African Hunt Taxidermy

[kieran222]

I am planning a trip to SA and wondering what people's experiences were about Taxidermy. Have you had them done in SA or in the UK and were they happy with the quality? How does the price compare between UK and SA? I was thinking about shoulder mounts for a black or blue Wildebeest, impala and a Zebra (or may just end up with a Zebra skin for a rug).
If you have had them done in the UK who did you have it done with and any photos would be great.

 

[Loki]

Hi

Admittedly some years ago, when exchange rate was good, I had Nico V Rooyen in SA do my plains game animals (> 1 visit) - linky: Taxidermy | Taxidermy Mounts | Life-like Hunting Trophies | Master Hunting Wall Mounts

Having said that Will Mathews, who used to work for NvR is in Quainton Bucks (linky: William Mathews Taxidermy) and would be worth chattering your requirements with.

L

 

[10willd]

I went this time last year had 4 skulls bleached with a company called African wildlife artistry £407 with all there fees added in but still have to pay shipping fees the people who run the trips when they ship them over

 

[sikamalc]

I am planning a trip to SA and wondering what people's experiences were about Taxidermy. Have you had them done in SA or in the UK and were they happy with the quality? How does the price compare between UK and SA? I was thinking about shoulder mounts for a black or blue Wildebeest, impala and a Zebra (or may just end up with a Zebra skin for a rug).
If you have had them done in the UK who did you have it done with and any photos would be great.

There are some very good Taxidermists in SA, however there are also some bad ones, much the same as any other business.

SA. Any mounts you have done will need to be paid for well in advance of your receiving them. You also don't get to check the work before they arrive, and shipping is more expensive as they take up more room in the aircraft hold.

GB. You get the skins back dried and salted, takes up much less room in the aircraft hold. You find a taxidermist over here and can have one mount at a time done, and if you are not happy can address the issue with the taxidermist, something you cannot do if they are in SA.

Any trophies shipped must be in air craft grade timber boxes, and in SA as in most other parts of the world they use the same manakins from various companies to mount the work on.
Cost of the work is bound to be cheaper in SA, many of them use local labour to carry out the work. In this country one would expect to pay about £400 for an Impala shoulder mount, and £750 for a Wildebeest and about the same for a Zebra.

These are two pieces mounted by me. The Oryx was 15 years as a flat dried cape before I decided to mount it. Zebra was done for a client about a year ago.

 

[Hunt-Inter]

Personally I would have it tanned there and skulls cleaned and sent over here for the work.
I've seen too much terrible work from there and here you can sort problems and do one at a time for funds etc.

 

[delta wolf]

http://www.savutitaxidermy.co.za/index.html Have used cliff at the above several times and the quality is superb. you can visit and look at examples while you are there which is worth it in itself!

 

[merlin]

I've had African (and UK) mounts done by Andy Denson:

Home | Andy Denson Taxidermy

Not got any pics to hand to upload (will try later if I think on), but v happy with the quality of work (he's finishing off 2 muntjac for me even as we speak), and would have no hesitation in recommending him.

 

[CarlW]

I have always used (and recommend to our UK clients) Paul Taylor from Dorset. A real artist with great experience of mounting African game. Dealing with SA taxidermists can be a rather hit-and-miss affair as you are essentially contracting with taxidermy factories rather than with individual craftsmen.

 

[smullery]

Dip & Ship will always be cheaper. The volume on freight back will be very much less than a shoulder mount let alone something “bigger”.

Easier on the “ethical police” as well.

You can get all the parties trophies to shop together “IF” you get the PH paperwork to show against only one hunter......

Stan

 

[sh1kar]

In the past when hunted in SA I have used these guys for skull mounts, shoulder mount for a Black Wildebeest and tanned skins.

Karoo Taxidermy

I have found the quality of their work v v good although they do take a while and as SikaMalc says the costs build with freight etc etc Hunting in Zambia and Mozambique I have usually brought everything back here and used Colin Duncan or Derek Frampton who produce excellent work - Derek I think does a lot for museums. The real key though is the treatment of the skins/cape in the skinning shed and beyond. It is critical the use proper salt and not the cheap coarse grained stuff which doesn't properly get into the hide and it doesn't cure properly. Result hair falling out pre tanning. Also vital the skinner knows what he is doing especially round the face and gets the fat out of the nose etc and careful round the eyes to keep the eyelids on! which didn't happen with a Lion I shot. Fortunately Colin rescued it and it looks perfectly good.

So lesson really is the taxidermist is at the end of the production line and can only work with what he's got. Worth reading a little about African taxidermy, say Rowland Ward and then watching the skinner at work with your first animal and discussing salt treatment with your PH

S

 

[Safari Hunter]

Kieran
if you are bringing them back as dip and pack I recommend Steve Newcombe in the Uk.
He does mine if I don’t have it done in SA.
I will organise whatever you need me to for you.
Cheers
Adrian

 

[XYZ]

As a suggestion, if you're getting and hides tanned, get it done in Africa and save a bundle of money.
I went dip and ship the first and second times I went but on my recent trip I am getting all hides tanned out there, getting a Springbok mounted out there and having the capes for a Kudu and Black Wildebeest pre tanned but am still thinking about getting them fully shoulder mounted at the taxidermist in Namibia.
I took my Zebra skin to be tanned in the UK once I got it back, over £400 just for tanning (abroad) and over £800 to get it backed and felted.
To compare, tanned and felted in Namibia is €340 so just under 300 quid.
Hindsight is wonderful.
Due diligence on potential taxidermists is a must. Go and see their work if possible, some outfitters take a back hander for supplying work so be aware that just because your outfitter recommends a certain company, they might not be the best.

 

[sh1kar]

As a suggestion, if you're getting and hides tanned, get it done in Africa and save a bundle of money.
I went dip and ship the first and second times I went but on my recent trip I am getting all hides tanned out there, getting a Springbok mounted out there and having the capes for a Kudu and Black Wildebeest pre tanned but am still thinking about getting them fully shoulder mounted at the taxidermist in Namibia.
I took my Zebra skin to be tanned in the UK once I got it back, over £400 just for tanning (abroad) and over £800 to get it backed and felted.
To compare, tanned and felted in Namibia is €340 so just under 300 quid.
Hindsight is wonderful.
Due diligence on potential taxidermists is a must. Go and see their work if possible, some outfitters take a back hander for supplying work so be aware that just because your outfitter recommends a certain company, they might not be the best.

Just fyi there is no one in the UK anymore who will tan a full skin. They tend to be sent to Poland

S

 

[sikamalc]

Never heard of Polish tannery, but certainly Germany is the place to get skins tanned professionally.

 

[sh1kar]

Never heard of Polish tannery, but certainly Germany is the place to get skins tanned professionally.

I was passing on what taxidermist told me when anticipating bringing some elephant hide over. (quick google found a few tanneries in Poland). Either way they all seem to go overseas these days and I would take taxidermists advice on where he wants to send them. As noted in a previous post for flat skins I would tend from a cost and experience point of view to get them done in SA if trophies are coming through that way.

S

 

[sikamalc]

Trained as a museum taxidermist in a private big game museum. Poland may have tanneries, but any Elephant hide I would advise to get tanned in Africa. Otherwise all my capes and skins are now tanned in Germany. First class work.

 

[sh1kar]

Thanks SM Yes I know your association with Powell-Cotton Museum and undoubted experience in these matters. Sadly didn't get the elephant (Despite 4 attempts over the years) and now wouldn't shoot one. Myself I get flatskins done in SA and for the capes and a Lion rug I have had done use Colin Dunton. Not sure where he sends them or whether he does them himself
S

 

[kevin masters]

There are some very good Taxidermists in SA, however there are also some bad ones, much the same as any other business.

SA. Any mounts you have done will need to be paid for well in advance of your receiving them. You also don't get to check the work before they arrive, and shipping is more expensive as they take up more room in the aircraft hold.

GB. You get the skins back dried and salted, takes up much less room in the aircraft hold. You find a taxidermist over here and can have one mount at a time done, and if you are not happy can address the issue with the taxidermist, something you cannot do if they are in SA.

Any trophies shipped must be in air craft grade timber boxes, and in SA as in most other parts of the world they use the same manakins from various companies to mount the work on.
Cost of the work is bound to be cheaper in SA, many of them use local labour to carry out the work. In this country one would expect to pay about £400 for an Impala shoulder mount, and £750 for a Wildebeest and about the same for a Zebra.

View attachment 87186View attachment 87187These are two pieces mounted by me. The Oryx was 15 years as a flat dried cape before I decided to mount it. Zebra was done for a client about a year ago.

I am planning on hunting in Scotland next year. What is the process for getting hides and skulls and antlers sent to the us?

 

[sikamalc]

Any heads will need to be boiled out, clean, and bleached. Capes will need to be dipped and fixed, salted. Both will need to be tagged with your name.
You will need a freight agent capable of handling the goods, in the UK.
Trophies will need to be boxed in air craft grade timber boxes. Paperwork must contain the relevant information about the contents, full common name, scientific name etc.
Trophies entering the USA, must go through a designated port of entry for USA fish and wildlife. They can be collected from there, or the sender can arrange to forward them onto your address.
Be aware, this is NOT a cheap process these days. I sent a consignment about 5 weeks ago to New York, freight collect. The cost was £1500. Although USA Fish and Wildlife, would not release the trophies as they couldnt understand the scientific name for Red Stag (Cervus elephus) and kept asking if it was a Barbary Stag .

In the end after about 2 weeks, and a rather stern Email from me, they realised Barbary Red Deer are from Africa (Atlas Mountains) and the customer collected his trophies.

One word of advice. If two of you are hunting, make sure you put the trophies under ONE persons name. USA customs don't take too kindly to mixed trophies in one box.

I have only just returned back from the highlands with clients, some of whom were from the USA. I have their trophies ready to send in the next few weeks. They will also go through New York (JFK) under the same process.

 

[kevin masters]

is this a service you provide? I am booking with river and green.