Taxidermy of African Animals

[hunterjmj]

Do you typically bring your rifles with you or use rifles provided by the outfitters? Id like to hunt Cape buffalo someday in Namibia or Mozambique. Not sure if it'll ever happen but I can hope.

 

[fmlyman]

Do you typically bring your rifles with you or use rifles provided by the outfitters? Id like to hunt Cape buffalo someday in Namibia or Mozambique. Not sure if it'll ever happen but I can hope.

This will be my first trip to Africa and I'm doing it with a bow so I can't respond. A friend that's going with us is hunting buffalo and is renting the rifle - knowing that they won't have another need for a rifle that big.

 

[tpicou]

I'm doing an African Safari in South Africa in May and will be shooting 5 animals, all archery. For those that may have done this before did you have your taxidermy done in Africa or have it dipped and packed and shipped back to the states? What did you choose and why and what were the results? Will be north of Johannesburg. Thanks in advance for any input!

We get it done there (only have experience in SA and Namibia though). If you talk to the PH they'll know what places do good/decent work. You most likely won't get the quality that you can get here with one of the premier wildlife artistry taxidermists, but it's also A LOT cheaper to do it there. We only usually do like 1-2 shoulder mounts, the rest euro, and then hides if we think they'll make good rugs or whatever.

Shipping is a bitch though, ngl. I recommend working with one of the importers who specialize in the paperwork if you don't feel like dealing with that type of thing. The Africa Hunting forums usually have like $50 off or whatever with an importer or two and they make it easy to deal with. Basically a pay and forget it situation.

 

[fmlyman]

We get it done there (only have experience in SA and Namibia though). If you talk to the PH they'll know what places do good/decent work. You most likely won't get the quality that you can get here with one of the premier wildlife artistry taxidermists, but it's also A LOT cheaper to do it there. We only usually do like 1-2 shoulder mounts, the rest euro, and then hides if we think they'll make good rugs or whatever.

Shipping is a bitch though, ngl. I recommend working with one of the importers who specialize in the paperwork if you don't feel like dealing with that type of thing. The Africa Hunting forums usually have like $50 off or whatever with an importer or two and they make it easy to deal with. Basically a pay and forget it situation.

I've heard that it used to be a lot cheaper but the prices have gone up for taxidermy in SA in the recent years that make it almost a wash for the added shipping cost that gets tagged onto full taxidermy mounts. Have you seen prices increase?

 

[tpicou]

Do you typically bring your rifles with you or use rifles provided by the outfitters? Id like to hunt Cape buffalo someday in Namibia or Mozambique. Not sure if it'll ever happen but I can hope.

Have done it both ways. It's really just preference on what you're comfortable with. I'd recommend paying someone to help with firearm importation, though. I don't necessarily trust shady governments to not throw me in jail over a small error.

 

[tpicou]

I've heard that it used to be a lot cheaper but the prices have gone up for taxidermy in SA in the recent years that make it almost a wash for the added shipping cost that gets tagged onto full taxidermy mounts. Have you seen prices increase?

I haven't experienced the price increases, no, but ymmv depending on where you're going, who you use, what you get, local prices, etc.
For example, last week we paid for taxidermy from our 2023 SA trip: 5 euro mounts, a white blesbok shoulder mount, a couple full hides (including zebra with leather backing for rug to give my dad), a mounted ostrich wing, and a tanned ostrich hide for like $2k not shipped.

I did a woodcock mount here in maryland a month ago and it was $500.

 

[Kilboars]

I had mine done in SA. Mostly euro mounts but had two wart hogs done and a Sable. They packed the Sable poorly and crushed the mane which I was not happy about. I think you can go either way.

 

[Mojave]

Skull mounts, cheaper shipping, pay for more animals.

If you shoot a zebra ok, but that's really the only one worth doing.

 

[BBucks21]

I'm doing an African Safari in South Africa in May and will be shooting 5 animals, all archery. For those that may have done this before did you have your taxidermy done in Africa or have it dipped and packed and shipped back to the states? What did you choose and why and what were the results? Will be north of Johannesburg. Thanks in advance for any input!

Hope your hunt went well! We went in April of 2024 and it was great. We dipped and packed our stuff because we have a guy locally that does African taxidermy stuff. We just got our stuff back last week.

 

[Tru2life]

Been there recently. I would highly recommend just getting the dip and pack. And tanning and mounting without a thought would be done state side! I was north SA as well. Always an awesome time! Who ya going with?

 

[wyodog]

I had my taxidermy done in South Africa. I am very happy with the work they did and I save quite a bit of money having I done there and shipped over. No regrets here. I did have some back hides tanned and made into throw pillows. The turned nice and my wife liked the too.

 

[Hydra6]

I went to Sa and did a plains game package in 2023. I did not bring anything back but pictures. I can make a second trip for what cost of shipping/taxidermy. My house is not big enough for 7 more mounts. Got great photos though!

 

[Loco4dux]

I went to Sa and did a plains game package in 2023. I did not bring anything back but pictures. I can make a second trip for what cost of shipping/taxidermy. My house is not big enough for 7 more mounts. Got great photos though!

I always thought when I go I’d bring back some euros but this just makes way too much sense.

 

[live2huntelk]

Talk to Owen..... they are very talented.....was working on full size 5+ full size elephants, griffees, lions, etc when I was there a couple weeks ago. They can work with you on the logistics.

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