And half of my capes are ruined from "bug damage". PH says it didn't happen at his place. Never had any bug damage there in 20 years. Taxidermist who handled the dipping/shipping said it didn't happen at his place either. What to do?????

Ouch, what skins were ruined? I may be able to help with replacement skins, other than that you're pretty much out of luck unless you had insurance.

Bug damage starts in camp. All capes should be treated with gamatox or 'shumba powder' as we know it, soon after being salted.

If they where properly treated in camp I would think you could not get bug damage?????


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Lost my Kudu and Bushbuck capes. My taxidermist here in the states has a replacement cape for my Impala. Wilderness Taxidery is doing the work and he is also looking for replacement capes. Thanks for any help you may be able to offer!

BB that is just a shame! Good capes can be bought, but they are expensive, and this knocks a big hole in your memories of your safari! Sorry to hear this type report.

I’ve always been lucky with my trophies at least till our home burned to the ground a few years ago destroying them all. However none of those trophies were African, but there were some very good North American trophies. IMO that was easier to accept than having them destroyed before they were even mounted.

IMO your capes had to be destroyed before they were dipped or the bugs wouldn’t have survived! Either they were left long enough for damage before they left the PH’s custody, or they were not dipped by the Taxidermist soon enough after he received them. If the bugs got to them in shipment then the dip and packing wasn’t done properly, and the dip and repellent wasn’t strong enough. If customs had found sign of active bugs, they would have quarantined the shipment.
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quote:

Originally posted by Billyboy:
Lost my Kudu and Bushbuck capes. My taxidermist here in the states has a replacement cape for my Impala. Wilderness Taxidery is doing the work and he is also looking for replacement capes. Thanks for any help you may be able to offer!

Try advertising on the Taxidermy thread? Sure the lads will help you out.

Billy:

That sucks, and I feel your pain. I just got a Egyptian goose mount back from Zim, and it's really not very good (frustrating because the dead bird was in perfect condition and properly maintained).

I think I still have a nice kudu cape - shoot me a PM if you still need help with this.

I've been afraid to even look at the cost of a good cape! We were in the Limpopo area in early May so I'm sure our hides sat in the salt shack until the end of the season before going to the dipper. Thanks everyone!

That REALLY SUCKS. I had the same thing happen to about 1/2 the capes from my first safari. Tannery blamed it on the PH, the PH blamed it on the tannery. It was a vicious circle but in the end, the PH did locate more capes and replaced the damaged ones.

quote:

What to do?????

Bend over and take it in the cornhole....

quote:

Originally posted by Billyboy:
I've been afraid to even look at the cost of a good cape! We were in the Limpopo area in early May so I'm sure our hides sat in the salt shack until the end of the season before going to the dipper. Thanks everyone!

I'll see what we have, bushbuck shouldn't be a problem. Cape Kudu may be a stretch but I know we'll have one in September. Are they full mount capes or just shoulder/backskin capes?

These are shoulder/backskin capes.

Funny thing is all the backskins, complete zebra, waterbuck, hartebeest, and 2 wildebeests all came home in great condition.

Another option is the big auction site. They always have capes up for bid. I am sorry to hear you had this problem though. I had the same thing happen in 2007 and of course nobody (outfitter nor taxidermist) claimed any responsibility at all.

I kept a perfect Eastern Cape greater kudu cape tanned in Victoria, Texas in the freezer, still nice and "lemony" going on 6 years. PM me?

The horns and skull I Euro mounted because Karoo Taxidermy burned them!

Wow! Nice Kudu!

look for the silver lining - it's a bummer, but now you have a good reason to go back

If interested, ask your taxi and let me know (by PM). Thanx, he was 50" on one side and 43" on the other. Two tiny .284 TSX holes, one low in the chest (up close finisher) and the first was R neck toward left side. I already have my first East cape kudu on the wall (45" each side and symmetrical).

It's not the safari company or the tannery ... It's clearly the booking agents fault.

Ok, seriously, there are a lot of capes in the USA. I have sold or given away a lot that I thought I would have mounted.

Look at taxidermy.net lot's of capes here, also, you can post WTB ads there.

Ask the outfitter if could send a Bushbuck and Kudu cape with someones trophies.

Buying a cape here is not usually all that expensive unless they are tanned, in which case, a big chunk of the cost is the tanning, that should come off the taxidermy price. ($400 cape is maybe $300 worth of tanning ??? I am sure a taxidermist can chime in here and adjust my numbers.)

It's not a train wreck, but I am sure it is a bit disappointing.

Thanks for all the help guys, I don't feel quite so let down now! I'll be sending a few PM's soon.

Here are some obligatory pics from the hunt...

VERY nice!

I leave for Namibia tomorrow; I can bring you back a red hartebeeste cape if you want. Let me know ASAP; what else do you need?

Thanks, my Hartebeest cape was ok. Looks like the guys here have me coved on all the other capes I need - Kudu and Bushbuck. My Taxidermist located an Impala cape yesterday.

Thanks and GOOD LUCK!

The obvious problem with your capes is, THEY ALL HAVE BULLET HOLES IN THEM!
Great safari-awesome trophies.

Looks like a grand safari and excellent trophies.

Don't worry about the capes, you can pick them up State-side, if you haven't already. I have a black Hawaiian sheep cape that isn't mountable, so my taxidermist is picking up a cape from a New Zealand sheep as my replacement.