Hello All,

Looking for some imput, what do you think about ocean shipping? Using Fauna and Flora??? I'm debating air freight vs ocean crate?

Has anyone ever had issues with humidity, rotting hides?? These will be raw products, no mounts, just hides, horns and skulls?

Please reply...thanks

I used ocean shipping with F&F for my Namibia trophies in 2007. I had all raw trophies and everything made it to the tannery and my taxidermist in excellent shape, no issues at all. It is the way to go IMO.

Had the same experience from SA via F&F in 2008. Trophies taken in June were in NY in December. No issues whatsoever and at a great savings compared to air freight.

Ocean shipped mounted trophies (Archery from Melorani in SA) in 2003 and 2005 both times with F&F. Absolutely no issues either time. Crates arrived at my front door in perfect shape and on time. Lots cheaper than air freight.

Had taxidermy work done in Zim and shipped via Flora & Fauna by sea . Everything arrived in excellent shape but be prepared to spend some time getting the boxes open and screws out.

great people to work with. I hunted Zim in December of '08 for Cape Buffalo. They kept in touch and I shipped ocean freight. It took not quite eight months from the day I shot my Buff until the truck delivered it to my taxidermist. Great shape.
Would not use anybody else.

Rich

Only time I have heard of anyone having trouble with ocean shipping was when the ship sank.

By the way, I have had four shipments by ocean and all of them arrived without any problems. The next shipment of mine is due to arrive either on Dec. 1 or 2 and then it will be cleared through F&F and transported overland to my home. I am looking forward to receiving this shipment. It has my leopard in it!

All the quotes I get for raw (heavy) trophy shipments dont show an appreciable difference between air and sea (10% less only for sea). Maybe with bulkier shipments (completed taxidermy) it might be cheaper to use sea??

I just had trophies shipped from RSA. The difference (about a 130 lb. box) between ocean and air freight was $300 or $400 so I went with air freight. For me, the extra cost was worth it to get my trophies sooner.

Shipping by sea from Namibia was considerably cheaper than by air. The trophies arrived in fine shape. It took a little longer, but taxidermy takes forever anyhow.

Most of the material was raw, the zebra hide was tanned.

Had 49 sets of horns and capes shipped via ocean frieght from SA. No problems. Saved a bunch of money.

I have done both... I am cheap and use surface most of the time. The last time Jonas did some kind of customs exception and the crate full of trophies and household came to my home in Wyoming. I didn't pay a broker... The other time I drove from Kansas to Dallas and cleared them myself. They came air.
Aaron

In 2006 there was little to no price difference so we went w/air.

Oryxhunter1983,
Where in Texas are you located? PM me for more on who I used.

If ocean shipping becomes more popular, howlong before we see RSA Taxidermists blaming pirates for the delay in trophies arriving?