Value on Cape Buffalo shoulder mount?

13 July 2015, 06:02

A friend of mine has a couple Cape Buffalo shoulder mounts for sale. Any idea what the value would be. One is 42" with ok taxidermy work. Looks real good from 5 feet. The other one needs to be measured but he thinks about the same size. The quality of the taxidermy is better on this one. Would $1200 to $ 1500 each be a fair number?

Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
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Filer, Idaho, 83328
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14 July 2015, 10:50

JBrown

quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
I've considered this question when deciding how much to spend on taxidermy as I get older. What I've concluded, is it's not worth much of anything except to me. Ask yourself, what would you pay for someone else's 42" buffalo?

Sorry to be a party pooper, but I've thought about this very same question.

Jason

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14 July 2015, 21:24

Idaho Sharpshooter

A local machine shop has between fifteen and twenty head and shoulder mounts of African game, including a 44+/-" Cape Buffalo. They belonged to a former business partner who passed away. He bought them from his widow. Hunts, but just in the Idaho area. No real desire to hunt Africa, but likes the look in his office areas.

07 August 2015, 17:16

Jerry Huffaker

The problem with selling any taxidermy is the value is all sentimental. The only purpose it has after the sentiment is gone is decoration. Anyone buying taxidermy for decoration doesn't care about quality, horn size etc. all they are wanting to do is fill a spot on the wall so they are looking for a bargain.

Jerry Huffaker
State, National and World Champion Taxidermist

10 August 2015, 21:15

L. David Keith

What Jerry said. Unless you stumble into a high end interior decorator who has a wealthy client(s), getting any kind of fair price on mounts is rare. I once worked with a man who supplied restaurants, bars and outdoor lodges with every kind of mount known to man. He had a warehouse full of some of the best trophies known to any record book, many taken long before bans were in place. He advised me of his annual buying tour around the country, buying many great trophy heads and life size mounts for pennies on the dollar. "What is one mans treasure is another mans trash." Sadly, much of our cherish taxidermy will end up in yard sales after we're gone.

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12 August 2015, 17:44

Grafton

When you receive your mounts from the taxidermist consider that on the back of your shoulder mounts is a blank canvas of space where you can write the date, location and a few words about the hunt. Maybe attach a photo, try to put into words the way the hunt made you feel, that kind of stuff.

Don't tell anyone you are doing it, just do it.
Years down the road when kids/grandkids are selling everything it may create a moment of pause. It may not keep them from selling it and I guess it really does not matter if they sell it or not. I bet it will make them think of you and perhaps some of the sentimental attachment to the thing can be handed down. Maybe, just maybe that old head will end up in a prized place on your great grandsons wall instead of wearing a Santa hat in a bar in Walla Walla Washington.

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23 August 2015, 11:10

georgeld

Grafton:

That's most of why I asked for a long dead uncles record muley buck he shot back in 1945. First season after WWII. Four brothers in law and one's brother went hunting together, Dad was one of them. The mount was hanging next to a window in his garage for years because his wife wouldn't let him have it in the house. Left side had mostly rotted off, ear gone, eye white, looked like it belonged in the trash.

I got it when the grandkids were cleaning the place out. A few years later I had it remounted. Beautiful work. Wish I could share a picture of it. It meant a lot to Dad to have it among his heads til he died. Now it's on my wall. Grandkids have been invited several times to come see it how it is now. No takers. Everyone that see's it is impressed at the size of the rack and workmanship.

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23 August 2015, 17:50

dogcat

quote:
Originally posted by chuckmaxman:
A friend of mine has a couple Cape Buffalo shoulder mounts for sale. Any idea what the value would be. One is 42" with ok taxidermy work. Looks real good from 5 feet. The other one needs to be measured but he thinks about the same size. The quality of the taxidermy is better on this one. Would $1200 to $ 1500 each be a fair number?

I did a recent study of this as I will have a large number of heads out there when I die. I called 3 auction outfits, Cabelas and Bass Pro. Guess what, unless they are extraordinary in size and presentation, you will get 10 cents at best on the dollar. The auction companies will want pictures and possibly you to transport them to an auction site. I was told to have low expectations.

You will hear stories of someone getting a high price but that is rare, very rare. Decorators are looking at rock bottom prices for their projects. Restaurants, retail stores and sporting goods stores won't pay 10 cents on the dollar.

So, what do you do? Enjoy them now knowing they will end up in the trash or an estate auction.

23 August 2015, 19:44

Gatogordo

It's been a while, but I recall reading an article In Arch. Digest about a house in Jackson Hole, Wy.

Interviewing the owner, the interviewer remarked on an elk mount on the wall, asking the owner if he hunted?

The owner said, "No, I just like the look of the mount. Many of the yard or estate sales around here have animal mounts in them. As soon as the hunter dies, most of them are sold for next to nothing to get rid of them."

Words to the wise about the value of taxidermy.

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03 September 2015, 09:16

Idaho Sharpshooter

I have a really good nephew, that lived at our house almost as much as he did at home growing up. His dad traveled about nine months a year for AT&T.

He has told me, dozens of times, that he would treasure my African mounts in his home when I get ready to let go of them. His oldest son is now 3 months old. We plan to raise him the same way.

I agree, your mounts have tremendous value to you, and to close family members who know their stories. It also helps if you took them hunting and fishing starting when they were about three.

04 September 2015, 05:02

Beretta682E

I spoke to a guide in Alaska whose father specializes is buying and selling used taxidermy.

He told me his father bought all mounts at a cabelas store that was getting new mounts for around $50 (i think it was $52 exact) per mount. He has to go pick them up at the store. This includes full body mounts.

I was shocked. Truck loads of taxidermy for less than what my lion would cost.

Why after the lion i am done with taxidermy.

I went to Restoration Hardware and bought artificial moose antlers.

Mike

29 September 2015, 02:53

Brian Clark

I hate the idea of selling my mounts for sentimental reasons obviously, I do like Graftons idea, moment of pause could mean the world to the family. I have ask my family to take what they want and the rest to send to SCI for their sensory project in the hopes the they will still be enjoyed after I am gone.

Thanks!

Brian Clark

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29 September 2015, 08:00

lavaca

I am going to write a small summary and put it in a small envelope behind each of my mounts. But it won't make much of a difference. I'm not quite down to only a dog as DCS is, but not much better. My parents are aging, I have no siblings, my wife has no siblings, my children show no interest in hunting and don't seem likely to procreate.

30 September 2015, 02:43

Brian Clark

quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
I am going to write a small summary and put it in a small envelope behind each of my mounts. But it won't make much of a difference. I'm not quite down to only a dog as DCS is, but not much better. My parents are aging, I have no siblings, my wife has no siblings, my children show no interest in hunting and don't seem likely to procreate.

Feel free to leave them to me, I'll take good care of them and will enjoy your notes.

01 October 2015, 04:57

Idaho Sharpshooter

I have one GREAT! nephew that spent almost as much time here with Lorene and I as he did at my brother's house growing up. A workaholic, with not much time for kids.

He hunted with me, he fished with me, he shot archery in a target league with me several years.

He told me one afternoon a couple years back that he and his wife wanted all of my African trophy mounts for their house when I was ready to let them go.

I am glad he told my wife and I that.

You just have to raise them right, to appreciate family...

Rich