And more importantly, where is my Eland? That would be the Eland that you promised to mount as partial payment for your hunt in Zululand in summer of 2008? That was supposed to be done before you left for Africa, remember? The one you told me many times, over the last 9 months, was complete and just had to be crated up and shipped. Well here we are 18 months later, no sign of my Eland, and you no longer respond to PMs or emails.

Perhaps you are too busy to mount my Eland? In which case you can afford to pay the $900 you still owe on your hunt in lieu of the service you promised to perform. Just send the check when you return my cape and horns, that way I can pay someone else to do what you promised to do. You have my mailing address, but in case you don't, PM me and I will provide it again.

Would it be possible to give a name?,as many taxidermy firms use the words "artist" and "wildlife" in the shop name.

This may serve other hunters in the future,plenty of good guys(and gals) out there to use.

That would be the poster "Wildlife Artist", real name Steve Goad, location N Carolina someplace.

he has your eland and you don't even know where he lives? amazing.

Russ,
You may get more response if you post this on the "African Hunting" Forum.

Russ,I was on the plane with that guy in 08. Don't ask me how I remember him but I have his business card if you need a phone number etc. PM me.

Russ;

His profile says Elkin NC. But nothing else;

Unforunately there is not much to be found googling Steve Goad; or taxidermy Elkin NC.

I posted an inquirey on Taxidermist.net forum for contact info.

Steve Goad



Best regards
Mike O

quote:

he has your eland and you don't even know where he lives? amazing

Of course I had his address, but that was aeons and two computers ago. I don't have it now. But even if I did, it's on the other side of the country. We always corresponded just fine by email, and I know his email works, he just chooses to ignore my messages.

Am I reading something between the lines here? The name rings a bell.

Russ:

No responses from Taxinet forum so not a high profile guy. There is a hit on peoplefinders for a Stehen W Goad age 45 in Elkin but if he is dodging e-mial he will probably dodge phone call as well.

There is info about Lisa Goad age 44 in Elkin. Maybe a sister since it was her high school class name. Family preasure often gets good results!

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:

quote:

he has your eland and you don't even know where he lives? amazing

Of course I had his address, but that was aeons and two computers ago. I don't have it now. But even if I did, it's on the other side of the country. We always corresponded just fine by email, and I know his email works, he just chooses to ignore my messages.

Am I reading something between the lines here? The name rings a bell.

what lines and what name? i just am surprised that you would have a trophy shipped from Africa and don't know where it went or how to get in touch with the recipient. if he just disappeared, that's one thing but it sounds like he is still around but chooses to ignore you. a phone call with caller ID blocked should get you through to him.

Well I got him on the phone thanks to a tip off from an AR member, and he stated that it was done AND crated, and that he would be letting me know the crate size and weight on Monday so I can get UPS down there to pick it up. Said he had to take the crate down to the feed store to get it weighed. That would be Dec 27 2009, for the record. I gave him my telephone number, and will be expecting the call. We will see.

UPS won't ship a crate, cardboard boxes only.

Time will tell, Russ....

Talk with ya soon.

The Monday call happened but on Tuesday. He gave me crate dimensions ... but no weight. That will have to wait until Friday, he says. We will see.

UPS has shipped a crate of guns for me in the past. They also have a freight division that will ship the really heavy stuff.

Well Friday came and went and no call. However, he did call me yesterday (about a week late) and gave me a weight. So I am sending UPS over there today to pick it up. We will see if this is a real crate or an imaginary crate.

It's a real crate ... and it showed up here today with a bill for $670 from UPS. I nearly choked. 130 lbs from NC or OR. Anyway, after I called UPS freight, they cut it in half and I paid up.

The quality of the work is high.

So, as the old saying goes, "All's well that ends well!"

When I get it up on the wall, I will post some pics of it along with the rest of my trophies. This Eland was taken in N. Botswana in 2002 with a 20 ga "Paradox" hammer rifle shooting a 500 gr conical.

Glad to hear you received your trophy well..
Be sure and share a pic or 2 when you get him on the wall. I'll like to see it.

Sure glad to hear that there was a happy ending.

Maybe you could consider deleting the confrontational initial post?
It sounds as if you are accusing him of something..

Rich