Taxidermist in RSA

19 February 2016, 08:43

Fjold

Karoo taxidermy http://karootaxidermy.com/ did my wildebeest and bushbuck flatskins and I was really pleased with them.

I think that flatskins are where the biggest bargains are in South African taxidermy. I can get euro mounts and shoulder mounts at a competitive price here in the US if you figure the extra costs for the bulk to ship the complete mounts.

Frank

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20 February 2016, 14:39

A.Dahlgren

I have used a numbers of taxidermists in Africa.

Best work is from. Relive Africa Taxidermy SA

Would be interesting to hear what our own AR taxidermist thinks about their work, Jerry, Dennis?

https://www.facebook.com/Reliv...74468653002/?fref=ts

Here is a Eland and a couple of Lions they have made. I think they sculpture their own forms as well

https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbc...028_1631141115_o.jpg

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20 February 2016, 18:00

The Artistry of Wildlife

Anton, Of course good work can be found a lot of places. Relive IS one, but it is a company not an individual taxidermist. Travis DeVilllers had worked there, the last 2 pics the sitting lion is his work. He also re-sculpted many forms that were on the market for Paul. I heard he doesn't anymore and has his own studio now. I may be wrong. Quality depends on who is doing the mount. Paul can't do all of them personally. Turnover at any large studio can change things. But yes, Paul and Travis are both very good taxidermists

You can't beat flatskin prices in Africa. They are a good deal especially Giraffe. Should be less than half of what it costs in the states. And will not increase any costs of your freight costs to the US on your dip pack order. Labor at $1.50 - $2.00 an hour can't compete in the U S labor costs. But it will delay your dip pack till the skins are done to ship. With that kinda labor expense any African Taxidermy studio, even with much lower prices than US operations, enjoy a profit margin twice or more of what a US Taxidermist can operate at.

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21 February 2016, 18:38

Nyala

Another vote for Lifeform ...it's been a while since I used them but they were great and fast which can be an issue in Africa. They also had a great website btw. I had 2 shoulder mounts and 4 euromounts done plus skins. All were excellent but some folks prefer dip and pack to send home as shipping costs for finished trophies can offset total price differences between doing there or in the USA.
Good hunting have a great trip, mark

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27 February 2016, 14:54

cal pappas

It may be cheaper but the shipping crate will be much larger. Calculate that. Also, cheaper may not be better and if you don't like what you get, if the quality is poor, if the face of your lion looks Oriental, etc… you won't know it until it gets to your home and you will be stuck with it. At least if you don't like your USA work, you have recourse and can follow the progress. That said, I'm sure some African work is fine, but please calculate the added shipping cost with the larger box.
Cheers,
Cal

PS. Matabeleland Taxidermy is Bulawayo was the worst. A friend's mounts were rubbed bare due to packing in a too small box. My three skulls were put in a crate with ZERO packing material and not even strapped in place. Of course, someone in the shipping industry was a fault for unpacking them for examination. BS. Before that, another Zim company sent my crate of mounts to Amsterdam! In 16 trips to Africa, I have found most Africans are very experienced in separating Americans from their money and taxidermists lead the pack. Just my two cents from my experiences.

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27 March 2016, 05:19

L. David Keith

Travis de Villiers owns his own shop now. I book trophy Elephant hunts, etc., for his father. Top shelf work, and I would highly recommend him for those who demand quality. But as some have posted, there are plenty to avoid in RSA and other countries. My personal RSA experience was only good with Life-form and that was my Lion. Other shops in Zim and RSA I've dealt with were sub standard. The work resembles week one in the high school taxidermy course. We have far too many outstanding taxidermists here on AR. I use Dennis Harris but would have no problem at all with Jerry, Robert and a few other guys. They produce amazing work.

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27 March 2016, 19:25

Big Wonderful Wyoming

Taxidermist are probably the most critical SOB's on the planet of each other when it comes to salesmanship.

I reckon a guy has to like the work, and if he does he moves on.

My brother in law is a taxidermist, and two good friends of mine are 1 in Wyoming, 2 in Colorado. I don't think any of them are great, but they do decent work. To hear them talk about their work, their competitors, and some of the gents on these pages you'd think they were on Real Housewives of Bev Hills.

In Windhoek, 11 years ago I visited five or six shops. I was impressed with a couple, and pretty un-impressed with the rest.

The scale of their work was impressive, most had several thousand animals in work. Where the average American "stuffer" has 50-150.

If a guy was anygood in America and could run a business, he would do well to expand to open a shop in Windhoek. Or at least get organized down there.

One of the German or Austrian Taxidermist did that.