quote:

Originally posted by LHowell:
Macd37

My experience is, so far, just the opposite.

The work I've had done in South Africa, two different shops, has been FAR superior to work I had done by a big reputation shop in Texas! [Interestingly the Texas mounts are the only ones I have had bug problems with too!]

quality is in the eye of the beholder! I see mounts in peoples homes that they are extremely proud of, that I wouldn't have in my barn. Addtionally, one doesn't have to use the name taxidermists to get good work. The guy I use, for example will do a live full body mount of a Leopard for $1500 and his work on cats it top notch. Where he is not so good is if you want a diarama habatat, but that can be done by someone else, or yourself, if you have the skill.

If you have a bug problem with a taxidermist here in the USA, you can simply send it back to him for adjustment. Try that from RSA!

quote:

That said, however, the price advantage seems to have dwindled in the last few years, perhaps with the exchange rate. And if not hunting in RSA it is for sure cheaper/easier to send the raw trophies here to the US, than to the RSA and then here.

IMO, there never was a price advantage! By the time you go through all the shipping of crates big enough for mounted animals, paying volume weight,(Volume weight is charged at the rate charged for the most expencive frieght that could be placed in the space taken up by the crate, like Dangerous goods, or courier freight!), you are usually paying more than if you had them done here, and getting less quality as well. Most African mounts are PICKELED, not tanned, and will crack, sooner or later! One more advantage to haveing them done at home is, you can drop in from time to time, and see the work in progress, so changes can be made before the work is completed!

quote:

I'm sure my trophies, if any, from the upcoming trip to Zim will be shipped here raw for mounting.

Les

I'd advise it! Good luck in Zimbabwe!

quote:

Originally posted by LHowell:
smarterthanthou

No, I do not feel a need to share that specific taxidermist name. I have no real quarrel with them. They treated me very well, and I was quite satisfied at that time.

[though it sounds as if you already have an idea who it was]

I was not reporting against their work as much as differing with the above statement that "..never seen a mount..." worth shipping from Africa.

I will have taxidermy done here again, as I stated , though not in Texas again, the shipping afterwards, just precludes that, and there are competent shops locally that I am aware of now.

[Though I'll probably have my RSA trophies done there again as well.]

Les

Les,

What Taxidermist do you know in Central Florida? Gene Dobbs did a good job, but he retired and is just do mounts for McNatt in Tampa.

tradewinds:

It's not exactly central Florida, but a guy in Tallahassee named Larry Quinn is very good. American Sportsman, Inc. at 850.576.2477. He's an African hunter himself and active in SCI.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I've been made aware that my posts are only my opinion, and that is absolutely true, it is my opinion, and everbody has one! Mine is no more the "final word" than anyone else's! With that in mind, I would hope, as it was suggested to me, that anyone who is seriously thinking about haveing taxidermy done, research both sides of this, and make up his/her own mind. That is good advice, and I also suggest it, as well!

It seems my posts give the misconception that I know it all! That is not the case at all. I'm 70 yrs old, and I learn something new every time I log onto this site, and many others. Much of it from folks who's parents weren't even born when I shot my first head of big game. Age, and experience teaches you many things, but it certainly doesn't teach you, or me, all things!As far as I can tell only one person has written the TRUTH in stone tablets, and I assure you it wasn't me!

Maybe my style of writeing gives the "Know it all"tent, but believe me it isn't intentional.

............ BYE! Going underground now Have a nice day!

WHAT? Has crumudgeon Mac become considerate and classy Mac?

All kidding aside, that post was written by a class dude.Bring on your wisdom Mac, your birthdays grant you the right to be a WISENED KNOW -IT -ALL any time you desire.

Pete,


As you know had a breif conversation with Benny today. He quoted me £650 to do a Kudu Shoulder mount.

The price including VAT in RSA was just under $800 so call it £400. put on to of that the shipping clearence and vet inspections and god knows the other stuff that they charged for I reckon each mount cost close to £200 to ship.

He did say that I should get them tanned ready to be mounted in RSA then he would mount them. Is that the same as Dip Pack?

Either way I'll talk to him when I'm next up there and I think a decent deal can be donefor future trips should the need arise.

Now all this reminds me to call and find out where my blackbucks are from argentina. They were in Greece about 3 months ago for some reason but got sent back to Arg.

Rgds,
FB

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:

Now all this reminds me to call and find out where my blackbucks are from argentina. They were in Greece about 3 months ago for some reason but got sent back to Arg.

Rgds,
FB

Sounds like they migrate; a bit like your Fallow!

Regards the tanning, I don't think thats the same as Dip and Ship, but I may be wrong...

If the mounts are unfinished at least you should avoid some of the tax when they clear Customs, but I bet the shipping company's would still manage to gouge you for a fair few bob anyway...

It might also pay to tell whoever is processing them in RSA to keep the crate to a minimum size...

Regards,

Pete

FB,

Dip means the hides are dipped in a chemical bath to kill insect infestation prior to transport ( INCO Requirement to move capes between countries ).

Pack is self explanatory.

Just passing this along
.

Yep. Dipped hides are raw and require tanning.

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Ladies and Gentlemen, I've been made aware that my posts are only my opinion, and that is absolutely true, it is my opinion, and everbody has one!

Damn straight, Mac! Just keep tell'n it like it is!

Thanks guys,

Due to the lack of popularity of taxidermy over here in general, there are not many tannery's so from what I have been told, the tanning and defleshing can be a lot of money.

When doing a shoulder mount are the horns left on the skull or are they detached/left with a cap only.

THe capes would pack quite small and if the horns are cut right back they will take up minimal space so there could be abig saving on the shipping.

Of course Pete is right, the will probably still find a way to squeeze you for every last penny.

No news on the Black bucks yet as Alvaro is away on a hunt.

Rgds,
FB