Back from Africa

[EL CAZADOR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 8 2006, 05:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

As far as the whole safari experience goes, some people go once and it gets in their blood.
For me, been there, done that, wont go back. I had a great time but dont see a need to do it again.[/b]

Hey Chopper

You're right, I've always heard that once you go, you can't wait to go back. Why was it different for you?

 

[Hitechhunter]

Outstanding photo's!

I'm in the research phase of my first African hunt. Can you enlighten me about the actual costs?

 

[bigtusker]

Total cost to date is just over 10 grand. I have not yet paid for shipping my critters to the U.S. or any taxidermy. Had I not shot the sable, I'd be at $7500 right now. Here is a picture of my wildebeast and a big rock python we saw.

 

[7mm RM]

Outstanding pics, what a trip...

 

[Cal hunter]

Congrats on the hunt of a lifetime chop!

 

[Hitechhunter]

Thanks for the info. I might take a year to research and plan it, but I'm going!

How do they ship the capes back, tanned or frozen or ???

I have a brochure from one outfit that also does the taxidermy work for you in Africa and ships back the heads all crated up.

 

[bigtusker]

You can have them shipped tanned (processed) or salted/dip and pack (unprocessed). JJHack would know more about this process. I am having all my taxidermy done in the states so I chose dip and pack.

 

[Lurediver]

Is the python coming out of the hole? How long? Can you shoot it?

 

[Duknutz]

hitech,
I just got my mounts back from RSA about two weeks ago.And yes you can have them mounted there and shipped back to the states in a crate.Got one in my backyard,girls want to use it for a fort.For the money it cost to get this from RSA,the girls can live in it if they want.I had seven shoulder mounts and backskins and the crate probably cost me about 2k or 2.5k to get from the broker in San Francisco.So it may be cheaper to dip and ship your animals.The crate only weighed about 300lbs and was packed awesome,one small forklift cut on my gemsbok,but that was fixable.My partner had 13 animals and backskins shipped also with no problems(just expensive).This was aircargoed and not shipped by ship,so we had the mounts in a matter of days after they left and not weeks(months)....Maybe more expensive,but probably safer.

 

[upper]

Is that 10 grand port to port? If so that is not bad at all for all the animals you got to take. Upper

 

[bigtusker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (upper @ Jan 23 2007, 06:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Is that 10 grand port to port? If so that is not bad at all for all the animals you got to take. Upper[/b]

yep, the plane ticket was 1800, daily rate was $350 a day x 7 days, trophy fees were

Wildebeest 750
Warthog 300
Impala 250
Duiker 100
Kudu 900
Zebra 900
Jackal 100
Sable 3000

Dip and pack for 10 animals(my partner shot 2) $550

I think thats a little over $11000

I still have to pay for shipping and taxidermy!!

 

[Hitechhunter]

Thanks for the info. This is an awesome website - great folks, great shared experiences. I have learned a lot.

 

[Hitechhunter]

Cheaper than a lot of North American guided hunts, but you get 5+ animals!

 

[Duknutz]

hitech,
That's one great thing about hunting in Africa,is that you could be hunting one species of animal and run into 6-8 other species of animals.And they may be of trophy quality,so now you have to decide what you want to do....Pretty cool...

 

[bigtusker]

All my critters are back here in the U.S. I will get to look at them tomorrow at the tannery.
Shipping for 8 critters unprocessed was almost $1300.

 

[Rick]

This is the first time I looked at your post since I came back from RSA. Now I know just how nice your kudu is!!! I am just having the warthog mounted over there, a wildebeest rug and the rest euro-mounted over there. I expect it will be year-end before I see them.

 

[Duknutz]

Chop'
Glad to hear you got your skins and skulls back.Did you use Maria Europa from Hunters International at San Francisco?Her and her husband are pretty cool and they got a pretty good deal going.....Ron...

 

[bigtusker]

I did use Maria. Quite effortless on my part. Just shy of $1600 to get 10 critters shipped from Bulawayo to Turlock.