Reading all the "shipping news" here makes me wonder --

What's a ballpark figure for a European mount in RSA or (especially) Namibia? How much for shipping?

Personally, I like them better anyway. (Except for birds.)

John, I can't help you with prices etc. But I thought I'd still contribute with the following:

There are multiple ways of presenting a European (skull) mount. None of them are necessarily right or wrong, and it depends a lot on what is commonly used in a location how the mount is done. However, it is very rare in Continental Europe that the teeth in the upper jaw are left, and the bleached skull (teeth and all) is simply screwed onto the shield. Not only do the teeth look out of place (IMHO), but you have great big gaps of air between the skull and the shield. The correct way (or at least the Central European way), involves cutting the skull and making sure the cut surface fits onto the shields as a straight plane - leaving the skull sitting straight on the shield.

There are two basic variants of the skull cut: with long and short nose. The long cut cuts below the nasal bone (is that the correct term?), and leaves that on the skull plus (normally) the full eye sockets (?). The short cut cuts above the nasal cavity and leaves a much shorter part of the upper skull (with only half the eye sockets) for display. Which cut you prefer is a matter of taste. I like the short cut for smaller trophies (like roe) and the long cut for larger trophies (like red stag or elk).

Ok, why this long treatise?? If you intend to have your skull mounts made in Africa, where presumably you won't be in as close contact with the taxidermist as you would to a local shop, make sure you get what you want. I hate to say this, but most African taxidermy I have seen has been of somewhat questionable nature.

In my last trophy shipment I had asked for the skull mounts to be made in Africa, after all what can anybody do wrong with a skull mount?? (wrong!). When the mounts arrived, the upper skulls had not been cut, but simply slapped onto the shield - teeth and all. That means I still have to take them to my own taxidermist, still have to pay to rectify the work I already payed Euro prices for in Africa (not cheaper than here).

Just a quick word on prices. Africa is famous for what I term "destination dependent prices". I.e. the price you are charged for a service does not depend on the service, as much as it depends on where you are from, and your perceived ability to pay the bill. So, a European is often charged via the Euro price list, a US/North American is charged via the US$ price list, and a South African, say, is charged via the Rand price list. Same service, but even discounting currency fluctuations rarely the same price. Africa is blessed with cheap labour (blessed at least for the people who pay salaries). The price for this, is that the labour you obtain is often talented, but largely self- (or un-) trained. I believe that shows in a lot of African taxidermy. There is likely a taxidermist in the shop, but a lot of the work is performed by a relatively unskilled labour force - in principal supervised by the taxidermist, in reality often left to their own judgement and work ethic. It often shows. Africvans are some of the most skillful people with their hands, great artists and builders, but that does not make up for proper training as we know it.

All in all, if you choose to have (even) skull mounts done in Africa, make sure you get what you pay for, and don't be disappointed if the result is not as good as you could have had locally.

OK, I'll get off my soap-box now.

- mike

John,

Some Websites:

Namibia 1

Namibia 2

RSA 1

RSA 2

Regards,

Terry

Mike,

I am beginning to wonder whether its not better to have the skulls just cleaned and bleached before shipping and get the rest done locally. With regards the UK,you would also save a little in import taxes which might off set the additional taxi work...

With regards cuts and shields, I think thats a very personal thing..I used to cut my roe with a very short nose cut but since seeing examples of a long cut post by people on the European forum,
I now prefer that method. I also notice that many of our American friends don't use trophy shields at all...I am not sure if thats just for full shoulder mounts or includes skull mounts as well,

regards,

Pete

Hi,
I´ve been quite satisfied using Safari Taxidermy in Pietersburg SA. Prices are fair and the workmanship is good -don´t expect any fast deliveries though.

www.safaritaxidermy.co.za

quote:

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Originally posted by Pete E:
Mike,

I am beginning to wonder whether its not better to have the skulls just cleaned and bleached before shipping and get the rest done locally. With regards the UK,you would also save a little in import taxes which might off set the additional taxi work...

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That is my conclusion as well. If I have to pay twice about the same price, I might as well have it done once and for all at home - and know what I get.

quote:

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With regards cuts and shields, I think thats a very personal thing..I used to cut my roe with a very short nose cut but since seeing examples of a long cut post by people on the European forum,
I now prefer that method. I also notice that many of our American friends don't use trophy shields at all...I am not sure if thats just for full shoulder mounts or includes skull mounts as well,

regards,

Pete

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I totally agree about personal preferences on the different ways to present a skull mount. Both short and long cuts can be very nice. One thing I can't get used to, though, is when the teeth are still left on the skull. Sure makes the mount a lot cheaper to do, but not only does it look like sh*t (IMHO), but the full price was charged for this pityful excuse for proper taxidermy (phew, I feel better now )
- mike

Mike,

Have you ever seen a skull mount displayed on a pedistal? By that I mean the skull and shield are fixed to a pedistal sitting on a plinth, all in say polished oak..
There is a guy on the net doing them primarily for N. American game, but I think roe and maybe muntjac would look really good displayed this way and it would be a little "different" to having them on the wall..

Regards,

Pete

Nope, sounds interesting, though. Sadly, I'm shying away from anything that is not mounted on a wall for my place - I hate it when I have to move stuff around when I (eventually ) have to clean the place...
- mike

Mike,

Here we go, I managed to find the site again...Below is one done for a whitetail...imagine a correctly sized one done for a Roe with a long nose cut...

regards,

Pete

Thanks all!

Personally I don't mind just the plain bleached skull with teeth and something to hang it securely on a nail. Saving space is never a bad thing if you've priced northern Virginia real estate lately.

The only price list I saw at a quick glance was in one of the Namibian sites -- where we're talking about 75-80% savings between a full shoulder mount and a bleached skull. (Not to mention lower shipping and I assume dipping costs?)

I like a nice shoulder mount as much as the next guy -- but that's a good chunk of change, and since the animal's dead, I don't mind it looking dead! In fact, in some ways I prefer it. (Except again for birds, where you lose something in the translation ...)

John,

Take a look around:http://www.skulltaxidermy.com

Thats the site I took the picture above from. It might be useful to compare what an American company charges compared to the prices you've already seen...

regards,

Pete

I had some European mounts done in Namibia and shipped to me here in the states. I hunted in 2004. Contact me and I can give you the prices. I had a Kudu, Gemsbok and Impala done as European mounts, plus had some hides (Kudu, Zebra, gemsbok) done as well. The mounts came complete with the wooden "plate" or board. I'm Happy! I also have pictures if you are interested.
Peter.

As for prices, you should probably speak directly to an honest and quality oriented taxidermist. I suggest you get in touch with Lifeform in RSA. www.lifeform.co.za Read their little section on their site concerning importing/exporting trophies.

Man, I just had a look at the skull mounts I talked about above - done in SA and shipped to Europe at exorbiant cost....

The mounts have been lying in my cellar for quite a while, while I got over my frustration of having to get them to my regular taxidermist to have the skulls cut, sanded and re-fitted onto the shields. Today, I finally got my act together and made the trip to Austria.

Boy, what a sad sight. Not only had the skulls simply been whacked onto the shields (with teeth in place and the nose of the skull sticking out a good 3-5"), but the skulls had been totally over boiled and the bone structure now appears full of cavities at places. Not only was this MISERABLE work from a taxidermist that charged Euro prices for his work, this is downright unprofessional. The shop that delivered this shoddy work is not worthy of being called a taxidermist! If they have unskilled labour doing their work for them, they could at least have the decency of checking the work before it is shipped.

If anybody cares to be advised of a "taxidermist" to AVOID in SA (Zululand, Pongola area, my taxidermist who has worked in SA for several years knew of them, so I assume they are pretty well known??), drop me a mail. Unbelievable misery - and for European prices.
- mike

Mike,

I would very much like that name..could you send it me in a PM or via email?

I seem to recall that when I hunted over there, the PH had his boys skin the animals, and boil and clean the skulls I wanted for Euro mounts..

I therefore suspect that skulls end up being boiled twice as I think it would be boiled again at the taxidermists?

I never realised that over boiling could cause pitting or cavities and in the past when I have had poor results from my own skull mounts I have attributed it to me being over enthusiastic with the soda...

Anyway,if the skulls are boiled twice as a matter of procedure, I think you might have the same problem even if the skulls are to be finished off back home?

Also, If you waite till you get the skulls home before having them bleached, is there a risk they will not come out that white?

regards,

Pete