Does anyone have experience with a South Afican or Zimbabwe taxidermist that does buffalo european scull mounts?

I had my buffalo scull mounted by a firm in Zimbabbwe
Artistry, Collets Wildlife
colwild@mweb.co.zw

They did a very good job on the buffalo and the eland. The biggest problem is the size of the crated needed for my sable that pushed the price of shipping a little above what I had expected.

You can also contact the Terry Wagner and he will be able to give you a price and further information on getting the work done. You can contact him at his website.
http://www.wagnerworldwidehunting.com/

Yes, I have some experience in this regard. What do you really want to know?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren.

Euro shield mounts are done by almost all of the taxidermy operations in South Africa, including Life Form, Nico van Rooyen, Andre van Rooyen and I am sure many others. It is a common mount and they all do it frequently. Visit any one of their web sites for detailed information and direct contact information.

I thought a European (skull) mount was such a simple thing, that surely I could have my skull mounts done in SA. WRONG!! The skulls were boiled to pieces and not cut correctly.

Unless I *know* how a particular taxidermist boils, bleaches and mounts a skull, he won't get my business.

- mike

Life Form did an excellent job on my wildebeest, impala, and steenbok Euro shields and I would recommend them to anybody.









I don't have a picture available of the Cape Eland euro shield that Andre van Rooyen did for me but it is also excellent.

I agree with mho, make SURE you see the work or have a reliable reference!

I had 4 skulls boiled to bits from Spirit of Africa taxidermy in Howick, KwaZulu Natal.

Most places put all the skulls in a huge vat and boil them together which means the smaller skulls are boiled too much

Of course this won't happen with any taxi that knows that they are doing.
Cheers,

Gabriel

I've had them done in South Africa and the US. In my view there is no comparison and these days everything is done in the US.

I had Alldays Taxidermy in Alldays, Limpopo Provence, South Africa do european mounts for me on five animals and all were nicely done. I do my own for North American game, as it is quite easy.

Dave

Gunny,

I have quite few euro mounts without the shields including a couple of buffalo. They are even less expensive than with shields and look very nice. I would think any of the better RSA taxidermist could do these for you and it would probably be the cheapest way to handle them.

Mark

Life Form in RSA did these two for me. The wildebeest also has a bone-handled tail swish which is very nice. The skull mounts make nice accent pieces. My wildebeest is in our guest bedroom.

Expect BLACK horns if done in RSA.
I noticed my Texas taxidermist boiled horns/skull immersed in water over butane "cooker". In Africa, the old fashioned way means the cooking pot over fire approach which smokes the horns. (I actually like the visual effect if NOT overdone, but natural horn color may appeal more to you. Saves money but you take risks...

BNagel [earch taxidermy and trophy room forums for my pix if you like]

The reason I wanted them done in africa is to take advantage of consolidated ocean shipping. I was told by flora and Fauna that they can only ship finished products by consolidated ocean freight. I already have three sculls and one shoulder mount and am considering leaving the buffalo there if I cant find a reasonable solution to high shipping and clearinghouse rates.

Beautiful mounts, F.K.A.Texas Hunter. Beautiful.

Life Form taxidermy did my Euro mounts for Wildebeest, Impala and Warthog. The all look like the ones pictured, very professionally done.

We also used ocean shipping for our trophies and I believe the cost was somewhat less, but since I havent' airfreighted any that was just my impression. It did take an extra month for shipping.

Is there any tradition or significance to the shape of the shields these skulls are mounted on? Are the skulls themselves trimmed flat on a band saw then belt sanded?

Skull preps are best done by using dermestid beetles to clean them. Boiling damages the skulls.

Didnt JJ Hack have a business called Custom Osteo that used beetles ? Dont know if they use beetles in africa or not.

There are a number of "beetle shops" in U.S. taxidermy circles that will do skulls.