Anyone have soem recent estimates of shipping costs for plains game from SA? How about do's & don't... :-)

Make sure the crate arrives in an authorized port, San Francisco, Houston, ect.. Don't let them ship it direct to Denver, it will be a costly nightmare to get it cleared properly.
Your cost will vary based on the volume metric weight and size and how it is shipped Air or Sea.

I found that the better taxidermists in RSA charged about the same price as they do here. Considering that, I opted to have only the skins, skulls and horns shipped, unmounted. That saves quite a bit on the size of the crate and reduces shipping costs.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Powell:
How about do's & don't... :-)

I would recommend NOT to use Wesco Shipping Company of Lynbrook, New York. Arnold Weschler and the professional, friendly staff sent me a 1 page letter itemizing the charges incurred for the import of trophies to the Port of Newark, New Jersey. Everything is in plain english. My calculations came to $315 for a crate of plains game trophies. Shipping was prepaid. Taxidermy was prepaid. Dip & pack was prepaid. $315 was just to clear customs, and I'd haul it myself in my own truck.
WESCO notified me that my bill was $2,000. Shocking, to say the least! I thought I had left the graft back in Africa.

Short answer; Depending on the size of the crate and where it is coming from and has to go to it will probably be a minimin of $750 can quicky get to $1200) by the time you get the various US fees and shipping paid. Be sure to insure it all the way to your own satisfaction!

(Horns, dry hides and skulls don't weigh much, A large number of animals and big horns such as kudu or gemsbok call for large crates and you will be charged by size an amount equal to a heavier crate so usually weight is not the issue.)(You really pay to have full mounted trophies shipped and its a long way to go if you are not satisfied!)

I save my clients a lot of money and time by having their items shipped right from SA to the tannery. This saves a lot of additional shipping and transprtation time. I used to handle most of my own and my clients clearance and shipping but things change so quickly that a few years ago I started using a Hunting and Hunting Trophy oriented broker for all my stuff and recommend them to all my friends and customers.

Having save me and mine many dollars, lots of time and headaches I highly recommend; Maria Europa-Felix, President
Hunter International Brokerage Services, Inc.
1633 Bayshore Hwy, Suite 337
Burlingame, CA 94010
Tel (650) 652-0100
Fax (650) 697-0687
E-mail: meuropa@sbcglobal.net or mlfelix@sbcglobal.net

Maria has even been able to untangle some tough problems when clients have tried to handle their own stuff and gotten into a jam. For instance recently a client had his South American trophies sent straight in only to find that the Asian Buffalo skull was not clean enough to suit the latest requirements related to Mad Cow. She was able to keep the shipment from having the entire shipment have to go back to Argentina or be distroyed which were the only two options customs gave the fellow.

Best Regards
Mike Ohlmann
President
Mike's Custom Taxidermy Inc.
www.mikescustomtaxidermy.com
mike@mikescustomtaxidermy.com

Scott. you are entering the second minefield of African hunting. The first is getting your luggage to arrive the same time/place as you do. Second minefield is getting your trophies back.

My suggestion is to talk with the taxidermist you intend to use in your area. It's important that you find somebody that does a lot of African stuff. Go with their suggestion. Yes, you might pay a couple hundred bucks more than doing shortcut "A" and cut-corner "B", but it will be their headache to get your stuff safely on the ground. Since the taxidermist has a vested interest in making you happy he will do his best to get the job done.

Hi Scott, a number of issue's to consider, but the one that WILL save you money is to combine your trophies with another hunter(s). Although you may be told in RSA that can't be done: it can. All that is required by OUR Customs/F&W personel, is that EACH hunter has their own trophy list. DO NOT try to get by with putting your game on someone else's list. It doesn't work that way. If two-three of you hunt, you divide the shipping by the number of hunters. That will save you real money. An average crate shipped by sea will run around $1,600 currently. It will usually arrive at the Port of Entry in 21 days. Note I said "usually." Air freight can be as much as 3 times that and get here in 7 days. I'll take the sea route any day. Your going to be charged for disenfecting, boiling/cleaning (skulls, horns), packing/crating by the Vet approved facility in RSA (usually a Taxidermist). Their fee sometimes includes pickup from your PH and sometimes not, but they generally are upfront and spell out everything. US Customs now requires treated wood products for all crates! Make sure your PH/dip-pack personel are aware or you'll have problems. Primates & Swine are under USDA inspection and they must be packaged properly. None of this should be any problem or concern if your dealing with reputable outfits. I would consider using a Customs Broker here in the States to handle your shipment. They will tackle any problems you might encounter and believe me, there can be some. Fauna and Flora are who I use, but there are a number of them. I prefer to ship my skins, capes and horns home. I have them mounted locally. I can inspect their progress; have them mounted "all at one time" or "piecemeal." If any questions arise, I can go over and take a look. Investigate BEFORE you leave or if you have a booking agent, they should know how to advise you. I try to educate all of my clients before they leave home. Less problems and worries. Knowledge is power. Good hunting, David

Thanks everyone! My hunting partner and I are planning to combine our shipments since we're hunting together (each with our own trophy list). My taxidermist uses Coppersmith, Inc. in Chicago to receive his shipments in from Africa.

We go in July - the countdown officially began Jan 1st !! :-)

My estimate for 15 plains game shoulder mounts and skins for shipping by ocean freight was $3,200. JNB to Grand Rapids through NY. There are 2 of the 15 still to be completed so we'll see once they start boxing them up.
Gary

GaryL,

I take it those are completed shoulder mounts?

I should have a current cost very soon. I have 28 trophies (raw) shipping from JNB soon. Due to some kind of squabble going on with our USDA/Customs, it looks like our only choice is to ship via Air Freight. That is not what I wanted to hear. The RSA Taxidermist had everything ready to ship within 4 1/2 months (not bad at all), but our F&W Service took 5 months to issue a "90 day" CITES permit. Now it may be our Gov't may impose unrealistic international transport upon us and cost us dearly. I'll keep everyone posted as this unravels.

Take my post as a sidetrack, since I`m having trophies shipped to Norway, but the distance involved might not be to big after all(?)..

Toghether with a friend I have 26 PG animals ready to be shipped any day. Of them six are full mounts (small stuff up to the size of vaal rhebok) and rest is shouldermounted.
Some months back the estimate was about 1900USD for all 26, a month back it was up to 2600USD. The reason is because the rand has gained such a strength in world economy..
I must admit I find both estimates quite fair compared to what I have paid earlier..

But anyway, don`t trust any estimate before they`re ready for shipping. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by GaryL:
My estimate for 15 plains game shoulder mounts and skins for shipping by ocean freight was $3,200. JNB to Grand Rapids through NY. There are 2 of the 15 still to be completed so we'll see once they start boxing them up.
Gary

Yes, completed shoulder mounts plus backskins. Eland, Kudu, Gemsbok, Waterbuck, Blue&Black W-beest, Red H-beest, 3 Impala, 2 Springbok, Blesbuck, Warthog, Zebra rug, Steenbok halfmount.

Scott,

Go through your taxidermist if you can. They can make the arrangements for you and get them to the tannery. I always choose to use Fauna and Flora, 1-800-886-3286. You can call them for information and shipping tags. We just received a shipment in from SA with 6 plains game animals $2200. I would also suggest that you check with both Coppersmith and others on combining shipments. Our government is now frowning on this. Some SA taxidermists will not combine shipments, it's better to know before you go.

What would a bushbuck, JUST a bushbuck hide and horns cost in your opinions, a bushbuck dressed out probably weights less then 10 pounds? just estimated,shipping cost.....

A bushbuck hide and horns don't weight that much, but don't forget the crate they are packed in. The shipment we received, the crate weighted more than the contents!

So what would the estimated price be on just the bushbuck hide and horns?

Wow! I'm heading for Namibia in May for just three species, kudu, gemsbuck and warthog. Somehow I was thinking $600-700 would get my horns, skulls and hides here. I may be waaaaaay off.

quote:

Originally posted by Rhydet:
A bushbuck hide and horns don't weight that much, but don't forget the crate they are packed in. The shipment we received, the crate weighted more than the contents!

If they are shipped by air(as they should be)the price is based on volume not weight.

So in your estimate jp baker what would that cost be for just the bushbuck hide and horns thanks again

Maybe I was the kid that robbed the cookie jar but in the fall of 2005 I had a half mounted warthog coming out of a hole, warthog skull mounted on a plauque, and shoulder mounts of nyala, impala and blue wildebeest shipped to the port of Miami. Two crates for a grand total of $998 with $13 of storage fees because I couldn't pick up the crates for a couple of days. Crates were shipped via air and the only other costs incurred included the custom brokerage fees of around $300. Customs broker was Maria from Hunter International who's contact info was given in a previous post.

Good luck!!

Scott,

I went to South Africa in May and harvested 5 animals. Kudu, Blue Wildebeast, Impale, Springbok and Blesbok.
All i had done over there(S.A.)was the hides dipped, crated and sent over here for the taxidermy work. I had the hides, skulls and then a couple other items we bought over there at a flea market in the crate.

Here are the totals

In South Africa the charges were

Airfreight JNB International to Chicago Int Airport
Airline Fuel & Security Charge
Documentation Fee
Agency Fee
Terminal Fee
Cartage US Total: $418.56


Charges from the taxidermist in S.A.

1 Impala-Skull,Horns,Cape - Raw prep USD 60.00
1 Blue Wildebeest-Skull,Horns,Cape,Backskin - Raw Prep USD 60.00
1 Kudu-Skull,Horns,Cape,Backskin - Raw Prep USD 60.00
1 Springbuck-Skull,Horns,Cape - Raw prep USD 60.00
1 Blesbuck-Skull,Horns,Cape - Raw prep USD 60.00
1 x Hunter Documention & Crating USD 250.00

Total: USD 550.00


Charges from Coppersmith to ship and clear customs (From Chicago to Mpls.)

Freight Charges Per charges from shipper
Terminal Charges 35.00
Entry Fee 100.00
Fish & Wildlife 100.00
Customs Bond Fee 65.00 minimum or 6.00 per 1000 (Value of goods times 3)
Messenger Fees 25.00
Airport Transfer 40.25 minimum or 0.10/lb
Warehouse Handling 65.00
Delivery **** (will depend on size of shipment and delivery address)
Credit Card Service Fee 5% up to $1000.00 3.5% over $1000.00
Storage Charges * only if freight here more than 5 business days unless clearance
Is delayed.


This total was $625.82

All together $1594.38

Thanks Northman - great info!

If possible, clear your own trophies. No big deal with no swine or primates. I did it with swine and primates. $625 to clear 5 animals is a rip off.
On my last shipment, I found a guy in Anchorage who did it for $120. I'll pay that, I hired him.

Scott,

I was in SA in late May this year like Northman, and my costs were very similar to his.

I had seven animals (all smaller) and more or less did the shipping the same way.

Taxidermist in SA charges to dip/pack/crate and export documentation: 820
Freight forwarder in SA - air freight charges: 450
Customs clearance/brokerage fees: 535

Subtotal: ~1800
Add in wire transfer fees from my bank and overmight mail to the broker: 100

Total: 1900 for seven animals.

I have more or less done what a few others have mentioned - shipped the stuff directly to the
commercial tannery that my taxidermist uses so as to avoid additional shipping fees in the
US.

My total cost this year was more than my cost for five bigger animals from Zim in 2004. Nevertheless
as loudly as my bank account screams in protest, I'm still "inexperienced" enough that it's all worthwhile when
I get them on the wall.

Hey, it's only money, you can make more of that. You can't shoot another "first kudu".

Have fun,
Jeff

I also cleared my shipment when it arrived here in the US. No primates or swine and it took less than 1 hour and was less of a hassle than going to the mall with my wife. Total cost for clearing everything was $35 dollars and that was Air France charge for handling the documents.

So what would a bushbuck just a bushbuck hide and horns cost to ship back from south africa to the states thanks again

Bushbuck , Shipping only 50.00

6 plainsgame horns/skins shipped from SA to Fauna and Flora in NY then to my taxidermist in Florida from a recent...Sept. '06 safari...cost me right at $1200.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI

quote:

Posted 31 January 2007 07:12 Hide Post
So what would a bushbuck just a bushbuck hide and horns cost to ship back from south africa to the states thanks again
Posts: 102 | Registered: 09 February 2006

On a single animal you will still pay the same fees that you pay for USDA and customs clearance etc. You can avoid some of these by having the hide tanned in Africa and the horns cleaned and boiled and then they can be shipped direct as finsihed products. IMO african tanning is not as good as most commercial US tanning but is a reasonable option for the savings.

The broker I mentioned above has always been willing to answer questions an expain the options. e-mail; meuropa@sbcglobal.net

The additional cost of sending finsihed mounts due to the cost based upon size. Whether it is air, land or sea anymore its size that matters and costs! (Then there is also the "long way to travel if you are dissatisfied", factor!)

I just received my last shipment of plains game mounts from SA in Jan of this year. Size does matter when it comes to shipping cost. I had the taxidermy work done over there because of the difference in price. I was very pleased with the work, but it is a long way to go if you are unhappy. The PH I hunted with recomended this taxidermy shop and said that he knew them and that they had done the mounts in the lodge. Aif frieght from SA to DWF was about $850 this time and they added $35 at the frieght Co so call it $900. I did not use a clearing agent, just walked the paper work around to Fish and Wildlife and Customs myself. This took about 1 1/2 hours and saved $300. Also the dip and pack fee was $50 less per animal by the taxidermy shop over there picking up the capes at the hunt lodge as to getting them ready to ship so that saved another $350. Difference in price for mounting between SA and my home in Texas is a lot, about $600 per mount for Kudu size animals and $200 per mount for Impala size animals. I am very pleased with quality of work on my mounts and saved about $1500 on taxidermy fees. The crate was not as big this time as 2 years ago,"had a Kudu and Gemsbuck" in that one and the frieght was about $1200 for mounted trophies