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| One of Us |
Just wondering if others have experienced long timeframes for thier mounts. Heres my story. We were on safari the last two weeks of August 2009. 6 weeks after we left Highveld contacts me that the hides had been delivered from the Safari operator. That was Oct of 2009. When we went to Highveld they indicated a 16 moth timeframe for our mounts. 17 moths after the OCT notification, I get an email saying that they are starting naturalization. 17 months to start mounting the hides? Who knows how long now to be notified they are done and ready to ship. Guess I should have had the dip pack done and sent to a taxidermist here in the states. Is this your experience or does this seem too long a wait? Meat Eater. | ||
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Our hunt was in July 2008. My son and I received our trophies in July 2010. Which was about 21 months. With the exception of my son's kudu, everything else was euro mounts and tanned hides. Mad Dog | |||
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THIS IS PRETTY NORMAL FOR HIGHVELD. I HUNTED IN 2008 AND MY TROPHIES ARRIVED NOVEMBER 2010. I ALSO HUNTED IN 2009 AND MY TAXIDERMY WORK FROM LIFE-FORM ARRIVED IN ABOUT 11 MONTHS.I RECEIVED THE 2009 WORK FROM LIFE-FORM BEFORE THE 2008 WORK FROM HIGHVELD. THE ONE PROMISING THING IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED THE WORK WAS VERY GOOD WHEN IT ARRIVED! | |||
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Lesson learned. The money you think you save leaving mounts overseas is lost on today's shipping costs. Then, you have to look at what many times is poor workmanship. I could tell you horror stories but you'll know better next time. LDK Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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+1 Highveldt tried to make up for the 2.5 year leadtime by sending complete crap-very disappointed. And it couldn't even be reworked due to their tanning and gluing process. I will avoid them at all costs. "You only gotta do one thing well to make it in this world" - J Joplin | |||
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I went to RSA in Aug. 2008, with Cruiser Safaris. They use Highveld, and at the time, when we toured the facility, they indicated 12-14 month turnaround time. I was getting shoulder mounts, and two pedestal mounts. The quality I saw in the facility was quite good, very good detail work around the face. I finally got my taxidermy early Dec/10. The quality of what I received was as good or better than I saw in person at their facility. They were not happy with Safari Cargo Systems, and formed their own company, Oxi Logistics. The actual shipping cost was $1000 less, than the original quote from SCS. I greased Highveld enough about the whole procedure, that I have an e-mail from them stating I could have 50% off my next taxidermy bill.......Hmmmmm | |||
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I used Highveldt after an August, 2005 hunt near Ellisras. I received my trophies, four Euro mounts, a zebra rug and a shoulder kudu and warthog about 15 months later. All were well done. Coincidentally, today I just took delivery of five trophies done by John Pyles Taxidermy Studio in Orlando from a 2009 Tanzania hunt. I also stored another 12 animals that were taken by my friend Ed. The difference in the quality of work is obvious. My warthog and Kudu are what I would judge to be fair to good, but John's work is museum quality. I am convinced by what I have read from others and through my own experiences that it is advantageous to ship the salted hides back to the states and let American taxidermists well schooled in African animals do the work. | |||
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I guess I'll add to my post above. If you are just doing capes/euros, I'd leave them over there[very satisfied with Highveld]. However, if I were having shoulder/half/full bodied mounts done, I'd ship them back to the US. Mad Dog | |||
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Took mine to them in July of 2008, PROMISED I would have them in 10-12 months. 14 months later they mysteriously now had a back log. Still can't figure out how they had a backlog 14 months after I left my stuff there, but not when I took it in. March of 2010 they contacted me to tell me they were ready to be shipped. Got them and the Kudu and Gemsbuck pedestal mounts that were to be 7'6" to the tips of their horns were 6' to their tips. Next time they will be dipped and packed and sent back to me here in the USA to have the taxidermy work done. There work is only okay, they blow way to much smoke up peoples' asses, don't deliver on promises, apparently can't use a tape measure worth a crap and when you add the shipping cost in, it is far more expensive to have your taxidermy done over there. Other than the above, hey they are the preeminent taxidermist in SA or so that is what I have been told. If they are, then SA is in trouble taxidermy wise. | |||
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I can add a bit to this story. A friend bowhunted RSA in August of 2008. He went with Highveld based on touring their shop before he came back. They told him a year and everything would be ready to crate and ship. It took HV twenty-seven months to get to the US. I hunted with the same PH in April of 2010. The PH's younger brother went to school with one of the owner of Trophex's sons. We drove over there to look after he showed up in camp one evening to talk with me. Rumors of American hunters in the area travels fast. We went over the next day, I needed to get to Ellis Ras to get the permit for my Caracal and they were on the way. Their shop stuff hanging waiting for customer pickup looked great. Their crew of 30+ employees doing all phases of taxidermy work looked competent. I left the Caracal, Kudu, Gemsbok, and a Waterbuck there. They offered to do it for about 25% less than HV, and a guaranteed ten months. That was April 22nd. The last week of February, my PH called and told me had seen all of my mounts completed, and they were as good as promised. I paid my balance, and six weeks later there was a Yellow Freight Truck in my driveway. They suggested Zingela Forwarders to get it to Fauna & Flora. Swiss Air Cargo was less than $250 more than ocean freight, and two days VS 5-8 weeks. F&F cleared everything for me, one year and a week later, everything is hanging in my trophy room. The work was done to my satisfaction, in a timely manner, and for about $200 more than my contract estimates at the time I dropped them off a year earlier. I hope to get back to RSA next spring, and I will use the Trophex/Zingela/F&F services again. I like simple, and all three made their word their bond. My friend is headed back to bowhunt again next month with the same PH, and HV is offering him a $1000 credit and a written guarantee of a year to the US as a way of making up for the earlier fiasco. that is what I know for sure, and can tell you. regards, Rich | |||
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Rich, Have you posted pics of your mounts? Would like to see them & taxidermy work. "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult." | |||
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Highveldt, did euros and backskins or me, and while they promised that my items would ship in 9 months, it took them 20 months. Truth be told, I thought I'd never see my heads again...Good news was that they crated and packed my stuff quite well, but I'll never use them again. | |||
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Seems like we are all in the same boat. Stopped by Highveld 10/31/08 to give them my insructions. Very professional looking place. Decided on a kudu wall pedestal mount, tanned and felted zebra skin. and Euro-mounts on impala, blesbok, wildebeest, steenbok, and warthog. Was told it would be 12 months, maybe less. After 12 months contacted Highveld and got the "We are swamped, have had to hire and train more taxidermists, buy more equipment etc. Over the last 3 years I have has numorous contacts with Highveld. It is always they are "working on it". I finally received an Email a few months ago that everything was done and ready for packing. After not hearing for 2 months I sent an Email and was informed that a mistake had been discovered on my export permits and they would have to be re-submitted. A few days later I received an Email that the permits were okay and my order was proceeding to packing. Maybe another year ? I can accept the fact that they got swamped, but whatever happened to first in first out? They didm't have a huge backlog when I visited them in 2008. Their 12 months maybe less has turned into almost 3 years. | |||
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Oday 450, check the trophy room forum. I am very pleased with the workmanship. Rich | |||
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I'd like to see some closeup's of there work. I'm thinking most of it looks good until you look up close. | |||
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Well, finally got the email that my mounts are ready to ship. Two years and two weeks from the time they indicated they received the hides and skulls from Cruisers. I make final payment and then told that they will now submit for the permits to ship and that it could take 4 weeks or more to get the permit, then they will have Coppersmiths contact me about the shipping. Will update if anything else transpires. Meat Eater. | |||
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UPDATE, Well after waiting 9 weeks instead of the 4 weeks for them to get the export permits indicated by Highveld, they are now on vacation until Jan 9, and not taking emails during that time. Wanted to go back to Africa for another safari, but this is starting to make me wonder if I want to go through this again. Not happy, and for those who find this and are concidering using them, run, run fast and far away. Two years and two months and counting. Meat Eater. | |||
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Countries will vary in Africa but your experiencing what is common from Namibia. Ship your raw trophies home. In RSA it averages 3-4 months and your skulls and skins are in the US. Sometimes you can get the same results from Zimbabwe if you deal with the right people. LDK Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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I agree with LDK - ship your raw trophies home. Whatever you would save in money by using an African taxidermist, you will likely suffer in quality. Then you have to pay the shipping on finished mounts rather than just capes and skulls. There are so many outstanding American taxidermists who are experts when it comes to African mounts, and many of them post right here on this forum. Personally, I would never use an African taxidermist, due to quality, shipping costs and time delays. It's just not worth it. | |||
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Thanks for the advice. Hard lesson learned. Meat Eater. | |||
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My mounts have been on the wall for nearly eight months now, and look as good as any I have seen done here for less than twice what I paid for mine. Do the math, hunted the first half of April, 2010. I went to their shop, got an estimate and a delivery date. Had everything here on my walls in ten months. I will be hunting with the same PH and his wife the first ten days of May. I will drop my trophies off, get a binding estimate, arrange for shipping, and come home happy; knowing that in March of 2013 the freight truck WILL be in front of my house, and everything will be done to suit. Merry Christmas to all... Rich | |||
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I really would like to see some close up photo's of Highveld's mounts. Let's see how good they really are!!!!! | |||
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Rich, I'm glad you're pleased. I haven't looked at your pictures yet and I have no idea of who's doing your work here, but I do know your's is a unique story when compared to the other fiasco's I've experienced with work done there. One of my better clients and a family friend got sucked into that "it's cheaper and better here" con job. It was funny because he left his personal trophies there, but his wife insisted that her's be shipped back here. I did not rush her work through and she waited the year that most of my clients do. Her kudu and lifesize warthog were in their game room almost 8 months before his work came in. He had a gold waterbuck that would have been acceptable from a taxidermist who'd never done African work. At the proverbial "10 feet" it didn't look that bad. His gold impala, however was a different story. He called me over to ask if there was anything I could do to it to make it look normal. Seems they believe in "one size form fits all" and had stuffed papier mache up inside the throat area to where it looked like it had goiter issues. The nose was plastered over and the eye set was terrible. He didn't like the answer I gave him on "fixing it" so he has a goitered antelope hanging in his trophy room. One day he'll tire of his wife's ridicule and bring it to me to be recaped and mounted. OOPS! I went back and looked. Rich, if you're pleased with that work, then it doesn't matter what we think. RETIRED Taxidermist | |||
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George you are right! "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" | |||
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Do you have pictures of them posted here somewhere? ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Maybe here. ____________________________________________ "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett. | |||
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Dude!! You're cruel. I actually clicked on that. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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 ____________________________________________ "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett. | |||
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I am the friend Rich is refering to. Because of the long delays I was offered a $1000 credit on my next order as well as 20% off the overall cost of my next order. The work from the first trip was some of the best I have ever seen. I got back from my second trip in Sept 2011 and left with them several amimals incluing a limpopo bushbuck that should go #12! I am considering having them do a live mount of that one! I have also been in Rich's trophy room and looked at his mounts from Trophex and they are of the highest quality. In a little over 5 hours Rich will be on a plane to Africa, damn i wish it was me! | |||
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