea wedged deep in my mind from that moment on....

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

Hi ArmyGrunt,

I have worked with kwik tan before and their prices are really good, so is the work and the turn around time on your trophies. They are also on the way to the airport from the hunting area.
Good luck with your hunt and enjoy the last couple of days counting down the seconds.

Best Regards

 

[ActionBob]

Army, my Gemsbok Oryx was a really fun hunt culminating with one of me better shots off sticks and out of breath. But it is an average animal and I should have had a rug and skull mount done but in the moment I went with a cape and backskin. But it is a great trophy because of the experience. And my wife got a major thrill (and some great photos) out of the rest of the herd running right past her at close range where we left her hiding as we stalked the critters. I will try to take another hopefully bigger one when we do our lion hunts.

If your wife is liking the Oryx and has a problem with Zebra... Why not do what she likes and work that good will towards your next hunt? As you've figured out, you'll have to be going back! You can always do a zebra later.

That is a great mount you posted! But expensive. Half mounts like that often run 70% of full mounts.

In any case, your set up to have a great hunt! Enjoy!

Bob

 

[Buff-Buster]

ArmyGrunt,
Good luck on your upcoming safari!
SA Taxidermist (They are in Vaahlwater): Bullseye - Craig & Trish
Freight Forwarder: Zingala - Charlene
Importer: SSI - Rosella Quartarone

All the above are excellent

 

[bluey]

way to go grunter, hope you have a shit hot trip mate,
all the best ........

 

[Nyati]

Wish you the best on your upcoming trip, ArmyGrunt !

Think twice about the Euro mounts, they are cheaper, take less space in your house and require no further care.

 

[sestoppelman]

Good luck on the hunt! On my first trip over I did everything Euro style, no shoulder mounts, they came later on other safaris. It gets expensive in a hurry which is money that could be spent on other trophies. After 7 trips I only have 4 shoulder mounts. Most are just clean and bleach skulls hanging on a nail in my shop. I do have a zebra rug of course. Blue gnu make a very nice rug as well.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

I DO love the hide on the blue gnu. My wife initially had said no euro mounts, but yesterday I asked her opinion again, and she basically said it is totally up to me, and she really didn't care which way. Anyone want to share an impala and blesbok euro photo? I've got my mind set on the warthog shoulder and the zebra pedestal for certain.

 

[ActionBob]

My wife initially had said no euro mounts, but yesterday I asked her opinion again, and she basically said it is totally up to me, and she really didn't care which way.

Uh Oh,,,, That means trouble... They ALLWAYS care! You need to properly translate that.... If that was my wife, the translation would be something to the effect of "I've already told you my opinion and if you are continuing to ask me you obviously disagree with me and you don't really value my opinion so just go ahead and do what you want... Now give me all the blankets and you go sleep on those 6 inches at the edge of the bed and don't touch me!!!

Um, I think, or it could be something else... But I'm not sure... Then again it means something different depending upon what time of the month it is.... O hell "I DON"T REALLY KNOW!"

See the illustration and you figure it out.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Never EVER touch the red button!