Anyone have experience in dealaing with Taxidermy Enterprises in Bulawayo? Been thinking about having the taxidermy work after my safarai in August done in Zimbabwe, and avoiding the dip/pack fees. Only really looking at having a hippo tusk mount and maybe a cow cape buffalo euro mount done. Thoughts? Thanks!

Unless they have changed the way they do business, I wouldn't trust them with anything! I had horrible dealings with them starting in 2006 until I got everything picked up in 2008. By then everything was ruined. Sorry to be negative but I wish someone would have warned me.

i've had a few dealings with them - all bad
if you enjoy bending over with a jar of vaseline in the hands of the guy behind you, you should love doing business with them

Shoulder mounts are probably out ofthe question, but Check with your PH. They may have changed hands. Past problems might be over. Not sure, but remember something mentioned by some Zim PH friends.
I had a hippo tusk mount done there 10 years ago,capped in brass, on wood in the shape of Africa. Awesome. Had them do zebra rugs on felt, very reasonable. Buffalo cow? hard to mess up or ship the skull and put it on your carpet.

bring them home. If that is all you are going to have done , then the dip/ship rates will be on the lower end and you will have your trophies in your county and not over the pond......

ZZZ,

Do you happen to have a picture of your hippo tusk mount on the shield shaped like africa?

Had to find out how to post photos. Been on the site since 2000 and never did before.

PS Mad Dog

Also very cool. If you kill a hippo bull, bring the skull home. One of the best. Make sure it is cleaned up in africa.

ZZZ, that is a awesome way to mount your hippo tusk. very nice job.

ZZZ,

Thanks for posting thoses pictures! That Africa Shield is awesome! How big is it? From the picture, it looks huge! Thanks again!

Dan

About 48" tall.

Taxidermy Ent. had to have a bigger shield made for such big teeth. May have been largest Zim Hippo of 2001.

just received my buff bull skull 2 weeks ago from my Oct 2010 hunt in Zim., work done by Taxidermy Ent. you won't really avoid the dip/pack fees as they will either be charged by Tax. Ent or the outfitter.
1.dip/pack- $500( charged by the outfitter)
2. skull bleach-$90( charged by T.E.)
3. road transfer from Bulawayo to Harare plus export doc fees- $360( charged by a combo of T.E. plus Maple Freight, mostly Maple Freight)
4. air freight from Harare to San Fran-$780( Delta/SAA)
5.customs clearance plus forward shipping from SF to Fresno( 150 miles)- $720( of which $200 was forward shipping).
total cost for 1 buffalo skull( in a box that would easily have held hippo tusks)= $2450. cost would have obviously been more with the addition of hippo tusks because of additional bleaching/paperwork/ weight.. the actual work done by TE amounted to less $150 between the bleach cost and the doc/export permits. i doubt you could get a skull/ tusks bleached in the US for $150. bottom line- TE did a good job and quickly- BUT BE PREPARED FOR STICKER SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

looks very nice, can we see more photos of your leopard ?