Does anyone ever does the plains game hunt sans taxidermy. We sold the big house last fall and moved into a smaller ranch syle home about 25 miles from anything. Hell, I'm 68 and I'm sure nobody in the family would want my mounted trophies when I'm gone. From a pratical standpoint, I simply don't have the room to display the animals properly. I think with a good VCR camera and a quality SLR, I'd still have the memories without breaking the bank. Your thoughts?

Only do the taxidermy if you really want it.

Seems like you might want one or two though, right?

Too much is not good. But just enough is just right.

Only you can decide what, if anything, is enough.

It will save a lot of money and get you back in Africa quicker. You could also then be looking at hunting management animals as well not just trophies that will even save you some more money but you still get the same hunt experience.

i do only european mounts, so i only have to pay shipping. Sometimes i leave the trophy.
That's much cheaper and i save some money for the next trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari-Hunt:
It will save a lot of money and get you back in Africa quicker. You could also then be looking at hunting management animals as well not just trophies that will even save you some more money but you still get the same hunt experience.

This is exactly what we are doing this year. The only way I would bring home a trophy now is if it were something very exceptional. Like a 27 inch impala or something like that.

I've been on a total of seven African hunts, both plains game and DG. I brought back some animals from my first two plains game hunts, but like you I've simply run out of room in my house for more mounts and I'm sick of paying ridiculous fees for shipping etc. It's been strickly pictures for me for the last several trips.

quote:

Originally posted by Stoneybroke:
Does anyone ever does the plains game hunt sans taxidermy. We sold the big house last fall and moved into a smaller ranch syle home about 25 miles from anything. Hell, I'm 68 and I'm sure nobody in the family would want my mounted trophies when I'm gone. From a pratical standpoint, I simply don't have the room to display the animals properly. I think with a good VCR camera and a quality SLR, I'd still have the memories without breaking the bank. Your thoughts?

Stoneybroke, you and I think alike, it's costly and why not save the money for other species, plus a lot of hunting outfitters will give you a break on trophy fees if your not tipping over higher quality trophy animals. I had my safari last year professionally videoed and it is a nice replacement for the trophies.

I started a thread awhile back about hunting lessons learned the hard way. One of those lessons for me is taxidermy. If I had to do it all over again, with a handful of exceptions (e.g. leopard) I would just do European mounts and skip the shoulder mounts. You can drop a fortune on taxidermy that could be applied to other hunts and not have to worry about where in the heck to hang the next mount. I would consider European mounts (maybe have a couple of hides tanned for throws) and never look back.

I have decided on my next trip over, hopefully this fall, I am pretty much only doing the European mounts. The only other shoulder or full mounts would be on bushpig and baboon if I finally score on them.

This is a touchy subject with hunters as well as PHs. On my recent hunt I mentioned the staggering costs of mounting all 7 animals and the PH responded with something along the lines of "you have to".

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that a PH would have you shoot lesser animals if you were just taking pics and think less of you as a hunter.

I also think he would have no problem with having you cull animals with broken horns etc, just not taking trophy animals.

If you don't want the trophy you should be at a photo safari camp seems to be the feelings of some PHs.

You know deep down that PHs struggle with the thousands of killings they deal with and having a client take a trophy so that he can admire it and keep it forever seems to justify the killing to some degree. The guy that just wants to kill stuff for pics is hard to take.

Having said that you are right about the room and the costs, they are staggering. You have to do at least European mounts and backskins IMO.

I have read quotes by both Harry Selby and Fin Aagard and lets just say they didn't have nice things to say about killing for pics.

IMO if you book regularly and tip well the PH will appeciate the money but he won't respect you as a hunter.

Taxidermy works takes a great deal of time and eats large hunks of cash, and the shipping is getting out of hand as well. I pretty much have a quality animal mounted on most of the plains games, my duplicates basically turn into rugs and european mounts. I am glad I have the mounts I do, but how many gemsbocks do you put on the wall? I know,,, How big is the wall?? HaHa! You can look up and be spending more on the taxidermy than you did on the hunt,, easily. It has been like hunt one year, pay taxidermy the next, hunt the following year.,, etc for me... I think now I would rather do more hunting and less taxidermy....

I only shipped home Euro mounts from my first -- and so far only -- African hunt. Shipping itself was expensive enough! In my opinion, shoulder mounts are overrated. I actually went to the trouble of shipping a kudu cape with the thought of having the exceptional head mounted, but after displaying the Euro mount on my fireplace, I felt that making it into a full shoulder mount would be distracting from the beauty of the horns themselves. Anyone need a Kudu cape?

When I go again, I'll only ship home those trophies that are unique or different than the ones I currently have. Anything that doesn't "fit" the decor of my home will remain in Africa. My goal is to add an Impala, Eland, and Blesbok to my collection of Kudu, Oryx, Springbok, Red Hartebeest, and Black Wildebeest.

Oh yes! I will definatley have the hides tanned in Namibia and shipped home -- our host got beautiful work done for us for incredibly little cost. To me, the full hides are nicer and more versatile trophies than shoulder mounts.

I'm planning on getting all my animals mounted from my upcoming trip, although it is expensive and I really don't have a place to put them.

I personally would settle on nothing less than European mounts from a hunting trip, unless it was an animal shot for meat, of course. They are relatively cheap and don't take up too much space.

I'm out over $2000 for shipping and customs clearance and that's before the first tanning or mounting fees. I've left trophies for years but these are my son's first and I guess I'm going to bite the bullet. I could go on about what I really think, but I'll just say that unless it is a world class trophy, and I don't mean one of those stupid SCI gold medal qualifiers, but a real near world record type, then I'll take only pictures and keep only memories in the future and if the PH can't handle that, then he needs to find another job.

I will only do euro mounts, if any in the future. Cost is somewhat out of control and has not dropped. I am an amateur taxidermist as well but have no need for more in the house.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
I'm out over $2000 for shipping and customs clearance and that's before the first tanning or mounting fees. I've left trophies for years but these are my son's first and I guess I'm going to bite the bullet. I could go on about what I really think, but I'll just say that unless it is a world class trophy, and I don't mean one of those stupid SCI gold medal qualifiers, but a real near world record type, then I'll take only pictures and keep only memories in the future and if the PH can't handle that, then he needs to find another job.

I am with you on the "gold medal" issue. Never made sense to me. Keep the medal you have to buy for yourself. Seems an odd way of celebrating.

I admit that Sadie is taxidermy crazy but it is how she decorates the house. I personally could do a lot more european mounts. I can completely understand leaving the trophies in Africa unless you take somethng exceptional. I just this AM paid $4,000 just for tanning. Without the trophy shipping and taxidermy safari is a heck of alot less expensive.

Mark

I only did Euro mounts and flat skins from my first African safari, and liked it so much that when two years ago I shot an exceptional white tail deer I had it done as a Euro (much to my taxidermist's chagrin).

All the animals from this years safari will be Euro mounts and flat skins except my wife's bushpig and he's so cute she had to have a shoulder mount.

My wife won't have them in the house.
I brought back the horns on their own to turn into knife handles.
For me the pleasure is in the hunt and the experience of the hunt.
The trophy and its size is unimportant to me and that was made clear to the PH. I don't think he was upset. He just wanted to make sure we all had a good time and achieved what we went out there for.

I did Euro mounts on everything, and got skins on my zebra, springbok, and impala (though the springbok and impala, after a year, are STILL not here - grrrrr).

That being said, if my wife gets an impala and springbok next year we might get shoulder mounts done. But anything else (like a hartebeest or wildebeest) will just be euro mounts only.

quote:

is a touchy subject with hunters as well as PHs. On my recent hunt I mentioned the staggering costs of mounting all 7 animals and the PH responded with something along the lines of "you have to".

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that a PH would have you shoot lesser animals if you were just taking pics and think less of you as a hunter.

I also think he would have no problem with having you cull animals with broken horns etc, just not taking trophy animals.

If you don't want the trophy you should be at a photo safari camp seems to be the feelings of some PHs.

You know deep down that PHs struggle with the thousands of killings they deal with and having a client take a trophy so that he can admire it and keep it forever seems to justify the killing to some degree. The guy that just wants to kill stuff for pics is hard to take.

Having said that you are right about the room and the costs, they are staggering. You have to do at least European mounts and backskins IMO.

I have read quotes by both Harry Selby and Fin Aagard and lets just say they didn't have nice things to say about killing for pics.

IMO if you book regularly and tip well the PH will appeciate the money but he won't respect you as a hunter.

Geoff,

I think you've picked up some misconceptions on your safari. If I thought I had sent a client on a safari where the PH was avoiding the big boys because of what my client was going to do with them after the hunt I would make sure that PH never hunted one of my clients again. The safari is yours and you can do whatever you want with your trophies. A good PH will respect your wishes. The PH's job is to assist you in the hunt period. If you book often and tip well as you said the PH and safari operator will love you. Clients seldom fit some mold and each has his own quirks. If photo only is your quirk so be it.

Mark

Taxidermy is a PITA. The only way I'll ever ship something over and have it mounted again would be if it was a truly exceptional trophy. And by that I mean either a really good scoring critter or a very unique one or in the case of my hunt several years ago an exceptional experience. I did a euro on my buff from 2004 even though it was a ratty little bull. But the hunt ended in a full blown charge which I stopped at close range. That one was worth a euro mount.

My first three hunts I went overboard on the taxidermy and I've got several truly unimpressive shoulder mounts hanging in the house. The last four hunts I've brought very little home with the exception of a 55" kudu a very nice warthog and the buff above mentioned.

I am still in search of a massive buffalo bull that would make it on the wall. Maybe number six will be the one. Number five was a looser!!!

I think every hunter should mount every single animal they shoot for their entire hunting career.

I wouldn't mount anything if I had the choice again. My plains game hunt(the hunt itself) was about $7,500 and the taxidermy bill was about $5,000.

Personally I don't care for it and now regret spending the money. I had never had anything mounted here in Canada and my mounts are in the garage a year later, $5,000 wasted.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
I think every hunter should mount every single animal they shoot for their entire hunting career.

Jerry,
Based on the quality of your work, I agree. Wish I could afford it and hunt.

I need a bigger house that my wife will clean, but that will not happen either.

I am now offering a special service for those hunters who no longer care for their shoulder mounts and space robbing life-sized mounts.

Pay for my travel and I will come to your house and provide free consultation followed by throwing a cold drink in your face to bring you back to earth.

Photos?..euro mounts..knife handles??

OH THE HUMANITY!

Seems as though a lot of hunters like the idea of having a trophy mounted, but don't like the cost.

Cost is a factor, of course, but good taxidermy is worth it, IMHO. I just consider it part of the cost of the hunt and pay it gladly.

Also, the mounts save us a lot on interior decorating! We will never have a blank wall in our house, unless we move to a much, much bigger place!

What I like most about a trophy mount is that it's a kind of commemoration of the game animal and also the hunt itself.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
... good taxidermy is worth it ...

What I like most about a trophy mount is that it's a kind of commemoration of the game animal and also the hunt itself.

I agree.

It seems a bit of an injustice to the animal to not display it. A skull mount is acceptable if you can not afford a shoulder mount. Maybe a nice photo beside it. Something to honor the animal.

If I am going to hunt it, I am going to bring it home and, at the very least, display it as a Skull mount until I decide to have it mounted.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

quote:

is a touchy subject with hunters as well as PHs. On my recent hunt I mentioned the staggering costs of mounting all 7 animals and the PH responded with something along the lines of "you have to".

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that a PH would have you shoot lesser animals if you were just taking pics and think less of you as a hunter.

I also think he would have no problem with having you cull animals with broken horns etc, just not taking trophy animals.

If you don't want the trophy you should be at a photo safari camp seems to be the feelings of some PHs.

You know deep down that PHs struggle with the thousands of killings they deal with and having a client take a trophy so that he can admire it and keep it forever seems to justify the killing to some degree. The guy that just wants to kill stuff for pics is hard to take.

Having said that you are right about the room and the costs, they are staggering. You have to do at least European mounts and backskins IMO.

I have read quotes by both Harry Selby and Fin Aagard and lets just say they didn't have nice things to say about killing for pics.

IMO if you book regularly and tip well the PH will appeciate the money but he won't respect you as a hunter.

Geoff,

I think you've picked up some misconceptions on your safari. If I thought I had sent a client on a safari where the PH was avoiding the big boys because of what my client was going to do with them after the hunt I would make sure that PH never hunted one of my clients again. The safari is yours and you can do whatever you want with your trophies. A good PH will respect your wishes. The PH's job is to assist you in the hunt period. If you book often and tip well as you said the PH and safari operator will love you. Clients seldom fit some mold and each has his own quirks. If photo only is your quirk so be it.

Mark

I think you are indeed right that the PH will certainly provide a good hunt to the best of their abilites for every hunter.

I also believe that someone is much more willing to go the extra mile for you if you are a kind, decent, friendly, understanding, passionate, reasonable, ethical person.

Do the PHs that think everything should be mounted have hundreds of heads on their own walls? Should only those want and can afford to live in a natural history mueseum be allowed more than one trip? I kept my trophies, but will be keeping less in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
... good taxidermy is worth it ...

What I like most about a trophy mount is that it's a kind of commemoration of the game animal and also the hunt itself.

I agree.

It seems a bit of an injustice to the animal to not display it. A skull mount is acceptable if you can not afford a shoulder mount. Maybe a nice photo beside it. Something to honor the animal.

If I am going to hunt it, I am going to bring it home and, at the very least, display it as a Skull mount until I decide to have it mounted.

+1.. Good post, Wendell.

I had all my trophies horn/partial skull mounted on some type of African wood. Less than $100 each plus $500 for shipping from SA.

I filled a 2 gig card with pics. Money not spent on Taxidermy will finance another trip.

I am doing the same thing myself with animals taken in the Selous except for a Zebra. He was about 7/8th the size of a normal stallion as he had been gelded and scarred up by something nasty. Had a great felt backed rug made.

I did European mounts and hides on felt. Seems I've seen too many shoulder mounts get bug eaten and decay, then what do you have? Took lots of pics too.
As to the PH's "you have to" BS...maybe he won't get his cut from the taxidermist, processing etc to get them to you. Why should it matter to the PH? All he's going to do is put pics on his web page. If it's such that he thinks it needs to be mounted, let him send it to town to get done and pay for it too!

Is taxidermy a rip off? Not exactly.

I love the mounts I have, they show a close faxcimile of what the animal looked like in life.

Will I get more? I'll get a few more, bears, cats, and other things that the trophy consist of the skin make a lot more sense then spending $10,000 to get your stuff mounted instead of doing another hunt.

I have thought long and hard over this and I've come to the conclusion that once I've taken and mounted one of each species I will once again have to think long and hard over this.

At the rate I'm going, this is not going to be a problem.

It is expensive, I can look at each mounted trophy are relive the details of the hunt. A well mounted trophy is a work of art. Not all mine are works of art. I asked my 20 year old daughter which of the 25 odd trophies she would keep after my demise.
Without a breath she said the full body lion and my two sets of ivory. Never regretted mounting any of them.

Bottom line: Without the Taxidermy, I can afford a plains game hunt every year and a Canadian/US hunt to boot. I figure, with luck, I have 10, maybe 12 years left to hunt. I want to crowd as much into that time as possible. The costs associated with taxidermy will severely limit my hunting opportunities and I'm sure my daughters won't want dad's glass eyed critters. JMO. Stoney

Guys,
Please don't think that your PH is loosing money on you if you don't have your stuff mounted. You paid for a trophy quality animal. You ought to get a Trophy quality animal. They do call this "Trophy Hunting" don't they?

If you don't get it mounted and I don't think there is anything wrong with just taking pictures afterwards, the PH will sell your horns and hides to a broker, who will inturn sell them to folks like "Skin and Bones" or a taxidermy outfit who will substitute it for someone else's trophy. Trust me, your PH is making money either way!

To each his own. I have the gamut from memories to photos to full mounts and am fine with all of them.
However, several years ago while in the process of divesting myself of excess baggage, my soon to be ex-wife looted several hundred thousand dollars of antiques from the house while I was on a business trip. When I returned, there was no one in the house, but all my trophies were there. I sat down for an hour or so and remembered each hunt as I looked at them. Then I realized she was so dumb she didn't even know what was really important to me. Since then, I have kept all horns, no matter the size. For the memory of the hunt, and out of respect to the animal.

These days I never bring any trophies back from African safaris, because:

I once got ripped off by a taxidermist...

I do not have any wall space left..

I hunt with the rifle, not with the tape measure...

Most people, particularly good looking ladies, do not like mounted trophies hanging from their walls these days...

The resale value of a trophy is very low...

By not exporting trophies, I can save a lot of money and trouble, particularly in Africa...

I do not even look at photos of my hunts anymore. (Have you ever seen a heroing addict taking pictures of himself while practising his addiction?)...

I like to do backpack hunts, where carrying trophies can be a logistical nightmare...

You can do PAC hunts without much remorse...

(Incidentally, it puzzles me that when dip and pack fees are originally "included" in a Safari, at the end no money is ever taken off the bill even if nothing gets dipped and packed. A real outfitting market mistery to me)...

I have been the last 3 times to Africa without bringing anything back, and without a PH remarking anything negative about this heresy of mine. My answer has always been that if he thinks the heads should be preserved, then he is free to take them home and pay for the taxidermy himself...

Once I left a pair of kudu horns as part of a tip for a tracker...

I do not believe that I have to justify hunting via arguing that I do it for the trophies.

All I care for is for the hunting experience...

But to each his own, Antonio