I was in Zimbabwe last week and wanted to stop by a local taxidermist there , I had heard he worked in the states for a while and had a tannery set up in Bulawayo. I went there and checked out his tanning operation, It's NOT old school.
I was very impressed by the quality of tan the same process used in the states for taxidermy mounts, excellent stretch and finish for mounting.
Steve is a taxidermists and knows what we need for a quality mount.
Although the work is good, not quite to my standard, I would have no issues or problems mounting the quality I produce with his tan.
I will be recommending to MY CLIENTS that hunt Zimbabwe leave there skins with Steve to be tanned then shipped to the studio.
If you have ever lost a skin from a Zimbabwe hunt this is the way you never loose one again.
Your shipping cost will be cut in half , no dip pack, no huge crates, less paperwork, no USDA sticking their noses in your crates only USFW making sure the import papers are in order. NO bug damage. His tan is soft supple and the finish is fantastic, well oiled, tumbled clean and bright.
I'm not recommending his taxidermy work, why anyone would spend many thousands of dollars to ship large trophies to the U S defy's common sense in my view, getting them done here in the states also supports american business and the hunting industry as a whole and makes jobs, but I will be doing business with his tannery when I can to help my clients hunting Zimbabwe in the future.

I've been in the industry for 40 years and I know a good tan when I get my hands on it.

http://www.collettswildlifeartistry.com/tanning.html






Producing the Highest Quality Custom Wildlife Mounts with less than 180 Working Day Delivery.
Visit our Studio Online at:
The Artistry of Wildlife
"2009 World Champions"
"Best in World Combined Artists"
World Taxidermy Championships
" 2010 Michigan State Champion"


Email:
info@artistryofwildlife.com

quote:

Originally posted by The Artistry of Wildlife:

I'm not recommending his taxidermy work, why anyone would be many thousands of dollars to ship large trophies to the U S defy's common sense in my view, getting them done here in the states also supports american business and the hunting industry as a whole and makes jobs, but I will be doing business with his tannery when I can to help my clients hunting Zimbabwe in the future.

I've been in the industry for 40 years and I know a good tan when I get my hands on it.

http://www.collettswildlifeartistry.com/tanning.html






Producing the Highest Quality Custom Wildlife Mounts with less than 180 Working Day Delivery.
Visit our Studio Online at:
The Artistry of Wildlife
"2009 World Champions"
"Best in World Combined Artists"
World Taxidermy Championships
" 2010 Michigan State Champion"


Email:
info@artistryofwildlife.com

Why anyone would want their stuff mounted in Africa is a mystery to me. My taxidermist has been to my TR, knows the layout, etc.

Agreed , This a great alternative to shipping raw skins, I would not recommend any other tannery in Africa unless I have seen the tans, and this one I have and LIKE them.

Interesting...

Been to that shop last trip and left my cats there. It looked great to my eyes. Steve even called Phil and explained all the work he had done in US but Phil still wanted my skins raw back home.

Anton, next time you talk to Phil tell him I was there saw his tanned cats, leopard and lions and he would be very very happy with this tan and the quality of the shaving and the finish of the skin, no grease, clean, bright, and great stretch, even dry.
I know Phil, Phil knows me and knows I know a good tan, If Phil had seen what I saw and held in my hands he would have been more that happy.

D
It may have saved your ear tips....

quote:

Originally posted by The Artistry of Wildlife:
Anton, next time you talk to Phil tell him I was there saw his tanned cats, leopard and lions and he would be very very happy with this tan and the quality of the shaving and the finish of the skin, no grease, clean, bright, and great stretch, even dry.
I know Phil, Phil knows me and knows I know a good tan, If Phil had seen what I saw and held in my hands he would have been more that happy.

D
It may have saved your ear tips....

I had some skins get caught in a 2 year layover, had Steve tan them and then ship to US. It could be that they were two years old when Steve finally tanned them but in the end they were all lost, NO stretch and I was out all the tanning cost.
Steve is a standup guy but between the long layover and the final tan all was lost. FYI

I'd say wrong salt used and the 2 year layover or dried in the sun, the fibers actually COOK and will never regain flexibility.
Skins will NOT last forever sated, eventually the skin will not rehydrate, especially with what some outfitters use Botsalt from Botwanna. or a heavy grained sea salt. The total quality of your mount depends on the SALTING STAGE, it is more important than anything you do.

Just had a buddy of mine leave his Giraffe therewith fingers crossed. He thought the prices was high and the Giragee was wrecked in the tanning proccess. He is a taxidermist himself so he brings all his stuff home now. Not sure what to think about your statements of it being good now. I am leaving in August to go and I don't think I will risk my critters getting tanned there myself. I would be interested to hear others experiences though.

Nube,
Where would I hunt a Girrage? What do they look like, and what is record book specimen??
Ha ha ha
-I'm just ball busting! I'm his best buddy, and I'm going to Zimbabwe with him next month...
-although, it now seems that he may be trying to "one up me", because he didn't even mention the chance of shooting a Girrage!!

I use Steve's services a few years ago to tan my hides prior to shipping them to Australia and i can say enough good things about these guys. They were more than helpful and when one of my skins slipped were able to get me a replacement.Thanks Steve keep up the good work

That is the taxidermist that Nixon (SSG Safaris) uses. I only do Euro and tanned skins so they are working on all of my trophys from last year and this year. I am pleased to read such a good evaluation of them.

I have mounted his tanned skins before and I will say they are good but not as good as my tannery here in the states. I do think your wrong about the dip and pack, you still have to dip and pack all your skulls and horns and they have to clear customs, USFW and USDA as usual.

I will never use Collett's again. I was talked into having them tan my trophies from my 2010 hunt. The Zebra turned out beautiful, but the others were butchered.

My Waterbuck cape had 47 (yes that's right) holes in it when it arrived. The life size Klippy was missing half of the hair on the hind quarters and had to be mounted half life size and my Sable cape had over 20 holes in it and was missing part of the mane.

NEVER AGAIN!!!

Mike

I think the key to making everything work is to get your skins back to the US asap and get them tanned just as quickly. Guys like Andy Hunter that are getting the skins back to us in 3-4 months are priceless. Once the skins are back, if you have to, pay extra to have them tanned right away. Money well spent. Just my .02 worth

The faster I get my stuff home to Canada the better and not through the US. My leopard lion and buffalo got shipped the same day the USFW decided to seize shipments containing leopard because they changed the CITES form. By pure luck my shipment went through Europe and landed safely in Calgary. Now wouldn't that have been fun trying to get that sorted out ? The more time your trophies are in someone elses control the more problems you are gonna have!!!!!!