I am weighing the pros and cons of dip & ship vs. taxidermy over there.
I understand there is no quarantine of finished mounts. I am thinking I only want a Gemsbok shoulder mounted and the rest European mounts. If I kill a big warthog I only want the tusks.
Here's my plan: Get the Gemsbok & zebra tanned and the kudu European as well as having the warthog's tusks mounted on a plaque. Will that clear without quarantine and be shipped in a small crate? How does that sound.
OR
Should I use a taxidermist my PH recommends? SP

That should work well.I have had two safaris done by Reiser in Windhoek and they do a good job on European Mounts and skin tanning.The shipment can be crated quite small with only skins and EM's but start adding shoulder mounts and the size goes up quite a bit.Also the delivery time goes way up.I would suggest getting the skins tanned and the EM's done there and have the shoulder mount done back home.What you save on shipping will pay for the difference in the cost of taxidermy and you will have most of your trophies ready for display in short order.

I'm doing exactly what eyedoc recommended. Reiser is tanning a bunch of hides, making two zebra rugs, and mounting several EMs for us. Four animals (hides & horns) will be prepared for shipment and shoulder mounting here in the states. So far my dealings with Reiser have been very professional and work is progressing well. Wilko there has been very helpful. Prices for tanning, rugs, and EMs seem to be about 50-60% of what they run here in the states, plus you have the added bonus of a smaller/lighter shipment.

I have used Reiser's as well for my hides and European Mounts. Can't complain. There are other taxi's in Windhoek however, that may be just as good. Check with your PH. The Warthog will require some kind of special clearance, being swine, but no quarantine.
peter.

Another vote for Wilko Pascheka and Reiser Taxidermy. I'm sitting down in my trophy room now with the horns and skins he prepared for me from my trip in July. The skulls could be put up as EM's right now with no further work. It's great work on the horns without the usual extra boiling damage, and exceptional care was taken in all areas of preparation. I had him just do my two warthog tusks and I will plaque them here. The capes I had tanned in calif. at Golden State. He's a SCI master measurer also, for your trophies. A friend who is both a taxi and tanner in Utah went over last year for 6 weeks with them, and was impressed with their care and attention to detail.

The only thing I know about Reiser is they will only accept wet Giraffe. How does one get a wet hide to a taxidermist from the bush?

The first time I hunted Namibia I had my trophies done by Namases Taxidermy (near Windhoek) and they did a marvellous job. Those are probably the best mounted trophies hanging on my wall!
On my second trip I decided to have the trophies mounted home. That was a decision I will always regret: none of the trophies mounted in Portugal come even close to the quality of the ones mounted in Namibia.
I wish I hadn’t tried to save some money on the freight!

B.Martins

B.Martins:
We are having Namases do our trophies. They were recommended by the PH. I'm glad to hear they do a good job.
Thanks.

I have watched several of the video's of various giraffes being at Erindi, and the care taken in the field where I hunted. Once it hits the ground, the skinners all show up on scene and commence. Once the first half is finished, it is rolled over with the winch and the other side done. Depending on the area of the body, the hide was 1-2 inches thick. Then they bundle it up and take to Reiser immediately that day. the hide is shaved and then siped about every 1/4" to allow full penetration of the salt. That is the only way they can guarantee full curing and holding to prevent slippage. It seems like an incredible amount of work to me!

It was my experience... (living in Namibia for 3 years) that Reiser is thought to be the best in Namibia... by most... There are others that do quality work... I had Profitaxi in Klein windhoek do a Kudu and I wasn't pleased with their work... but have been completely satisfied with Reiser. Just my opinion!
Aaron

I have 8 shoulders done by Reiser. To my home in Montana was less than 200 days on each of two shipments. They have also done rugs, etc. Another vote for Wilko and Reiser. If you have any doubts, go out there and check out their studio and work areas. We are headed to new territory this year and are making arrangements to visit at least two studios to check out their work before making any decisions.

I guess all is fine if you hunt aroung Windhoek, but we were 8 hrs north.

I had Otjiworongo Taxidermy do a Kudu, Gemsbok, four hides and 3 european mounts in 2003 and they all turned out perfect. Thee mounts were packed and shipped very well also.