I am going to S. Africa at the end of April with my wife on our honeymoon! We are going with Cruiser Safaris for plains game. I came across this great website and thought I would start learning from you guys. I have been reading alot of the info on here and I will be posting more questions as they come up. My 1st concern is the taxidermy work. Has anybody ever delt with Highveld Taxidermy? I am trying to decide on having them do it, or one of my local taxidermists back here in SW PA. Thanks for any help.

lengleng:

I have used African taxidermists twice and US guys the rest. I seems to me the animals done in Africa all have an odor to them and when the dust settles I don't think they are any cheaper when all costs are considered. In the Pittsburgh area area I have been told Bernie's Taxidermy is quite good with African animals. He is an SCI scorer so I believe he knows what they should look like. I have used Conroe Taxidermy in Texas (excellent but slow) and Animal Artistry in Reno (excellent but expensive) for most of my trips.

I used an experienced "african animal" tasidermist in Nebraska. I wouldn't do it different next time.

Do your research well friend.

I plan on visiting Highveld in S Africa after my hunt, what details should I be looking for to see if I like their work?

I ususally use a local guy who has mounted deer and turkey for me and his work is excellent on them. He takes a very personal approach and works with the client but his African experience is limited, although he is very good with elk, caribou, wild boar. etc. I am just a little worried about what the condition the capes and skulls will be in by the time they get here.
Also he usually uses sivko furs in NY to do tannery. Anybody heard of them?

You might be better off using a taxidermist in the states.The low prices of taxidermy work in RSA is inviting but the shipping costs will most likely end up costing you more than if you had the work done in the USA.Most mounted trophies that are mounted in africa are shipped on a container ship and it will take longer to get them and they may be exsposed to moisture and what ever else that was in the container before them like odors etc..
Your taxidermist that you like to use will have to study pictures and live animals (zoo, animal farms etc.) to see the subtle details of the species being mounted. Not to over simplify but as far as experience goes the techniques used to mount a bull Kudu are the same as a american bull elk so if he can mount the other species he will be fine as long as he does his homework

quote:

I plan on visiting Highveld in S Africa after my hunt, what details should I be looking for to see if I like their work?

Look for brilliance of color...or does the mounts seem "bleached out"

Look for likeness....is the animal really like they should be?...you must know the animals to do this however,

Ask for references and look at the taxidermist's work.

You'll shell out almost a grand for a kudu....you want it right for that.

Thanks for the advice, what about brokers? The outfitter usually uses Faunu and flora, and CopperSmith was another that was suggested. If anybody has a chance look at http://www.taxidermist.co.za/about.html
this is the taxidermist website in Africa. some of their work looks good but it is too hard to tell on a computer.

Bring your skins home for your taxidermy. Tanning and art quality is much better here. If you want some recommendations, drop me a PM.

one other thing I was thinking about doing is letting them mount my warthog and baboon (if I get them) over there to keep them happy and so them dont "sit" on my hides forever and this would avoid the rediping of those two animals. then doing everything else here. They did a really nice baboon mount that I liked, but I didnt know if this would be a bad thing to do (splitting up my game)

one other thing.... what about insurance. i read on this site somewhere that you can get a significant amount of insurance (maybe from SCI) that would even pay for a rehunt if the animals were totally lost or ruined

quote:

Originally posted by lengleng:
one other thing I was thinking about doing is letting them mount my warthog and baboon (if I get them) over there to keep them happy and so them dont "sit" on my hides forever and this would avoid the rediping of those two animals. then doing everything else here. They did a really nice baboon mount that I liked, but I didnt know if this would be a bad thing to do (splitting up my game)

I did the same thing...some animals done over there, some here. One thing to consider with that, is that you'll get some animals faster (the ones done in Africa) and some will be slower (you'll have to wait 6-8 months to get the hides/horns along with the shoulder mounts, then another 6-8 months to get your stuff done here). That does spread out your cost over a longer time, though.

Your hides should be fine, even with a longer wait. The final quality will depend on how the outfitter handles the hides on the front end. The shipping will be higher with mounted heads than with just hides and horns. It equals out in the end.

Double L,

You might consider getting the taxidermy done in the RSA (I've no info on Highveld) and then ship to Baltimore which is an FWS Port of Entry. Consign to Pride International and, once the shipment arrives just drive over and pick it up. Save a lot that way. I also use Flora and Fauna, a reliable broker, but it's cheaper to drive to Baltimore from DC than to get goods trucked from New York.
Regards

lengleng,

Dedie what sort of taxidermy you want, and then decide where to get it done.

For example you might want several European skull mounts for some animals, and shoulder mounts for others.

Shipping crates of taxidermy work from Africa to the US is now very expensive: it has tripled in the last dozen years. It is now cheaper to have hides and horns sent over here, also faster and cheaper for one crate versus more than one you will probably have.

I last had taxidermy done in Africa and shipped in '05, I probably won't do it again.

jim

I was a first timer in 2004 and I had my work done in RSA. I was more then pleased with the work my Taxidermist provided. You can find my thread if you do a search. I figured I saved about $1500-200 on the taxidermy compared to the cost in the States even paying the additional cost of shipping, which was still less than $1000 bucks. If I ever hunt RSA again, I use Safari Taxidermy again.

I used Hunter International, Maria, as my customs broker. Things went without a hitch, just went to the airport and picked up the trophies. Highly recommendable!

Hope this helps,

Not meaning to offend anyone, but to say that taxidermy in one country is better than another country is utter rubbish....there are good and bad taxidermists in all countries. Frankly, although (IMO) taxidermy is cheaper in Africa than most other countries, I don't think you should use price as your most important criteria. You have to look at the trophies for many years to come - so you want them to look right.

The best way to judge a good taxidermist is by how well they do the cats, esp leopards..... this is the hardest animal to set up by far. I'd suggest you visit a few websites and check out their cats. Another thing to look for is how well the lips and mouth have set up. Many taxidermists make the animal look like it has its lips pursed.

Highveld Taxidermy have the reputation in the industry of being one of the best around, but slightly more expensive than most. You might also like to check out Lifeform Taxidermy in White River RSA who (IMO) are quite simply the very best anywhere. You can check out their work at www.lifeform.co.za

Wherever you choose it's advisable to contact them and arrange for them to send some of their own trophy taxidermy labels either to you or to your outfitter.....

If you want to get your work done in South Africa, I can recommend Taxidermy Africa, Roland Peacock. They did 12 mounts for me and 12 mounts for my brother. Their work is excellent. Don't even think of having any work done by Taxidermy Enterprises in Zimbabwe.

Contact Keystone Fur Dressers in SC Pa. they'll import your trophies for around $200,do their own tanning and taxidermy. there is also a very good taxidermist in western NJ whom is a member of this board Widowmaker416 that does tons of African game and also can do the importing for you.... (he's doing mine )

i've had most of my stuff done here, but did have 3 safaris done there. My prize stuff like lion and leopards I have done here, but the more common things I have no complaints about the work in africa. A couple of note though, 1st if you have them done here, make sure your taxidermist has been to africa so he knows what things should look like. Second there is a large money savings in having it done there. 1st the work is cheaper, but 2nd you end up paying for packing and shipping. on mounted animals this can get to be lots of $$. I found that bringing them back on ship was perfectly satisfactory and cost about 1/3 the dollars. (3000 compared to 9000) it took 30 days to come accross, but for 200 per day savings I can wait a month. If you bring back to do here, make sure the babo and warthog are each packed seperately, so the entire shipment doesn't get held up. On mounted animals you don't have to worry about that. one question though - being that this is your honeymoon, when are you going to find time to hunt??

If you are going to have shoulder or full mounts done, definitely have the work done in the U.S., by a taxidermist familiar with African animals, like Darrell McMicken in Georgia.

As stated above, the cost of shipping will zero out any savings on taxidermy.

I had my trophies from a 1996 RSA safari done over there, and it took a long time. When the mounts arrived, the shipping costs were 3 times what the RSA taxidermist "estimated."

For my 2002 trip to Zimbabwe I had hides & horns shipped back home. My shipment got here extremely quickly, and my short 4 month wait is probably not typical. But I was pleased.

Since costs will wash, it's better to have your animals done here, if for no other reason than the obvious: if there's a problem, you can deal with it locally. Are you going to show up at someone's shop in RSA to find out why there's a delay, or address a problem? Not likely. And if ever came down to it, suing someone overseas is just about impossible--or at the least, not economically feasible.

If you leave your trophies in Africa you are at the mercy of whomever you leave them with--artistically and financially.

I would not use Fauna and Flora, for personal reasons relating to issues from my 1996 trip. I used Coppersmith in 2002 and was extremely well pleased.

quote:

Originally posted by lengleng:
I am going to S. Africa at the end of April with my wife on our honeymoon!

Damn, I gotta find a woman that will let me do that! You must have yourself a real keeper.

I went on my first trip to South Africa last July and agonized over the same taxidermy issue. I ended up having a taxidermist in Omaha do a wildebeast and a gemsbok shoulder mount for me. He did an excellent job, and the total turnaround time from the hunt to them hanging in my home was about 7 months. My taxidermist here spoke highly of the preparation work that was done by the taxidermist
, Andre Van Rooyen, in Jo'burg. I'm really pleased I had them dome the way I did. One other advantage to having them done here is that the shipping costs are less.

I'm suprised at some of these responses, particularly from folks who have posted here and elsewhere regarding problems with US taxidermy. I have done it both ways and am having work done by two different outfits in Africa now. If you have a problem with a cape after importation guess what- your out of luck! If you are having or thinking of having work done in Africa GO TO THE STUDIO. Look at the different stages of completion, look at the crating procedure and talk to the owner.If you are satisfied go for it. Shipping by sea is brought costs back to what air freight was in ~ 2000, so there is a savings there.

All of my mounts are being done by Highveld and I'm not worried a bit. The forms the use sounds like they use a liquidy thing rather than the generic mold forsced to fit your trophy. As far as the packing I got to talking to them at the SCI showe last year and they use nearly a 1:1 ratio of packing material to mounts. They are hunters so they have extensive fist hand knowlege of how the animals look and act in the wilds. I've laways heard that the cost of mounting more or less balances out (US vs RSA). The work will be cheaper there, but to ship the finished product will eat all of that saivngs.

7mm. guy

I cannot imagine using an African taxidermist. Maybe because I have made that mistake before? I have visited Lifeform and Taxidermy Enterprises, and would use neither again. I have no first hand knowledge of Highveld.

You are in control of the taxidermy in the US. If you want anything at all "special" done with your mounts, this is the only way to go. If you are satisfied with the same "quarter turn, erect pose" you see everywhere else, you can get that done in RSA. You may even get a right hand turn if you ask for it. Then again, he may have thought you meant left!

No matter how you say it, good taxidermy will cost quite a bit. Hoping that everything works out right when the crate arrives, after you have paid in advance, is clearly risky at best.
I establish a relationship with my taxidermist in the US, he customizes my mounts as requested, and I get what I paid for.

There are some good businessmen in RSA and other southern african countries, who will try hard to get your work done right. They probably will 80-90% of the time, too. If you are one of those 10%, your recourse is extremely limited.

I am trying to imagine the "counter help" in RSA inventorying my hides and skulls, taking a list of positions:
"Right turn, semi sneak on the kudu shoulder mount, Zabra pedestal mount with chin tucked like a chess piece on a custom base of oak......
I get amused even thinking what they may write down, but far less amused when I think of what I would likely have shipped as the finished product.
You will be far happier in the end to work with a respected taxidertist at home.

Bill

I hunted with Cruiser Safaris in MAy 2005. I went to Highveld after the hunt and saw their facility. It was big and modern. I would have no problem letting them do the work for me if I was going to have taxidermy done in Africa. However I have a friend that is a taxidermist here in the USA that is doing the work for me. If I did not know him I would let them do it at Highveld.

leng leng

At least for your first safari do yourself a huge favor and just get in touch with a US taxidermist that specializes in African mounts. Just tell him what you want to do and follow his advise on the whole shipping, tanning, mounting process. A top notch taxidermist is not going to let you get screwed. Let him micro manage the process and all you have to do after seeing your trophies tagged in Africa is write a check when they arrive at your taxidermist. It's really that simple. Contact me if you'd like a couple of recommendation for taxidermists that specialize in African mounts.

Mark

wow, this site is great! so many good responses. Thanks to all who are tyring to help me out.
I am getting very excited for our upcoming trip, and yes I did find a real keeper! She is quite a trophy! (out of my league in the looks dept. too)
just to answer some of the other comments, I plan on getting: kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest, impala, warthog, maybe a porcupine, baboon
everything with shoulder mounts except the hog, porcupine and baboon makbe full mounts with them

300magman: any advice about Cruisers? (Dont tell me anything too bad becuase its too late to back out now) anything we should know to make our trip better? how was the hunting?

There is nothing bad to tell about the place. We enjoyed our hunt so much that we booked again for 2007. We have a big group coming with us next time. Game is plentiful. Pieter, the owner is a bit of a jokester. He kept us entertained the whole time. Food was excellent. I have some pictures on my website at Mississippioutdooradventures.com in the gallery there are a few pictures from the trip. I am working on a video but it has been slow going this year. You just can't go wrong going there for plains game.

lengleng,

I don't know anything about taxidermy but I can tell you that CS is a first class outfit all the way! Congratulations! to the two of you, you're both going to have a spectacular trip! It's a real treat to walk through Highveld to look at all the stuff and meet Dieter, and especially Mary Ann!! I have two short write-ups about my hunts w/ CS, PM an email address to me and I'll send them to you, and anybody else who's interested.

I also used LifeForm in White River RSA and am very satisfied with the results. As for "counter service" and just general communication, they were very responsive and did exactly what I asked of them, to the letter. They also did an excellent job on packing and crating for shipment. I haven't taken any cats but I wouldn't hesitate using LifeForm if I ever do.

One of the best things about Lifeform is that they allocate a particular member of staff as a permanent contact with each outfitter so that we always know who we're dealing with and they always know who's job it is to do something. That way the counter service is absolutely spot on every time........ They must be about the only company I've ever dealt with in SA that return calls every single time, chase things on the day they promise to and always have all the licences up to date and ready to go as they're meant to be.

I have heard Highveldt and Lifeform mentioned quite a few times in this thread as the better African Taxidermists.... Who would be considered the best US taxidermist for African mounts?

lots of good info here,
now to begin my research and planning, I appreciate everybodys opinion. If I think of any other questions I'll be sure to post another topic!