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Hopefully this is considered an appropriate post for this forum. I have gotten widely varying opinions on tanning elephant hide. Some say that you should absolutely plan on having the hide tanned in Africa, that the tanneries are better equipped to deal with the hide, they have access to better chemicals, that the tanned hide is cheaper to ship, and that the final product is overall better than that produced in the United States. Others suggest that it may cost more to ship, but that the tanneries in the United States do just as good a job on preparing elephant leather as the tanneries in Africa. I know that many on this site have had elephant leathered tanned and wanted to solicit your views. Thanks in advance. Mike | ||
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I have had my elephant hide tanned there and it is very good. I have also had buffalo tanned there and am having hippo hide and rhino hide tanned there. All of my backskins have been tanned there and they are soft and beautiful. I would suggest having it done there as they do tan that type of hide on a regular basis. | |||
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Who do you use and do they have a website? Do you mind sharing a price range and any photos of the finished product? Thanks. _______________________________  | |||
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As a general rule, tan flat skins in Africa and tan trophy capes in the states. Obviously, check prices, but flat skins should be substantially cheaper there. Also, a tanned flat skin weighs a lot less than a salted skin. | |||
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I have used LifeForm Taxidermy, as well as Dennis Doherty Taxidermy to do all of mine. Contact Dennis Doherty or Bridgit at LifeForm for current prices. | |||
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What does it cost to tan a typical ele hide in Africa? Mark Jackson  | |||
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I have a quote from Oasis tanning in South Africa for R51/sq. ft. That is $7.30/sq. ft @ a $1 to R7 exchange rate. Which is pretty close. Other prices for other tanneries will vary ... | |||
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The quality of the tanning is about the same but you will save a lot of money having it tanned in Africa. I would suggest leaving it in Africa to be tanned. Ngagi, It will cost you around 12.00 per sq ft here in the states by the time you ship it to the tannery and back. Jerry Huffaker State, National and World Champion Taxidermist | |||
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Am I fair to say it might be 120 Sq Ft for a decent tuskless cow? Might make some neat set covers for my truck... Mark Jackson | |||
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Most tuskless hunts I have seen are non-export, but perhaps you have found one that is. You do not have to take the entire hide. You can just take some panels that are the size you want. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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What I would do rather than tan the whole elephant is, find out how much you need to do the seats and or whatever else and have that amount tanned. Jerry Huffaker State, National and World Champion Taxidermist | |||
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I had good luck dealing with these folks: Specialty Leather Processors They tanned elephant leather for me several years ago so I don't recall what it cost. It wasn't cheap but it seemed fair. I asked to have it done in Zim. but it showed up in the States dried and salted so I sorted it out here. Kyler | |||
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Mike, just make is clear with the Taxidermist or whoever is involved not to have it shaved to thin... Mike | |||
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On tuskless hunts in Zim, the hides become govt. property. That's standard. _______________________________ | |||
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Mike, current price in RSA: Karoo $22 per square foot Lifeform (doesn't list Ele but Rhino, Hippo etc is $19 per Sq ft.) As far as tanning here: make no mistake, we have excellent tanneries and they deal with game hides from all over the world. However, you pay diminsional weight when shipping home from Africa, and it will cost you more as you'll get hit with "dip/pack" charges on your Elephant hide. So having it done in Africa is cheaper and as a rule, excellent quality. I recently saw some excellent dyed Ele hide that was done in Africa. It was very good quality. Most African taxidermy shops have their tanning done outside their studio so you might look at samples next time your over there. Good hunting, David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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Not quite. I am having a panel of skin from my tuskless cow shipped back from my recent hunt with Chifuti for a guncase and a couple of pair of Russell's. It does require a CITIES permit that the safari company must complete and cost me an extra $100 to process. Mike: I'd shoot Carla an e-mail to double-check if this is an option on the hunts with CMS in Makuti. On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
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There may be ways around it but it still remains the standard procedure. It's listed in the govt. paperwork the PH carries. _______________________________ | |||
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As bwanamrm points out, it can be done if a CITES permit is available. My understanding is that in most cases there are not enough available for tuskless in addition to the trophy bull hunts that are scheduled. I think 500grains said he was able to bring hide back on one of his hunts. Probably others have as well. My initial post was to point out that it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. It is nice that you get to keep some hide to remind you of the hunt. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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Charles said it better...it being the exception rather than the rule. _______________________________ | |||
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the main difference is that in africa the tanning is generally chrome tanning , resulting in a more "rubbery" finish that is more pliable and better for leather goods , however this process is not nearly as good for mounting as the "rubbery" effect makes it harder to mount ....and harder to taxi the finer details .... if you want leather goods made, tanning in africa is the way to go ...for mounting get it done in the states .... "The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it” www.facebook.com/ivancartersafrica www.ivancarterwca.org www.ivancarter.com ivan@ivancarter.com | |||
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That would be a site. Do they wear a one piece or a two piece  "Science only goes so far then God takes over." | |||
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i had a good sized bull skin tanned in zim (at triangle) cost about $2500 | |||
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