In Aug and Sept 08 my wife and I hunted in South Africa. At this point I'll hold off naming the PH, but I can't get my trophies shipped. Since last March, the Cape Buffalo, Lions, and a large number of plains games have been at the shipping office-dip and packed. The PH only occasionally responds to email, and wouldn't call me on the phone when he was recently in the states for shows.

When I do get a response from the PH-usually by bugging his US agents I get long excuses about how someone else messed up the paper work.

Does any one have any advice about what next steps I can take? I've tried be polite and patient. Not sure if a lawyer would be able do anything. I will share the name of the PH if the concensus is that this length of time is way over the top so others can avoid this. I've hunted in Africa before and had trophies mounted, shipped and recieived in less time.

Way to long as far as I'm concerned. We had our trophies back via boat in 6 months. Lions may have something to do with delay. 18 months is way to long.

18 months for dip and ship, regardless of the animals from South Africa is way too long. We just had 6 month turnaround from Zimbabwe. All my prior shipments from SA (4) have been 9 months or less.

IF they're dipped, packed, at the shipping office and ready to ship then you need to be talking to the shipping agent to ask what the delay is.

quote:

At this point I'll hold off naming the PH,
The PH only occasionally responds to email, and wouldn't call me on the phone when he was recently in the states for shows.

I could be wrong, but I think I read a post on AR that in RSA the PH's responsibility does not end until the Trophy's are shipped to the Client?

When you can not get straight answers and they start avoiding your e-mails, it is time to start naming Names. Just my .02 cents worth.

Next time he graces you with a response, get the name of the shipping company and then call them yourself.
Me thinks that you're getting the old shipping co excuse.

IF (note the big IF) they are at the shippers, they should have already contacted you for payment, so you should already have their contact details..... in which case you can contact them to ask what the delay is.

IF you don't have their contact details and IF the shipper hasn't contacted you, then someone is probably shooting you a line.

Thanks for the input so far. I have been in touch with the shipper by phone and email since last summer. Just keep getting run around the paperwork (CITES) is not correct. And the blame keeps getting placed on the shipper, govt, PH and taxidermist.

CITES paperwork for what?

http://www.shakariconnection.c...frican-trophies.html

Stay with the polite, patient, and persistent approach. I'm coming up on 18 months. The key hurdle for me will be if the wrong trophies show up, or they are ruined. At that point I get a pound of flesh off everyone involved.

Second what Shakari said, what CITIES paperwork?

Had a similar problem in 2007 and after I explained how the issue might be subject to the court of last resort (the multitude of forums, report and information web sites) my leopard was immediately located and shipped with my other plains game. Don't be afraid to use the leverage of AR and other hunting communities you participate in.

Hunted in Botswana May 2009 and my trophies were shipped to South Africa and then to Flora and Fuana in NY and arrived in late Aug. This is without a doubt on your PH and their company or something is lost.

ask him if talking to SCI would help him get better response from the shipper.
I hunted with CMSafaris in December of 2008. They walked over with me to Fauna & Flora at SCI Reno a scant two months later to work the details out with them for me. Six months later I had a call from my taxidermist that this big box had just been dropped off at his shop.


Rich
check with Dan at the Wildlife Gallery 1-989-772-4100/561-5369 They have excellent connections in Africa and might could take care of your issues. Cannot hurt to talk with them. They work a lot with Ivan Carter, so you know they are reputable folks to deal with

1. Contact the South African Embassy in Washington DC.

2. Contact South Africa Bureau Of Tourism.

3. Give name of PH and his US Agents.

4. File complaint with NRA.

5. File complaint with PH's US bank.

6. File Hunt Report.

I am with Steve, based on the animals you listed what CITIES do you need? I do not see any that require one. Lions out of SA do require a little extra paperwork on the RSA side but that should have been taken care of at the time of the hunt.

You aren't getting the whole story. Should never take this long.

Camarillo Brillp

Unless you provide some real information, no-one will be able to give any help other than some moral support. All you have done is to throw a very weak complaint into cyberspace!

Who is the Outfitter?
Who did the dip&pack?
What animals did you hunt?

Publish this and we can help you - otherwise good luck - and I hope your trophies don't rot in the meantime.

Just a thought ...

Maybe email or contact TASA and see if they can offer you some tip and tricks

Taxidermy Association SA



Cheers, Peter

You are long overdue to have received them.

I would be concerned the PH did not pay the landowner for the animals and they have not been released, or they were taken without proper permits.

Something has been screwed up- so who is the PH?

Go after them HARD!

The other thing that you have to worry about is what shape they are in. I got a shipment after 18 months from tanzania (held up primarily by the CITES paperwork at the US government...assholes) They were mostly salvagable but not in great shape. My taxidermist said that 18 months is way too long to not have them properly tanned.