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Athina Sporting a Top Notch Outfit!
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Athina Sporting a Top Notch Outfit!

In today’s world people are quick to complain and seldom give credit where it is due. I would like to give credit to a top notch group of gentlemen.

This year I went deerstalking in Scotland and had some issues getting my heads back. The Estate originally said that they would arrange shipment but when push came to shove they let me down.

In desperation I reached out to this board to get a recommendation of who could ship my heads to me. Very quickly I got a response from Kiri at Athina Sorting that he would be willing to help me out. It should be noted that he had noting to do with my stalking trip and no reason to help me other than being the gentlemen that he is. We exchanged a few e mails and the next thing I know he has contacted the keeper at the estate and has arranged to pick up my heads.

Within a few days my heads are at his associate Adam's house in England and Adam is working on getting the appropriate paperwork to ship them to me. It turns out that shipping heads are not an easy task and Adam had to do a lot of research to get the appropriate carrier and paperwork in place to ship them (Sorry Adam). Once Adam did all the legwork and shipped them they were at my door within a few days.

The heads got here quicker than the bill! When does that happen now a days?

I have not yet hunted with Adam and Kiri, but you can bet that I will when I return to England, these guys took care of me and I will never forget what they did. Anyone who is considering doing business with Athina I cant recommend them enough they are top notch!

Thanks again guys!
 
Posts: 694 | Location: Santa Ynez Valley, Ca | Registered: 14 March 2011Reply With Quote
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Kiri and Adam are great guys. I hope to be able to hunt with them again very soon. tu2


Good Hunting,

 
Posts: 3143 | Location: Duluth, GA | Registered: 30 September 2005Reply With Quote
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Picture of Bill Pink
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Brad, I have shot and hunted with Kiri and Adam on many occasions over the years, both here in UK and in South Africa. They are both true sporting gents with a wealth of humour and experience.

I hope you will come to the UK sometime soon and hunt with them; you will surely not be disappointed.

ATB

Bill


-------------------------------------

"If something's hard to do, it's not worth doing."

HOMER (Simpson)
 
Posts: 39 | Location: Bedfordshire England | Registered: 18 December 2009Reply With Quote
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Brad, I'm glad they arrived with you safely. It was the least I could do as I was literally driving through the estate on my way to our grouse shoot.

I have had my own trophies misappropriated before now so I know how many memories are invested in those skulls.

Thanks for the kind words all, but the real credit should go to Adam who did all the hard work.

K
 
Posts: 4096 | Location: London | Registered: 03 April 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Adam.270
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quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
...but the real credit should go to Adam who did all the hard work.

K


He did and it was a right performance, which is why he is now recovering in a darkened room in a secluded private sanatorium somewhere in the Moravian alps. Gifts of grapes and expensive chocolates much appreciated if you can get them past Matron...

When Brad comes over to hunt some Roe bucks, I'm making damn sure he takes his trophies home in his suitcase this time jumping
 
Posts: 186 | Location: UK | Registered: 04 August 2009Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by Adam.270:



When Brad comes over to hunt some Roe bucks, I'm making damn sure he takes his trophies home in his suitcase this time jumping


No way I know a really good guy that will be released from the "private sanatorium" by then.... Big Grin
 
Posts: 694 | Location: Santa Ynez Valley, Ca | Registered: 14 March 2011Reply With Quote
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all joking aside, is it really possible to bring trophies home as excess baggage?


Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend…
To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP
 
Posts: 13608 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 28 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Picture of Adam.270
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To be honest I don't know if it's possible - I don't think it can be done for anything other than antlered skulls but I intend to find out exactly what the process is for these for US clients. Within the EU we do it all the time with wet skins, flayed skulls with flesh on and odd lumps of meat!

The three main issues appear to be:

- getting the skulls boiled out and treated before departure;

- getting appropriate paperwork in place to confirm that the skulls are from legally hunted non-endangered species and have been sterilised with an acceptable agent, e.g. Hydrogen Peroxide and;

- that the skulls and paperwork get inspected on arrival at US Customs by a US Parks and Wildlife officer.

The first is down to the hunter being able to make suitable arrangements with his UK agent to get all the trophy prep' done in time and to get the skulls treated / dried off. I'm confident, given notice by a client that he wants to take skull mounts home, I can have them skinned, boiled-out, cleaned and treated within 24 hours.

The second needs some further research. As taxidermy is self taught in the UK and requires no formal qualification, I don't see why the dipping confirmation letter should be restricted to a taxidermist. Given thst I have all the relevant game handling and hygiene qualifications as a 'trained hunter', I can't see why a formal headed letter from me stating thst the trophies are HP treated shouldn't have same validity.

Lastly, the inspection by USP&W is the clincher to avoid a hefty fine and comply with US legislation. I suspect this needs to arranged beforehand to avoid long delays in airports but I understand all US international airports have USP&W officers on 24hr rotation, so it should be possible.

Watch this space!

Adam.
 
Posts: 186 | Location: UK | Registered: 04 August 2009Reply With Quote
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Thanks for posting the kudos Brad. I hope to book a stalking trip with Athina for '15 at the DSC show this January.
 
Posts: 1278 | Location: Texas Hill Country | Registered: 31 May 2007Reply With Quote
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