Finally got my stuff in from my Limpopo SA hunt in June 2005. Taxidermy was Ace and shipper was Safari Air Cargo. I also used Coppersmith at DFW. Everything came out great and the was well packed. Question...when does the smell go away? Also more troubling... I have some small larva that are coming from my hartebeest. Probably beetle larva. They look simular to mealworms. I have put a couple in a jar and sprayed them with Bengal Roach spray with little effect. This is a product that kills the hell out of fire ants and roaches. Any suggestions?

I would call or email taxidermist for an answer of what to do...I would take it out of the house till answered...
Hartebeaste looks real nice....

Mike

Put any mounts with larvae or 'rice krispies' in a heavy duty garbage bag to avoid infestation of your other trophies!

Check a garden supply store for something that kills beetles and their larvae, then dust or spray the bagged mounts and close the bags tightly. Check them in three or four days,

Contact Ace Taxidermy, and tell him that he didn't adequately treat your trophies before shipment.

George

There's always an ad in Safari Magazine for a company that specializes in infested trophies. I would contact them and ask them what to do. It might be wise if you want to save your trophies. The initial advice should be free as to what it might be.

the other thing is to freeze it. I had a similar problem a few years ago, I sprayed with a thing called bug be gone and then stuck itinto a freezer for a couple of weeks - i guess african bugs just don't like being frozen

My tanned back skins ahd zebra rug still have an odor to them also. It's a chemical-like odor. Anyone know how to get rid of this?

quote:

Originally posted by nomrcy:
My tanned back skins ahd zebra rug still have an odor to them also. It's a chemical-like odor. Anyone know how to get rid of this?

....................TIME

NOMRCY,

go to www.millertrophyroom.com

These guys specialize in solving your problem.

Regards,

Russell

Another reason to have the taxidermy work done in the good ol USA.

Why should a company that specializes in infested trophies give free advice other than "when do you want us to start".

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Another reason to have the taxidermy work done in the good ol USA.

Why should a company that specializes in infested trophies give free advice other than "when do you want us to start".

I found this comment to be a bunch of crap. This suggests that taxidermists in the USA never have a similar problem. Please give me a break.

I have not problem if you want to have your work done in the USA or the country of origin. It is your decision. But there is no reason for these little smartass comments to continue when the poster is simply asking for a simple answer to his problem.

Now back to the original question, I wish I could help with removal of the infestation, but I've never had a problem with my mounts yet. (Knock on wood) Congrats on the hartebeest, I hope to obtain a hartebeest on my next trip over.

I, like graybird, disagree with Die Ou Jagter. But maybe more kindly?

If you find any "worms" [in all probability larvae of a horn eating moth] in a trophy that has been shipped to the USA, that can be taken as a sure sign that the taxidermist has not done what should be done properly. I would give some very bad marks for the taxidermist, or at least question him thoroughly! Would that be ACE Taxidermy in Bela Bela? [Formerly Warmbaths]?

If the smell is one of bad rotting meat, then surely there was some very sloppy taxidermy work.

You may wish to bring the case to the attention of the official association (?) of taxidermists in South AFrica. I do not now have contact details, but will provide if you ask.

Meantime, I agree, put the thing in a large refuse bag, add some bug dust, freeze (?) and take it out of the house! You could infect all your other trophies!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

If the smell is one of bad rotting meat, then surely there was some very sloppy taxidermy work.

No, the odor is a strong chemical smell. I took all of the trophies out of the house. I put the larva I found in a plastic cup. I was unable to kill these bugs with a Raid Fogger with 12% Permethrin. Freezing however, seems to work. After only 2 hours in the freezer the bugs were dead. Not hibernating...Dead. I still have some live ones left I am feeding dry cat food. I want to see if I can find an insecticide that will kill them. Maliathon will probably work but it is oily and I would not want it on the trophies. I am putting my heads in a freezer for 24 hours before I hang them back up. There is a risk, I know, but since all of the larva are the same size I think that there are no more hatching. There is a finite amount of larva and if I see no more dropping off then I think I got all of them. I also called Miller Trophy Room and am considering using them.

The official Taxidermy Association to which every taxidermist can belong is TASA. (Taxidermy Association of Southern Africa). Anyone with a complaint or complement can contact the vice president at.
dirks@novotrans.co.za
The complaint will be taken up with the Taxidermist and the client will be contacted.
I will be forwarding this URL to Dirk for his comments.

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
I still have some live ones left I am feeding dry cat food. I want to see if I can find an insecticide that will kill them.

Be careful you do not breed some sort of superbug (remember what happened in Brazil with those Africanized Honey Bees)!!!

I had that dermasid (sp?) problem a few years back. It too was on a red cape hartebeeest. Hartebeest horns aren't removable and if not treated correctly can show up with hitchhikers at a later date. My taxidermist gave me a can of STRIKEFORCE HPX. It is a non oily, solvent based insecticide. It's described as a residual with dursban (Trademark DowElanco). The main active ingredient is Chlorpyrifos.

It definitely took care oif the problem.
Rich Elliott