Heading to Africa for the first time in September 2010. The trip will include plains game in Namibia and Buffalo/Croc and some PG in Zambia.

We have a decent house that can accommodate some taxidermy but we may retire in 4-5 years. The retirement will most likely include selling this house and either being nomadic via RV or down sizing to a smaller home in order to cash out of the big one.

I just can’t seem to get my mind around what to do as far as taxidermy considering my unpredictable future. I honestly have not been much of a trophy hunter. I mostly hunted to fill the freezer. I have one decent Brown Bear rug on the wall, which I took simply because I lived in a place that made it possible self guided for a license, $600 air taxi, and a $25 tag.

Africa will be an experience that memory will perpetuate but at the same time I feel I need to bring back what I shoot.

What are your thoughts? Don’t put anything up? Put them up and just deal with it in 3-4 years? Freeze and store the capes & skulls and decide later.

I really want to hear from those that had a similar timeline to retirement and how they felt about the expense of the taxidermy and what they decided to do later.

I opted to have my last hunt recorded on Video. This way I can re-live the whole Hunt any time I wish. The DVD's take up very little space and can be taken anywhere to be shown. I'm having a few Rugs made up and some European Mounts done also. I used "Big Five Productions" to film the Hunt. See there Web Site.

The safe bet would be to bring everything home as dip and pack trophies. Have the skins wet tanned by a good tannery here and store them in a chest freezer. You can then mount them years later if you choose. This will be only a small expense compared to doing all the taxidermy at once. It also may save you the regret you could feel years later if you left everything in Africa.

I would try and decide what to do with the croc before you go. There is a big difference there between a full mount and a skull or photo.

Any small antelope or anything you would ever consider to be mouted lifesize should be skinned for a lifesized mount. Then later you have the option of a lifesized mount, a half lifesized mount, a pedistal mount, or a shoulder mount.

An RV with a full mounted croc inside would be unique by the way! Get one of those Rv's with the large storage areas for bikes,atv's etc.. and make it into a traveling trophy room.

Visit with a taxi local to your retirement locale. Otherwise, get 'em tanned and froze. If you get talked into doing anything in Africa, not only will you have a huge up front bill but you'll have no control over poses and so on you'll later want when ready for the new house.

2 cents there...

I have a house full of trophies, truly enjoy having them around and wouldn't want to be without them --

But, that said, trophies are very expensive, take up a LOT of room and, once you have them, turn out to be THE primary home decorating consideration. Bottom line, they're not everybody's cup of tea, although many folks don't realize it until they've made the big investment.

For many people, the better choice would be to invest in better pictures and video of the hunt and leave most of the trophies behind. You can always make an exception for the once in a lifetime Leopard or something. You might even be able to afford an extra hunting trip or three with the savings!

It's a personal decision -- don't just go with the crowd on this one -

I will personally never shoulder or full mount anything again. Even if I were to hunt a lion or leopard or world record mule deer, they would become rugs and the skulls equipped with hangers for display. Even in an RV, I would think a few skull mounts would be viable. Taxidermy is darned expensive these days when compared to tanning and skull cleaning. The difference goes a long way toward another hunt or RV repair.

I did European skull mounts (actually, the skull mounts were beautifully prepared by my host at the princely sum of 10 Euros apiece) of all of my antelopes. I also had flatskins done of several of them plus mountain zebra. I find this the most economical and satisfying way to preserve your trophies.

The Euro mounts can be displayed either inside or on a covered patio or similar outside place since they do not require a climate controlled environment. Euro mounts also take up much less room than shoulder mounts. The flatskins can go on the floor, the wall, be used as a bedspread, or draped over a couch. I could have done shoulder mounts, but as others have said, this is expensive and ends up dominating and dictating your household decor (something which your spouse may strongly contest.)

Here are some of mine displayed on a screened porch (I can actually admire them from my easy chair through a plate glass window).

I doubt I will have anything shoulder mounted on my next trip. I am looking at skull mounts and skins. The skins are a great thing to have even without the cost of a backing.

There are a couple of guys on the deer lease that can not afford taxidermy work, not even a skull mount. They will cut the antlers and the top of the skull and mount them to a plaque. There are less expensive ways to have something besides photos.

Stonecreek,

Your mounts just reinforce my thoughts about skull mounts.

Jim,

You've got some great suggestions here. Since your long term housing arrangement is in question the idea of getting all the capes and skins tanned only is probably the wisest path to take. That way you can have your trophies mounted or not as you see fit and when you see fit. If you are considering european mounts make sure that the Arub and Muchinga people are aware of this so they will take care to not break the nasal bones that are quite delicate and if broken ruin the skull for euro mounts.

Mark

If you are thinking about getting an RV then you should get them european mounted. They will take up less space in your house if you do get a smaller house, and if you get an RV you will have more of a chance of fitting them in a RV. Unless you get a "toy hauler"(An RV with a garage-type thing in the back for Motorcycles and atvs.) you more than likely will not have room. I own one and have been in many, there is no room for shoulder mounts or european mounts.

Another option is to get a euro mount and the cape tanned and frozen, that way if you are unhappy with the euro mount in your new house you can have it converted to a shoulder mount.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Thanks also to Jerry Huffaker for his suggestions and help.

Mount the buffalo horns on the front of your RV hood. Hang the croc tail off the rear.

quote:

Originally posted by RREESE:
Mount the buffalo horns on the front of your RV hood. Hang the croc tail off the rear.

I think a full body Croc running on the roof might be better. Buff horns on the grill might fit right in in Texas.

I'd purchase one hell of a good camera and video system and learn to use it well. That way, you'll have portable memories that you can take with you for the rest of your life.

The comments about doing the skulls European style is also a good way to enjoy your trophies, at least for the short term.

Have a fantastic hunt!

Frostbit,

We live in a condo, so space is an issue.Animal Artistry suggested doing the crocodile in what they call a "crocodile roll". The croc is rolled and wrapped in old antique leather straps as if it was being shipped during the days of commercial hunting. The croc gets numerous compliments from everyone who sees it.

Hides on felt and European mounts X # next

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
Frostbit,

We live in a condo, so space is an issue.Animal Artistry suggested doing the crocodile in what they call a "crocodile roll". The croc is rolled and wrapped in old antique leather straps as if it was being shipped during the days of commercial hunting. The croc gets numerous compliments from everyone who sees it.

Kathi,

That sounds interesting. Any chance you can post a picture or email me one? You have my email address.

Jim