30ott6 and I leave for our Namibian safari in 16 days. We have been coordinating the shipment of our potential trophies between our taxidermist, Nature's Design in Cody, Wy, Maria Europa-Felix of Hunter International Brokerage Services in San Francisco and Pamela Foerster of International Air Cargo Services in Windhoek. What a trio, these folks are real pros and make the whole thing very simple. We have been well advised to us each of their services.

I'll second that. They all know what they are doing and have been extremely helpful with the procedures involved.

I'm also dealing, virtually right now, with Hunter Felix (same Hunter International), and have been very impressed--and this ain't my first rodeo, so I can compare.

Hey fellas, please post some contact information for these outfits. I'll be hunting in Namibia in June and would like to contact these folks. I haven't made any plans for shipment of trophies yet. I am a first-timer, so some professional assistance might be wise...

Contact Maria Europa-Felix at meuropa@sbcglobal.net or 650-652-0100 of Hunter International. She will get you shipping forms you need (CITES,CDC and so on). She handles your animals out of San Francisco to your taxidermist.

Contact Pamela Forester at davidson@namibnet.com She will pack and ship your animals from Namibia to San Fran. She and Maria work very well together. She will also work with your Namibian outfitter.

John

One other thing for clarification- Our taxidermist supplied us with the necessary forms with instructions on how to fill them out then we fax'd them to Maria. You will also need "tags" from your taxidermist that you take with you along with cable ties to put on your skulls,skins etc. If I can help anymore, let me know! John

Thanks John. I'll be sure to contact these folks. I'll probably have some of my taxidermy done in Windhoek (rugs, Euro skull mounts, tanning), with just a few mounts done here (kudu primarily). Do you think they can coordinate this? Additionally, my taxidermist told me to have everything shipped to me, not her. I asked about tags and she doesn't use them. Can you have stuff shipped to you from SF?

Since I am doing it differently, I can't answer your questions so contact Maria for shipping from San Fran to you and contact Pamela for shipping and packing from Namibia to San Fran. Why have your animals shipped to you directly instead of your taxidermist? If the taxidermist doesn't give you tags then you will have to have some made. Not sure of these arrangements, best to talk to Maria for starters. John

I think that you will find that the brokers ship only to taxidermists, that's been my experience. If she has no tags (we are basically just talking business cards), then you need to make some up. Laminate them with your business card (or name & address) and make enough to minimally have 1 per each cape, skull, skin. It is best to put 2 on each. I generally try and put them on myself, at least verify with my eyes that it is done. Take electrical wire ties to put them on with.

DesertRam

You should be getting more help from your taxidermist. Most will provide tags and coordinate with the shipping broker as well as pick up your skins and skulls to be mounted at the port of entry. They make quite a bit of money from doing your mounts, you might want to check with another taxidermist.

CFA

Well we're a long ways from a port of entry, so there's no realistic way for her (or me) to pick them up. The expense of fuel and time off work would probably be close to what shipping is. She's only going to be doing a mount or two (most will be rugs or Euro mounts done in Windhoek), so I don't expect her to go to any great lengths for me. I'd rather not switch, as I am familiar and satisfied with her work. She does a large percentage of the oryx that come off the missile ranger here in southern NM (did mine and my wife's), so she's familiar with African game. That's something that few local or semi-local taxidermists in this neck of the woods can say. She is also very flexible on payments (I'm a good customer), and is close so I can call or stop by and have a peek any time I want.

Maybe I just need to sweet talk her a little more.

I have to disagree a little about taxidermists picking things up at the port of entry--maybeso for those close to a P of E, but usually the brokerage firm ships to the taxidermist. Desert Ram, you should get tags made up, either with business cards from her or just make some, and get with a good brokerage firm. I suggest Hunter International, but choose who you want, but get one and get all the arrangements taken care of now, before you leave. It sounds like your preferred taxidermist just isn't familiar with the procedures--no big deal, everyone has to learn, just don't learn the hard way.

Here is how it worked on my last trip, and is set up to work the same way on my next trip:

I decided on a specific taxidermist. They produced laminated shipping labels, enough for all hides, capes, horns, skulls, plus spares. They provided me with a written "Routing Order" to give to my PH/Outfitter. The routing order directed the shipping company/overseas taxidermist which brokerarge house to ship the trophies to for Customs/US Fish & Wildlife clearance.

The brokerage house was in the loop early on and coordinated with the overseas shipping agent.

When the trophies arrived in San Franciso, the broker cleared them through customs and immediately notified my taxidermist. My taxidermist sent a check on my behalf to cover all costs and avoid any storage costs. The taxidermist directed the broker which tannery to send which items to and which items were to be sent directly to the taxidermist. The broker completed the transfer to the taxidermist and tannery and then the tannery shipped the tanned items to the taxidermist.

The taxidermist let me know how things were proceeding and presented me with the shipping/etc bill. I paid the bill and the taxidermist mounted my trophies as I could afford to pay for them.

This is the type of service you will receive if you use the three companies identified in the original post.

It sounds like you do have a taxidermist who will work with you and could not pick up the trophies but you should not leave, as has been said, without contacting a brokerage firm to handle the shipment from the taxidermist in Africa who will dip and crate them for shipment to the US. Also dont risk losing your animals by not tagging them with some form of a waterproof tag with your name on it, the brokerage firm that will handle it in the US and your taxidermist name and address if she will accept the crate. I have used Coppersmith and they will provide tags, as others probably will too, if your taxidermist doesn't. E-mail me if I can help.

CFA