The Accurate Reloading Forums
My favorite African trophy
23 July 2009, 09:09
craig boddingtonMy favorite African trophy
Guys, I don't follow the record books and I don't have much stuff mounted anymore, but I got lucky a year and took a really big Derby eland in northern Cameroon. Hunted for them four times, some of Africa's toughest hunting. This is my second, a lot better than the first (15 years ago). I told Dan Catlin at The Wildlife Gallery that I wanted a pedestal mount, otherwise "have fun." This is, of course, a dangerous thing to tell a taxidermist. The links below are some pix of the mount--it's the best thing I've ever seen, sorry to bore you but it's worth sharing.
Regards, Craig
23 July 2009, 09:12
404WJJefferyWow Craig,
It is a terrific trophy in its own right, but the fact that it is your favorite really elevates it!
Thanks for sharing.
P.S. Reeeeealy happy you are a regular contributor here!
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23 July 2009, 09:15
L. David KeithVery creative mount C. Wonderful trophy to boot! Congrats on both accounts.
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23 July 2009, 09:18
archer_375stunning...that's all I have to say...
Really it is beautiful.
Oscar.
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23 July 2009, 09:45
cmfic1CB, that is a superlative mount.
My trophies on the wall are meager in quantity, but not too bad in quality, although none can compare to this.
I have got to say, that your Eland coupled with an awesome Leopard I saw on here a while back, are likely theeee best ever African mounts I have seen......Thanks for sharing
I think I can vouch for others in saying that your not boring us!!
I too have stated to a Taxi man the basics and told him "take it from there", the tab is higher, but more than likely by choosing this route, your gonna get something very unique, and worthy of the cost.
Rod
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23 July 2009, 09:49
Use Enough GunFantastic! Congratulations on an exceptional trophy and an unbelievable mount! I am waiting on my next wave of African trophy mounts and two of them are going to be pedestal mounts: a roan and a sable.
23 July 2009, 10:04
robncoloradoCraig, Great animal and a fine display of him with some nice touches.
LDE is on my list and I hope to hunt him in a few years. Your animal certainly keeps that desire alive.
Thanks for sharing
23 July 2009, 10:20
470drshooterJust got my trophy tags from Wildlife Gallery today for my Plainsgame hunt in Namibia in three weeks. If the hunts and game gods cooperate, I'd like to have them do a pedestal double mount with a Kudu and Gemsbok. The Cape Buffalo on the half horn pedestal is also impressive.
Beauty of a LDE mount and it too is on my dream list.
They do impressive work with a short turn-around.
23 July 2009, 10:36
BrettAKSCIBeautiful Eland Craig!!! He did an amazing job! Bongo are beautiful and I wouldn't turn my nose up at one, but for my money Lord Derby Eland takes the cake!
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23 July 2009, 10:58
Kyler HamannTerrific example of probably the pinnacle of African hunting (and I know you earned it). That mount really tops it off and does a tremendous job of showcasing a fine specimen.
Thanks for sharing,
Kyler
23 July 2009, 11:51
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23 July 2009, 12:23
infinitoEveryone looks at me strange when I say this is my favorite animal....well, the proof is in the pudding here....
Well done Sir.
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23 July 2009, 12:23
mboga biga bwanaAwesome
Seloushunter
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23 July 2009, 12:42
prof242That is an exceptional piece of art!
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23 July 2009, 15:33
Equinsu OchaGreat bull, Craig!
23 July 2009, 16:41
Mad DogAbsolutely stunning! Congrats!
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Waidmannsheil Craig, glad you enjoyed that hunt and thanks for sharing, good one, Dom.
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23 July 2009, 18:44
River JordanThat's a great mount, the pedestal is a thing of beauty.
23 July 2009, 18:56
VanderhoefI'm waiting on my trophies from my first trip last summer that are supposed to ship sometime this month!! Thanks to your post my taxi will be getting some anxious emails
.
Beautiful LDE and the mount is exceptional!
Congratulations and thanks for posting.
Regards,
Scott
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23 July 2009, 19:12
NavalukFantastic animal.
I enjoyed my hunt at Mayo Nduel this year very much and at Lognia last year. Your reports on your Cameroon hunts made me very comfortable with my decision. Thank you.
Did Guav take you fishing for Nile Perch?
SG
23 July 2009, 19:14
Bill CThat is a beautiful mount and a grand Lord Derby!
I feel the same way about my LDE, if I were allowed to have only two mounts it would be it, then my leopard.
23 July 2009, 19:19
465H&H465H&H
23 July 2009, 19:21
safari-lawyerThere is none greater than Lord Derby's Eland. Absolutely the king of the African antelopes. Congrats Craig. Great Trophy.
Craig: I'm noticing the ruff is not yet fully blacked. Is that beacuse this eland was shot early in the year(Jan or Feb). I was in Cameroon in March 04, and the Eland's ruffs were noticibly blacker at that time.
Will J. Parks, III
Beautiful mount, and an exceptional LD Eland. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing photos with the rest of us.
23 July 2009, 20:25
MARK H. YOUNGCraig,
Beautiful! I just got my LD eland back from the taxidernist but it is not as spectacular as yours. Very nice work.
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https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 23 July 2009, 20:26
matt uquote:
I can vouch for others in saying that your not boring us!!
Thanks for posting pictures of such a beautiful animal.
Awesome display of a truly hard earned trophy. After spending 10 days with Guav Johnson and hearing stories and photos of LDE, its sounds like one tough hunt, under difficult conditions, in a rough country.
The danger of civilization, of course, is that you will piss away your life on nonsense
23 July 2009, 20:44
Wildlife GalleryCraig,
You are not boring us and I'm honored we had the opportunity to do this animal for you. It is truly a trophy of a life time. My team certainly preserved him with honor and much respect!
I should point out that this is not a competition piece either. It is the type of work we are putting out the door for all our customers. Thanks again for this post...DAN
PS. I included a couple of close ups to show some of the detail others can't see from the pictures posted.
Please! Keep on boring us!
Outstanding, a fine trophy and an artists job on taxidermy.
23 July 2009, 21:33
mstarlingCraig,
Oh My ... that fella is simply stunning! Congratulations to you and the taxidermist.
Mike
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http://www.mstarling.com 23 July 2009, 22:35
RVL IIINothing boring about it!!!!!!
I especially like the back side. Awesome work there all by itself!
Robert
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I'd call that REAL NICE!
Congrats, Craig! Thanks for sharing
Rusty
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23 July 2009, 23:21
Wendell ReichOh that is nice! Beautiful Eland and exceptional taxidermy. The work that went into that base is the icing on th ecake.
24 July 2009, 00:14
Tim HeraldStunning Craig!
Good Hunting,
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24 July 2009, 00:20
graybirdWords can't do this animal/art work justice!!!!
Graybird
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24 July 2009, 01:29
chuck5656Craig; You said you dont have too many mounted any more. Do you leave them for the outfitters to display or donate them? Just curious as I dont think I will ever have that problem.
24 July 2009, 02:06
SGraves155A wonderful trophy and outstanding taxidermy. Should someday be in a museum or a gallery for many to see.
24 July 2009, 08:19
Sevenxbjtquote:
Originally posted by Tim Herald:
Stunning Craig!
+1