Just recently received a quote to ship my trophies home. Two options were presented. One to fly them to Baltimore and the other to carry them by ship to Houston. In the past I always had them sent to Baltimore but this time the cost by air freight was nearly four time the previous year. Have other members had cost increases like this?

To answer your question, yes shipping rates are quite a bit higher now that just a year ago. After the cost of shipping my last trophies home (2020 hunt, did not arrive until 2022) I will no longer bring anything home unless it is rare or an exceptional trophy. The dip pack companies are nothing by greedy in my eyes.

Shipping costs have been ridiculous and apparently are getting more so. A friend received a quote for shipping 7 skulls and capes from Namibia to DFW, the estimate was almost $13,000.00! He is investigating sea shipment. Another friend received one crate, 5 skulls and capes, last week at DFW from SA on Delta Air Cargo, almost $6,000. I have two hunts worth of trophies in Africa, haven’t gotten shipping estimates yet, but will get sea freight rates, too.
Seems to me shipping rates, air charters and misc “fees” are killing the goose that lays golden eggs.

Shipping costs can easily double the cost of a plains game hunt. Throw in the taxidermy costs and your $5-7k safari is now 15-18k! Absurd. Just one more reason I quit bringing stuff home -7-8 years ago.

In 2003 I had a crate sent from Zimbabwe to California. It contained an elephant skull, jaw, tusks, a couple of buffalo skulls, and a few skins.

The crate was huge(4ftx4ftx6ft) and heavy. Total cost: $1,800

Based on what I have been reading, costs are up about 10 fold in the past 20 years. Can anyone explain exactly why the costs have increased as they have? Has the wholesale price of shipping increased at the same rate?

This appears to by a concerted if not coordinated imposition of moral authority by Corporate America!!... ie the now WOKE AIRLINES...??

What we need is a simple and well executed consolidation of hunters trophies in one location in Africa, and organized charter shipment by contract to US, coordinated clearance and distribution throughout US. We have capable and qualified professionals in our ranks that can execute this... it's good legal business!!

I am not sure the airlines understand that their passengers are NOT THE ENEMY!! We just cancelled luxury cruise from Sydney to Honolulu to celebrate our 55th Anniversary. We cancelled our( a $60k) cruise because Delta quoted $6,000/person, ONE WAY, for their Delta One cubicle seats!!... that's a 15 hour flight LA to Sydney... the 6 hour flight from Honolulu to Seattle is quoted at $643/person First Class, Alaska or Hawaiian... or one-third the cost per hour. The Sydney flight in March presently has ZERO Bookings!!

No wonder the airlines are staggering!!

I hope the shipping professionals will step up and save our Bacon!!

The airline companies lost billions of dollars (each) in the last couple of years so now they're going to make some of that up in premium seats and cargo costs.

Folks,

When a guy says to me that they want to go on safari but they're on budget my first suggestion is to skip the taxidermy and shipping. Hardly anybody follows that advise. Having the animals on the wall means an awful lot to many.

Mark

quote:

Having the animals on the wall means an awful lot to many.

100%. Does to me, same with using my rifles. I like European mounts, have 11 kudu in my living room, more in my little hunting cabin. Several Buffalo skulls scattered around…and I remember where/when each was taken. I might have to be re-thinking bringing future trophies home unless a more economical way to bring them home comes up.

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
What we need is a simple and well executed consolidation of hunters trophies in one location in Africa, and organized charter shipment by contract to US, coordinated clearance and distribution throughout US. We have capable and qualified professionals in our ranks that can execute this... it's good legal business!!

I have thought for some time now that something like this would be the answer. Seems like SCI or DSC could help spearhead something like this.

I have changed my view on bringing them back. I spent a pile on African trophies. I left my Argentina trophies at the lodge, but I’m also there quite a bit. The last few white tails have been bleached skulls/euro.

My father has something like over 250 mounts at home. I will have to deal with those at some point. I may want to keep some that are special, or we hunted together, but the majority will go to a Bass Pro or some rustic restaurant for pennies on the dollar.

Air freight is twice the cost of ocean freight now.

One unique solution to the extremely high shipping costs was proposed by my Namibian PH Jan du Plessis in 2019. I shot a magnificent 30”+ Waterbuck and told Jan I had no more room for trophy mounts in our home. He recommended a Euro Mount that only cost $150 US., and he would display it at his guest chalet along with a brass plaque with my name and “2019” etched on it. I wired the funds to the taxidermist and six months later Jan WhatsApp’ed me a picture of the finished mount with its inscribed brass plaque. I saw the Mount in July 2022 when I returned for my sixth hunt with Jan- it is magnificent.

I have heard that shipping will revert closer to normal during 2023. Obviously won't be at 2020 prices due to increase in fuel prices and inflation, but have heard that the inflated prices will retract closer to normality.