Costs of trophy imports?

[wildfowler.250]

Gents, what is the rough costs of trophy imports to the UK? And what timescale are you looking at?

I’m purely just curious with all the recent discussions. I’ve seen a few comments saying things like, the kudu cost 4x to bring back on top of the actual ‘trophy’ fee.

I’ve heard a lot of folk say that it’s sensible to have the skins dipped and shipped to the uk and mounted here at a time that suits. Is this still thousands?

Another thing I’ve been told by a taxidermist was that a lot of the time , you need to pay extra to make sure your items actually arrive and also to arrive on time,(although he was referring to SA in particular).

Interested to hear folks views.

 

[Jon P]

It will depend on the size of the box

This was a smallish box in 2021 as some of my stuff was not ready with main shipment, but will show you the additional checks and charges you pay for.

Looking around 9 to 12 months on turn around on taxidermy from SA .

 

[jamitros]

It will depend on the size of the box

This was a smallish box in 2021 as some of my stuff was not ready with main shipment, but will show you the additional checks and charges you pay for.

Looking around 9 to 12 months on turn around on taxidermy from SA .

Very useful. Was this door to door? Would be good to know who you used and was this recommended/via your outfitter?

 

[Safari Hunter]

I've got 2 crates coming abck at the moment. 1 is 1.6x1.1x1.0m and the other 1.2x1.0x0.9m, total weight approx 300kg. From SA to Heathrow with all fees is approx £2K and UK clearance approx £800. There are 16 items in it so approx £180 per item.

 

[Jon P]

Very useful. Was this door to door? Would be good to know who you used and was this recommended/via your outfitter?

Unfortunately this firm is no longer exporting to the U.K. now however they have recommended SBS Logistics who have taken on most of there clients.

I always use who the taxidermist recommends as they are the ones using them regularly.

 

[wildfowler.250]

It will depend on the size of the box

This was a smallish box in 2021 as some of my stuff was not ready with main shipment, but will show you the additional checks and charges you pay for.

Looking around 9 to 12 months on turn around on taxidermy from SA .

Very helpful and not too steep. Presumably dipped capes? Thanks for the breakdown!

I've got 2 crates coming abck at the moment. 1 is 1.6x1.1x1.0m and the other 1.2x1.0x0.9m, total weight approx 300kg. From SA to Heathrow with all fees is approx £2K and UK clearance approx £800. There are 16 items in it so approx £180 per item.

What’s the sort of turnaround time from last day of safari to shipping? I’m guessing this will be a lot longer if mounted over there though.

Is the clearance cites related or just a standard import hit?

Cheers!

 

[Dickie]

My first crate, skins and euro skull mount took exactly 12 months to the day from the last day of my trip.
The taxidermist arranged for for all the shipping including the UK end.
Spherical freight were the SA end and were really good with communication throughout.
The UK end were the company that most people on here have recommended before, Rainbow freight but this was in 2018

 

[Jakebarr22]

We hunted kwazulu natal SA. in may last year , and have 16 animals returning in our crate due to land in Heathrow today, 3 shoulders rest skulls and skins, £1850 between 2 of us, plus uk clearance. Highly recommend our outfitters and taxidermist, flying back out in 5 weeks to do it again

 

[Safari Hunter]

Very helpful and not too steep. Presumably dipped capes? Thanks for the breakdown!


What’s the sort of turnaround time from last day of safari to shipping? I’m guessing this will be a lot longer if mounted over there though.

Is the clearance cites related or just a standard import hit?

Cheers!

Anywhere between 6 months and 12 months depending on the taxidermist.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers guys. May be something I won’t get to do at this rate.


Highveld taxidermy look really good but probably cheaper to do over here in stages

 

[Jakebarr22]

Send me a pm if you’d like to discuss hunting across there, I can point you in the right direction with some fantastic guys with access to all areas. They also use a local taxidermist who is fantastic

 

[sikamalc]

guys. May be something I won’t get to do at this rate.


Highveld taxidermy look really good but probably cheaper to do over here in stages

It will be cheaper to ship dried skins and skulls than mounts, that's for sure. Plus you can pay for a good taxidermist over here to mount a few at a time, not all at once, which you would need to do if they are mounted in Africa. Plus there's not come back once they are from abroad.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My company sent this chest with my stuff in it to Argentina as unaccompanied baggage back in 1996 the cost was £800 plus $800 to clear through the Buenos Aires customs / backhanders.

 

[wildfowler.250]

It will be cheaper to ship dried skins and skulls than mounts, that's for sure. Plus you can pay for a good taxidermist over here to mount a few at a time, not all at once, which you would need to do if they are mounted in Africa. Plus there's not come back once they are from abroad.

That covers a lot of the ‘pros’ that I’ve heard for dipping and packing and then mounting later over here..

I’ve heard that if the salting process isn’t good, you can end up with a pretty wrecked cape? There seems to be so many variables and it’s all over such a large time frame. Does feel like putting a lot of eggs in one basket for a one off trip

 

[sikamalc]

That covers a lot of the ‘pros’ that I’ve heard for dipping and packing and then mounting later over here..

I’ve heard that if the salting process isn’t good, you can end up with a pretty wrecked cape? There seems to be so many variables and it’s all over such a large time frame. Does feel like putting a lot of eggs in one basket for a one off trip

To a certain extent you are right. This was mostly in the past to be honest, and from my own experience with safaris.
All camps use rock salt to dry cure the skins. However what you do not want is salt that is brown in colour. This is the cheapest useless salt a safari company can use, and it will not end well for your trophies. It has a lot of iodine in it, and will make rehydrating the skins almost impossible.
Back in the late 1990's one taxidermy company in Zim was spraying clients trophies with formaldehyde.

Well if you do that you have a piece of sheet steel and no way will it be any good for mounting. Its buggered.

Today most safari and taxidermists in Africa are pretty good. Rock salt is still used on skins, but as long as its white and small granules it will be ok. In the past I have had them break up the salt with rocks or hammers to break it into a smaller size so it penetrates better. The skinning sheds also have a good air flow to dry the skins as well.
Either way it probably costs less to send the dried skins to the UK than whole mounts.

 

[wildfowler.250]

To a certain extent you are right. This was mostly in the past to be honest, and from my own experience with safaris.
All camps use rock salt to dry cure the skins. However what you do not want is salt that is brown in colour. This is the cheapest useless salt a safari company can use, and it will not end well for your trophies. It has a lot of iodine in it, and will make rehydrating the skins almost impossible.
Back in the late 1990's one taxidermy company in Zim was spraying clients trophies with formaldehyde.

Well if you do that you have a piece of sheet steel and no way will it be any good for mounting. Its buggered.

Today most safari and taxidermists in Africa are pretty good. Rock salt is still used on skins, but as long as its white and small granules it will be ok. In the past I have had them break up the salt with rocks or hammers to break it into a smaller size so it penetrates better. The skinning sheds also have a good air flow to dry the skins as well.
Either way it probably costs less to send the dried skins to the UK than whole mounts.

Thanks Malc, makes a lot of sense! It’s maybe something I’ll ask in advance before booking.

 

[deerpath]

Taxidermy plus freight £2,100 for one sable bull door to door.

 

[sikamalc]

Taxidermy plus freight £2,100 for one sable bull door to door.

I did a 10 day hunt in Zululand in 1996 for less than the above, and got my trophies back. Some of these prices now are ridiculous. Glad I managed all my African trips before all this madness and greed kicked in.

 

[deerpath]

Malc , I forgot to add there was also an nyala bull flat skin in the crate ! I think trophy prices have come down to reflect the cost of getting them on your walls. My 39" sable trophy fee was £1,500 compared to £5,000 pre covid.