Anyone have a recommendation for a South African taxidermist? I have heard mixed messages (good & bad). I have also heard it can be done a lot cheaper. If anyone has someone you trust, I would appreciate the lead. Thanks.
- Thread starter lawdog
- Start date
Lawdog,
Man, I'm going to love reading the conflicting advice that is sure to be given to you!
You even state so in your post that there are two sides to the story.
First: There is the cheaper side, young, small, establishments with vere personal attention to your trophies, but, and a big BUT, do they have the administrative capacity needed to ensure that is is actually "your" trophies shipped to you?
Second side: The route of using the more expensive [?] old and well established firms. These guys have made all the mistakes [or most of them anyway] and now know how to avoid them.
Then there is the last dimension: Dip&Ship in South Africa and complete taxidermy near to where you have your legal system to back you? Or do it all in South Africa?
You tell me how many hunters there are, and I'll give you a very good estimation of the number of opinions on this one!
Look forward to following this post!
Old Pro.
Man, I'm going to love reading the conflicting advice that is sure to be given to you!
First: There is the cheaper side, young, small, establishments with vere personal attention to your trophies, but, and a big BUT, do they have the administrative capacity needed to ensure that is is actually "your" trophies shipped to you?
Second side: The route of using the more expensive [?] old and well established firms. These guys have made all the mistakes [or most of them anyway] and now know how to avoid them.
Then there is the last dimension: Dip&Ship in South Africa and complete taxidermy near to where you have your legal system to back you? Or do it all in South Africa?
You tell me how many hunters there are, and I'll give you a very good estimation of the number of opinions on this one!
Look forward to following this post!
Old Pro.
You're certainly welcome to have it done there and I know many who have (once) I have worked there much of my adult life and have been trained as a taxidermist. I have mounted most of my trophies. I would not leave anything but skull mounts in Africa. The Work is on Average horrible and truely defines the term "stuffed"
If you think its gonna save you money doing it there remember that the shipping is by "cube" more then weight for airfreight. I have seen guys pay $3000 and up for shipping of trophies! Not to mention the very expensive broker fees based on the value of the finished mounted animals in the crate when compared to the near zero value of salted hides and horns only.
I wish you well if you choose to do this but it's my opinion that it's a very foolish choice based on the hundreds of mounts I have seen there and the many years experience I have with this business. Have it done locally and keep your eye on the work. Once paid in full you have zero control over the outcome when the works done in Africa.
Good luck!
If you think its gonna save you money doing it there remember that the shipping is by "cube" more then weight for airfreight. I have seen guys pay $3000 and up for shipping of trophies! Not to mention the very expensive broker fees based on the value of the finished mounted animals in the crate when compared to the near zero value of salted hides and horns only.
I wish you well if you choose to do this but it's my opinion that it's a very foolish choice based on the hundreds of mounts I have seen there and the many years experience I have with this business. Have it done locally and keep your eye on the work. Once paid in full you have zero control over the outcome when the works done in Africa.
Good luck!
A couple of consistant points regarding an experienced Taxidermist for African game.
First they will automatically offer to make tags for the trophies and explain how to attach them and supply the zip ties. You need three laminated business card type luggage tags or similiar for each trophy. Skull and horns/ cape/ backskin
Next he will make arrangments to have a broker clear and transport the trophies to the tannery, after seperating out the horns and skulls.
OR he will act as the broker and seperate out the horns and ship capse and hides to the tannery.
**IF** pigs or primates are involved he will have the needed Agriculture dept. permit to process them and clear customs with them. Without this you will pay dearly to have an approved agency do it for him.
Most quality Africa experienced taxidermists will have an account with a commercial tannery. Usuually( sometimes) they will consign the trophy shipment to the tannery direct form RSA. The Tannery will clear customs, process swine and primates, then seperate out the horns and ship them to the taxidermist ASAP, they will then do the tanning and ship the tanned skins later.
The majority of Taxidermists doing Africa work have this kind of thing down to a science and handle it as smoothly as a white tailed deer from their home town. If there is some question about how anything is done,....... or should he say he will "I will check it out" when finding a way to do any part of this BEWARE of his skill level to do the actual work!
If he says he is going to do his own tanning of the hides RUN FOR THE HILLS! There are probably only a handfull of taxidermists in the world who can tan African hides with the quality needed for a beautiful mount. Yes it can be done, but it's a very time consuming and complex process much better left to a professional tannery with the proper system and experience.
I am a professionally trained and experienced Taxidermist. I taught the segment on Taxidermy and trophy care for the Professional Hunters Academy in South Africa. I would not even consider doing tanning of my own trophies!
Hope this helps a little.
First they will automatically offer to make tags for the trophies and explain how to attach them and supply the zip ties. You need three laminated business card type luggage tags or similiar for each trophy. Skull and horns/ cape/ backskin
Next he will make arrangments to have a broker clear and transport the trophies to the tannery, after seperating out the horns and skulls.
OR he will act as the broker and seperate out the horns and ship capse and hides to the tannery.
**IF** pigs or primates are involved he will have the needed Agriculture dept. permit to process them and clear customs with them. Without this you will pay dearly to have an approved agency do it for him.
Most quality Africa experienced taxidermists will have an account with a commercial tannery. Usuually( sometimes) they will consign the trophy shipment to the tannery direct form RSA. The Tannery will clear customs, process swine and primates, then seperate out the horns and ship them to the taxidermist ASAP, they will then do the tanning and ship the tanned skins later.
The majority of Taxidermists doing Africa work have this kind of thing down to a science and handle it as smoothly as a white tailed deer from their home town. If there is some question about how anything is done,....... or should he say he will "I will check it out" when finding a way to do any part of this BEWARE of his skill level to do the actual work!
If he says he is going to do his own tanning of the hides RUN FOR THE HILLS! There are probably only a handfull of taxidermists in the world who can tan African hides with the quality needed for a beautiful mount. Yes it can be done, but it's a very time consuming and complex process much better left to a professional tannery with the proper system and experience.
I am a professionally trained and experienced Taxidermist. I taught the segment on Taxidermy and trophy care for the Professional Hunters Academy in South Africa. I would not even consider doing tanning of my own trophies!
Hope this helps a little.
