Hi Guys,

I got all my trophies back from my very first Safari last April, and I have mixed feelings on the quality. The Taxi was recommended by the Outfitter.

My Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok, Blesbuck, and Kudu are all European mounts, so it's pretty tough to screw them up. (I did think i was gouged on the prices though)
The Warthog nose mount was a real POS, crooked, not centered like a 10 year old kid did it. I nearly smashed it against the wall when I saw it.

The Springbok looks great, except the ears look a bit beat up. Can't tell from my photo's whether they were like that when I shot it or not. but the hide looks to have a lot of "minor disruptions" for lack of a better description, that feel like glue or cement or something that oozed through the skin and they didn't clean up well.

The Impala looks okay from 10 feet away, but the ears look like a dog chewed them up, and when you get close, there are no eyelashes which kinda makes it look unnatural. I couldn't tell from my pic's how much eyelash should be there. The same issues with the glue or whatever issues on the skin.

Now if I had paid the "Africaaner price" for these mounts, I wouldn't think twice about it, but I paid a price very close to what I would have paid had I had the work completed in the U.S., but if you want to charge me top dollar, the workmanship better be top shelf. It was not.

But here is my issue and question. I'm going back to hunt with the same outfitter next April/May. I would prefer to have the taxidermy work completed in Africa because it is faster and I can import them myself.

I doubt I'd use the same taxi again. Especially since I'll ge going for the more expensive antelope next trip (Waterbuck, Nyala, and maybe Eland), so I'll want PERFECT mounts. But should I say something to the taxi? Or maybe more importantly, should I say something to my Outfitter?

So what do you think? Do I tell him or not? The taxi? The outfitter? Both? Should I give the taxi a 2nd chance? (very unlike me once I feel I have been screwed without dinner and a kiss) Or can any of you recommend someone else good in SA I can use next year that you can ersonally recommend?

Thanks guys!

There are good & bad taxidermists all over the world but if you want good taxidermy in Africa look at Lifeform Taxidermy.

As a rule of thumb with any taxidermist, look at their cats, esp the leopards because they're the hardest to get right & the easiest to get wrong.

Don't think you get screwed on the local/overseas price. The reasons locals get it cheaper is mostly that there is less paperwork & crating etc

If it were me, I'd let everyone know the taxidermy quality was not to the standards you expected (or paid for). You'll be looking at these animals forever (unless you get upset & toss them), so in my opinion you'd be better off to find a quality taxidermist in the U.S. I've been using Huffaker Taxidermy (Jerry Huffaker) and he does incredible work. Just do a search on the Taxidermy link & you will see not only the quality of his work, but also the large number of AR members that use him. You won't be disappointed (not a paid endorsement, but a very happy customer...).

I HAVE USED LIFE-FORM. ON TWO OF 5 SAFARIS AND THEY DID GREAT WORK!
MARK

https://www.facebook.com/pages...rica/180274468653002







Best I have seen in Africa.

My trophies mean too much to me to hire someone that I don't know anything about.
I met my taxidermist Randy Brown, owner of Wildlife Images Taxidermy in Wimberly, Texas at the DSC conv. in '09.
Liked the work he had on display but figured he only brought his best work to the show.
A couple of months later we drove 9 hrs. one way to see his shop & the work he had in progress before making my decision.
Liked what I saw & he has done all 3 safaris for me.
I felt like if it was important enough to spend the kind of cash that good taxidermy cost & I plan on looking at it for the rest of my life, I wanted to get someone that knew what they were doing & I could deal face to face with them whether it was good or bad.
Just my 2 cents worth.

3 safaris and I'm now using my 3rd taxidermy company. Maybe I'll get it right sometime. It has to be the most frustrating thing about African hunting for me. Makes me want to swear off taxidermy altogether.

Thought you were getting a good deal? If it is to good to be true, it isn't.

There are some very great taxidermists here on the site The Wildlife Gallery, Jerry Huffaker Texas, Or Wes Good in Pa.
Now you are stuck with substandard work and no recourse.
I would find another PH he recommended him and there are many other companies who will get you those other animals.
Cheap is cheap. Bring the three animals skins home to get mmounted. Just make sure they are in the salt real fast. No hair slippage.



Mike

The firm that I know and recommend is Taxidermy Africa. http://www.taxidermyafrica.com/trophyRoom.html

I was a Lifeform fan until I saw the quality of the work done by Highveld Taxidermy.
Nothing even comes close in my opinion. They are the biggest in the country and are 100% service orientated.

Thomas really goes out of his way to make sure you have the best and fastest service and Dieter is the perfectionist who loves what he does and relishes the opportunity to put life back into your capes.
www.highveldtaxidermists.com

Pa.Frank,

It has been suggested that some PHs will take a commission on taxidermy? And this sounds like the case.

Complain? I would and bitterly.

Sorry to hear that.

I have used Highveld Taxidermy twice and I am very happy with them.

No way that I would leave my stuff in Africa for mounting. The highest quality taxidermists in the world are in the US. The costs are higher( but only minimal when you consider full shipping of mounted trophies)
The communication in the US is so much better and they are the pros. Find yourself a good US taxidermist, develop a close relationship and you will always be happy. Spend 2K on an Eland trophy fee and be angry for the rest of your life when you look at it is just not worth saving a few bucks.

Stick to european mounts and use what you save on hunting.

CF

Frank: I used taxidermists in Africa two times. The first time the work was great. The second time, it was terrible. As a result, I will never do that again. From now on, the work will be done in the U.S. with a taxidermist I know and trust. Just a week ago, I picked up several African antelope species from a taxidermist near Aston, PA. He did excellent work. This guy always does great work on antelope, deer and elk. He is not my taxidermist for birds and predators, however. Send me a PM and I'll give you his info.

As a US taxidermist of course I have a very slanted view of this....but here's a couple points to think about. Yes I agree there are good/bad taxidermists all over the world and I think the total bill whether mounted in the US or Africa is usually very close in the end with the the US total a little more. Why would it not be worth a little more to have easy access to your taxidermist and without any question access to the best taxidermy forms and supplies anywhere in the world. The most important point i'll make is WHY NOT SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS????? This is one of the biggest problems in our country everybody is spending their US dollars over seas....because"IT'S CHEAPER". I will tell you one more thing about US taxidermists....none of us will ever be rich men because of taxidermy and if you do a little looking around I'll guarantee you'll find a taxidermist in your area that puts his heart and soul in every mount he does...unlike the high production assembly line shops in Africa!!!!!

quote:

It has been suggested that some PHs will take a commission on taxidermy? And this sounds like the case.

Andrew is right, it is the only way some of the clowns get business at all.
I would take it up with the outfitter and if there is no help from his side be sure you dont spend your money there again

We have some of the best taxidermies in the world, some has already been named like Highveld and Life-form. My personal choice and favourite is Nico van Rooyen Taxidermy in Pretoria.Catharina Hecker is of German decent and also a avid hunter herself. She learned her trade from one of probably South-Africas best and well known hunters,the late Nico van Rooyen.

You are the hunter and you have every right to do with your trophys what you want and to take them where-ever your choice is. Also do some research before entrusting your expensive, one in a life-time trophies to any Taxidermist.

I stay and hunt in South-Africa and will not even have my mother-in-law done at some "taxidermy" outlets here

Andrew

Your advice to go for Euro mounts and spend the money on more hunting is spot on for the average guy like me!

Hopefully my first safari later this year .....

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Pa.Frank,

It has been suggested that some PHs will take a commission on taxidermy? And this sounds like the case.

Complain? I would and bitterly.

Sorry to hear that.

I won't have my work done in Africa. Just a personal thing. I have people in the states I want to do my work and that is just how it is. They know my trophy room, space limitations, etc.

I will say that Paul Smith and Relive Africa in RSA did some work for my friend and they turned out top notch. I would highly recommend Paul Smith.

Retreever is spot on.
________________________________________________
"Thought you were getting a good deal? If it is to good to be true, it isn't.

There are some very great taxidermists here on the site The Wildlife Gallery, Jerry Huffaker Texas, Or Wes Good in Pa.
Now you are stuck with substandard work and no recourse.
I would find another PH he recommended him and there are many other companies who will get you those other animals.
Cheap is cheap. Bring the three animals skins home to get mmounted. Just make sure they are in the salt real fast. No hair slippage.[/quote]"
_____________________________________


Having seen scores of mounts taken in Africa and mounted there by our clients.. I would have to say most were of poor appearance with troubles to come later as they age a couple of years. Yes.If things go wrong there..... what is your recourse? Across the board, quality and appearance is heavily in favor of experienced State side craftsmen and women.

Consider these:taxidermy work, crating,cost from taxidermist to shipper,cost of weight,volume in in air or sea and taxes I see no savings . And there is the issue of poor quality.

Retreever speaks with knowledge in his recommendation of Dan Catlin Wildlife Gallery and I would add Shannon Ostertag http://www.reflectionstaxidermy.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting the Box H:
I was a Lifeform fan until I saw the quality of the work done by Highveld Taxidermy.
Nothing even comes close in my opinion. They are the biggest in the country and are 100% service orientated.

Thomas really goes out of his way to make sure you have the best and fastest service and Dieter is the perfectionist who loves what he does and relishes the opportunity to put life back into your capes.
www.highveldtaxidermists.com

Agree 100% Hilton. There is no better African Taxidermy than Highveld Taxidermy. Not only is their work exceptional but customer satisfaction is their top priority. Every mount that leaves the factory needs the personal ok from either Thomas or Dieter.

Let me say that I did not base my decision on price. With Dip, pack, & ship costs, plus taxi costs here, from the research that I did, the price was about EVEN all in.

I bought into the idea that since they do their native animals all the time, they "know them" better, and can produce a better mount. Plus for me, as this was my first safari, it was a matter of convenience.

In fact, once D&P is calculated in, his price for European mounts turned out to be HIGHER than what I would pay for them here in the U.S... I mean now really, how much different or difficult can it be from a Bear, moose, elk or whatever...

If taxidermy is important -- start with the taxidermist. African taxis, like other businesses there practice mutual back-scratching as a means of surviving. They see it as business as usual to deal in percentages for bringing clients to their store/safari operation/farm/whatever. Look at finished work at taxis you are considering and go from there. People tend to treat mounts alike, kinda like art has regional differences. If you want a natural look/pose, don't pick an operation whose product looks like "Okay, ya got me. Here I am on the wall." Also, in Africa they are constricted by local talent once the operation grows past the one-man artist stage. Higher volume means the taxidermist's artistic talent degrades according to what's in the mind of his employees (as to what looks right).

2 cents none the richer there

Pa.FRANK. I am trying to figure out why you use the word "Africaaner".

Frank no cryptic messages who was the taxidermist?


Mike

quote:

Originally posted by BENJI:
Pa.FRANK. I am trying to figure out why you use the word "Africaaner".

My best friend over here is an Afrikaner immigrant, now a US citizen.. He refers them as such... I guess i picked it up from him..

When he saw my trophies, he said I got "Boer'ed" LOL