I was wondering how long it typically takes to get your trophies (raw horns and cape) shipped from Africa to the USA.

I have been waiting for over 3 months and the shipper is still waiting on paperwork. I am starting to worry about damage to the cape/horns due to rodents, etc, as it waits at the shipper in Bulwayo.

Is 4 or 5 months typical? I only have a set of horns and the cape from one buffalo.

Thanks.

BH63

BH63,

You are in a pretty typical situation. The bureaucratic wheels turn slowly in Zim and a 3 month wait is quite short. If your horns and cape were properly handled initially you should have nothing to worry about. They'll be in good shape for a long time.

Mark

4-5 months is short, typical from Zim would be more like 9 mos. Don't worry as mark said, if they were taken care of properly in the field you won't have any worries.

My son and I hunted Zimbabwe mid June 2016, taking Cape Buff and some Plains Game. Before we left we supplied our own trophy tags and gave clear instructions on who we wanted to handle the trophy shippment ex Zim to New Zealand. And in the interim I kept up email contact with the parties involved. My Taxidermist here received our trophies in mid October. I was impressed. We have waited longer than this for trophies ex Canada and USA. I know of other Kiwi hunters who hunted Africa ( but not Zim ) and waited more than 12 months for trophies. One guy never got his trophies at all !
Dealing with the right people helps and probably keeping up some communication which can't hurt. I worry about the handling / shipping of my trophies and like to keep a finger on the pulse where possible.

The trophies we shot in Zim from a safari ending Sept 23, are in the states already. I think that was really fast turn around.

I'd say 6-9 months is pretty typical and anything under a year is something to celebrate. My giraffe skin took 2.5 years!

For me, it really varies...badly.

Worst was 3 years.

Best was 3 months (Laura DuPlooy works wonders!)

Most are about 9 months to a year, but Lion and Elephant throw a brick in the works.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I will just have to wait .

My previous safari to Zim was back in 2003 and I got my tusks and buff head/cape in fairly quickly, primarily because the PH (Kirk Mason) jumped in and took over from the outfitter.

Kirk was one first rate guy IMO. Once he emigrated to Oz, Zim lost one heck of a PH.

BH63

My 2005 Buffalo in Zima took almost a year and a half. The Leopard that I shot in Mozambique in July, 2015 was finally sent from Atlanta to my taxidermist last week. I got a text message this morning from the processing company in Moz that they have my Sable that I shot last August. I'm hoping that I will get it home this year.

If things go wrong, even shipping from South Africa can get fouled up. I got back from South Africa on May 5th, 2016 and I'm still waiting for my trophies to get to the US.

Edit: Literally 5 minutes after I posted the above, I received an email that my trophies were in the USDA clearance process in Houston.

^
Good for you!

BH63

it took mine 23 months. they were all in great shape.

Got my notice yesterday that my buff skull and cape are ready to be shipped from Bulawayo.

Total cost $507.00, not bad at all IMO.

Check was mailed this morning.

I killed the buffalo in mid-Sep 2016, so about 4 and 1/2 months to get the paperwork done wasn't so bad.

Knowing it will soon be on the way to Jonas Bros has given me another shot of excitement. Safaris, when they turn out well, just keep paying dividends.

Next bit of excitement comes when Jonas calls and says the buff is in. I will then go down and look at it and decide on how I want it mounted.

Then when it is ready I will get another bit of excitement when I go and pick it up.

After hanging it with the other two, I will get a chance to enjoy it for the rest of my life.

Money well spent!

BH63

Got an email this morning from Magdel at Game Trackers Africa that my 2 buff from early October are ready to ship. No word yet on the cost. Fastest shipping in my three safaris. The Ol' Speckled Bull is headed this way!
kh