The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Africa "Trophies" -- What do you think?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Africa "Trophies" -- What do you think? | Login/Join |
| One of Us |
I have been fortunate in making four trips to Africa. Three were plains game hunts in South Africa with Russ Lovemore of Safari Trails International. The fourth was with Lin Stanton of Mbalabala Safaris in Zimbabwe which was primarily a leopard hunt. The reality of my financial world dictates that I cannot afford a large amount of taxidermy nor do I have the space for it. Therefore, I devised a unique way of displaying my “trophies”. While on safari, I carried a Sharpie permanent marker and labeled each spent cartridge with the name of the animal that it was used on. Any recovered bullet from the animal I also kept and labeled. Once I was safely home, I took the spent cartridges and bullets to make the display plaques that can be seen in the pictures. The plaques are a very inexpensive way to highlight the wonderful and exciting experiences that Africa has so kindly given me.     | ||
|
| One of Us |
Under the circumstances, I think that's a great idea! Well done. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Excellent! That is well done. One consideration may be to apply a some sort of photo friendly clear coating over the photos to preserve their colour. OR One thing i am considering is to hang the electronic photo display screens. You could have one for each safari that scrolls through the photos automatically. I think you can get motion activated ones too so they don't burn out or run 24 hrs a day... | |||
|
One of Us |
I really like the African continent made out of wood that you attach your pictures to. They look great. Jim | |||
|
| One of Us |
After staining the wood, I put a few very thin layers of spray polyurethane over the wood. I then glued the pictures onto the polyurethane. I then put as many as a dozen very thing layers of the spray over the photos. So, they should be protected.
| |||
|
| One of Us |
Great Idea, and well done! Looks great. | |||
|
| one of us |
I totally agree! Creative too! Best regards, D. Nelson | |||
|
One of Us |
Neat idea.  DRSS Searcy 470 NE | |||
|
| One of Us |
Very nice! Definitely a great job on the plaques and a great idea! Having the brass and the bullet is a really neat idea and adds a lot vs. just having the pictures. Along kind of the same lines, I have euro skull mounts of my animals from africa up on the walls on plain black plaques, and have a picture of each animal under the skull. I recovered the bullet from a buffalo, and always thought it was a really neat thing to have, but never figured out a way to display it... I may try to steal your idea and see if I can attach the bullet to the buff picture frame or something! | |||
|
| One of Us |
That is one of the more creative ideas I've seen when the traditional taxidermy is not done. looks good. | |||
|
| one of us |
Fantastic idea. Reminds me of a friend's deer hunting shack in MN - only there was no picture, just the empty cartridge, with the caption: "Coulda...woulda...shoulda" | |||
|
One of Us |
I really like that trophy room. I cannot afford all the big mounts but such mixed displays of photos, the cartridge & bullet used, wooden cut out panel etc. just add a nice touch to the skulls & euro heads. A few old books & old maps with vintage binoculars & compass would just add to that. "When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick." | |||
|
One of Us |
That is too cool. Love it. Mike | |||
|
One of Us |
It is a fine idea but: 1. What happens if I use more than one bullet? Do I have to mount them all? 2. What if the skinner can't recover the bullet? | |||
|
| One of Us |
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I did recover more than one bullet from a black wildebeest. I chose to use just one bullet as I simply did not like the look. In regards to the recovered bullets, I just considered them as a "bonus" item to add to the plaque as my original plan was to use just the empty cartridge. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Blake- Nice! Over the years I should have spent more on hunting and less on taxidermy. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I love it! I want to do something like that with my euro mounts but have not been able to find any way to make the wood mount. Would you share how you got the outline of Africa large enough to do so? Thanks! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Get a projector and connect it to your computer. I took the wood, stood it up against the wall, and chose an outline of Africa from Google images. It was a simply job of tracing the outline and cutting it out with a jigsaw. I hope that helps. Blake | |||
|
| One of Us |
That's really nice man!! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Nice idea. I'm getting to that point and it's a nice solution. | |||
|
One of Us |
That is a really cool idea. Well done! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Very nice. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Very well done and lots of great animals and memories. Thanks for sharing with us. Are you heading back soon and where and for what?  | |||
|
| One of Us |
I really like it. Saves space & money while still preserving the memories. LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show. Not all who wander are lost. NEVER TRUST A FART!!! Cecil Leonard | |||
|
one of us |
Very nice. I could have hunted several times more but I still bring stuff back for taxidermy. A sickness, I know. I hunt, not to kill, but in order not to have played golf.... DRSS | |||
|
| One of Us |
Hi GOB. I just booked a water buffalo hunt in the Northern Territory of Australia for July of 2016. So my next plaque will have a different shape with different animals. Plus, after pricing walnut.....I may have to use oak for that one.  | |||
|
| One of Us |
Good for you, sounds as if you are going to have a great time. What rifle & caliber do you plan on using? | |||
|
One of Us |
Outstanding idea! I leave in 3 weeks for Namibia, and will probably do the same thing, rather than pay $1000's in taxidermy and shipping. Jesus saves, but Moses invests | |||
|
| One of Us |
Very creative way to display the memories of a safari. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Hi Bud. I am glad I could save you some money. Please send my condolences to your taxidermist.  | |||
|
One of Us |
Nicely done ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
|
| One of Us |
I had the tusk from my bushpig placed on a plaque in the shape of Africa on 2011. Get quite a few comments about it. LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show. Not all who wander are lost. NEVER TRUST A FART!!! Cecil Leonard | |||
|
One of Us |
I like it a lot, and it gives some good ideas. | |||
|
One of Us |
Trophies are tributes and memorabilia, as well as works of art. Taxidermy is an art, but so is photography. Very creative. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
|
One of Us |
It's a great idea and a way to get to hunt more for the same money. Also certain airlines would now have to ban carrying cameras to screw up your hunt.  -- Promise me, when I die, don't let my wife sell my guns for what I told I her I paid for them. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Africa "Trophies" -- What do you think?
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia