Where is everyone finishing their taxidermy these days?

I sent the skins and horns back to TX in 2004; but in 2006, 2011, 2014, and 2018 I did everything in Africa and had air freight back home. I was extremely happy with the quality and overall price including shipping.

However, it has cost me a fortune to get my NZ stuff home from a 2019 hunt (thank you Covid). And my full tahr mount is still over there.

I'd prefer to have everything done in Africa, but not sure if the shipping rates have come down to a normal level (I plan to discuss with the taxidermist, my outfitter uses Lifeform). And look at sea freight options.

We have quite a few animals - 24 in total. And quite a few big ones we intend to wall or floor pedestal mount (2 buff, kudu, roan, sable, etc) and one full mount black impala.

Thoughts?

I have 22 animals getting done now. One being a full body nyala mount and bushpig. The rates have been coming back down but not to pre covid. When I do the math it is normally now if your doing 8 or more even with the shipping now you will save. If you only do 4 or 5 shoulder mounts it will be the same or more then doing them back home. You have to figure 120 to 150 per animal your saving on dipping ends up being over 2000 that goes towards shipping, I have just learned now never just get one shipping quote it is varying sometime thousands between quotes I have gotten lately.

I have zebra pedestal thats 19 years old done by LifeForm that still looks perfect. Used sea freight back then. Now I just take euro mounts so shipping is the same.

quote:

Originally posted by bcap:
I have 22 animals getting done now. One being a full body nyala mount and bushpig. The rates have been coming back down but not to pre covid. When I do the math it is normally now if your doing 8 or more even with the shipping now you will save. If you only do 4 or 5 shoulder mounts it will be the same or more then doing them back home. You have to figure 120 to 150 per animal your saving on dipping ends up being over 2000 that goes towards shipping, I have just learned now never just get one shipping quote it is varying sometime thousands between quotes I have gotten lately.

Good point on the dipping $$$.

Air freight is twice the cost of ocean freight right now.

But ocean freight is back to pre-COVID levels.