I have limited funds and limited space to store mounts, not to mention a non-hunting wife that is extremely possessive of her wall space. How tacky is it to go on safari with no intention of having any taxidermy done? That is, to go for the hunting, eating, and experiencing alone? Is this a big $ saver or not?

9.3x62,
More and more people that I talk to are doing the same, you can skip the hassle of shipping and taxidermist's not to mention the cost associated with both. It really boils down to how satisfied you are with the photos you bring back.

Check this lengthy thread: Fed up with taxidermy prices?

George

One of those cull hunts just might be the ticket for you.

Regards,

Terry

While we have and enjoy a some trophys here at home, the most important thing to me is the hunting. I don't think there is anything wrong with not bringing the skins/heads back if that's what you want to do, as this is something each and everyone must decide for themselves. Pictures bring back good memories too! It's as simple as that IMO.

9.3x62,

There's nothing wrong with being, or NOT BEING a trophy hunter and not electing to ship trophies.

This actually gives you a number of options:
1. You can shoot great trophies and simply photograph them.
2. Shoot lesser trophies,
3. Simply shoot for the pot (meat hunting).

I'd certainly let my outfitter know your preference before hand.

Nothing goes to waste in Africa, good trophies are mounted and re-sold and they are worked into leather, curios and souveniers.

Cheers,

Gerry

Another thing to consider is that money saved on lesser trophy fees and dip/pack/shipping can pay for professional video of your hunt, if so inclined.

Our trip to South Africa cost LiRita and I right at $9500. That was for 10 full days of hunting, including airfare and between us we shot 7 animals.

A few weeks ago I paid Coppersmith $1650+ for 7 skins, horns and skulls from Namibia. Then last Friday I paid them $2250+ for 6 skins, horn and skulls from the South Africa trip. Thats over $3900 for 13 animals, $300 each, or almost half the cost of another trip. Do the math and you'll see why in the future there is very few animals I'll pay to ship back.

I´ve been on two hunts so far and after I receive the trophies from my second hunt I´ll have to rethink the trophy issue -running out of wall space fast. Add to that the curios (lots of curios...) and our house is starting to look like a museum.

A line has to be drawn somewhere.

The hunting is No1, that and the experience. Trophies just help bring back SOME of the memories (like I´ll ever forget my kudu hunt...)

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Check this lengthy thread: Fed up with taxidermy prices?

George

George:

Perhaps I have opened Pandoras box again... uh oh.

All:

Thanks for all the quick responses. I have mounted some NA game over the years, and would love to have the resources to do more trophy mounting, but they simply are not there, and the wife-imposed constraints are (she has no problem with hunting, or me spending $ doing so, but she is firm about any more heads in her house).

Anyway, I'm toying with trying to set up a 7 or 10 day plains hunt in summer 2006, but didn't know what the etiquette would be for someone like me who can scrape together the funds to go on such a hunt, but only barely. In fact, I have started to thin the rifle herd to help with the financing.

What's the scoop with the cull hunts?

quote:

Originally posted by 9.3x62:

What's the scoop with the cull hunts?

I haven't been on one, just seem them advertised. I think the Daily Rates are about the same, but the Trophy Fees are significantly reduced and you can shoot numerous non-trophy animals.

Regards,

Terry

We also do not bring any capes or horns home anymore. By the time we pay the PH to bring them to the taxidermist, then pay to have them dipped and packed, paper worked, and then shipped to the USA, I soon have the price a return ticket to go again.

Now add on the import charges, and transport to your taxidermist.

Now the taxidermist want "x",000 dollars deposit, and you soon figure out you don't have a room to put the mounts in anyway, so there goes another $100,000 for a new room.

While one is doing all this, I am shooting up a storm.

Perhaps you can compromise, and mount 1-2 exceptional trophies from the safari and bring the rest back as skull mounts...
For me a cull hunt cannot be compared to the thrill of seeking one particular animal or type of animal...

I have been to Zim 8 times and last year was the first time I have brought anything home (when they finally arrive). I went for a trophy Elephant and am having the tusks shipped home. I live in a small townhouse wth low ceilings and have no place for them and the cost is prohibitive. Just the 2 tusks will be almost $2000 by the time they get here. Thats the trophy fee for several lesser plains animals or one good one. I give my trophies to my PH and take LOTS of pictures and retain lots of memories.

Figured I better throw my two cents in. I've paid my share of taxidermy cost. Its labor intensive and can be costly. Quality of work can vary and you don't always get what you pay for. You can just about pay for some kind of a hunt for what dip/pack, shipping and all the fees you pay to get them on the wall, with some of the fees being questionable at times.

Some wives have about all the heads on the wall they can stand, mine is one of them. I will probably continure to have my stuff mounted. But if a guy wants to hunt and have pictures or Video as opposed to mounts I see nothing wrong with it, last time I checked I think I came to the conclusion it was about hunting.

Well, I have the opposite problem most of you guys have. My wife insists on having everything she shoots mounted, several life size. I could care less about having anything of mine mounted anymore. The first couple of times in Africa, I had everything mounted. I've only had two NA animal mounted, a very large bear and Caribou.

I have been thinking very hard about leaving the animals from my first safari in Africa coming up in May. When I expressed this to my wife, she said that was the stupidest thing she eaver heard of. I guess my mind was made up for me!

But I can't help but think about getting another trip "next year" for the price of those mounts...

Zimbabwe,

You want to make some money for your next safari? Sell the tusks, have repo's made, you get a good set of repo's you can't tell the difference, except for the weight.