DNA test on hunting trophy

[Bart]

Dear hunters,

I recently shot a rooikat in SA. I brought it to a taxidermist in SA and received it last week. It was in a very bad shape and immediately i felt that there was something wrong with it. The whiskers were missing, the hair on the tip of one ear was replaced by pig hair and a drop of glue and lots of other details. I went to a famous dutch taxidermist and all three very experienced taxidermists told me that this was a (very) old trophy and 100% sure not a fresh one. I confronted the taxidermist in SA with this and i got an email in which he started threatening me with his laywer, firearms office, customs, police and almost anything he could think of. A very mean email with lots of threats. I wrote to him suggesting him that he also should tell Santa Claus so i would not get any presents this year but in essence, this is not funny.

European hunters normally pay big money and save a long time to hunt in Africa and my trophies are priceless to me, and i will enjoy them for the rest of my life. The rooikat was a very special story shot on a hunting farm of a man who is almost a friend of me after 5 times hunting with him, so it is very special to me.

Since i will be back in SA in april, i want to be 110% sure that the man is lying. I was thinking of doing a DNA test on the trophy, for instance to see whether it was male or female. I have the gender on picture so if the cat is not the sexe as the one i shot, i'm even more sure. He will always state that my experts are lying etc.....

Or is there another hunter who knows a way to test when a trophy was stuffed, or a way to compare it to the pictures and state whether it is the same animal or not. Any help is appreciated.

I also wrote TASA and they are looking into it, cause i personally think that switching of trophies wil scare away European hunters from Africa. I shot a mouflon last weekend in Germany but i'm a 100% sure that it is my trophy, cause we put it in the back of my car and i delivered it personally to my taxidermist.

Thanks for helping me,

Regards,

Bart

 

[BRICKBURN]

There are ways to tell what process was used to tan the hide. Older or newer methods.
The filling materials, the eyes (glass) etc.
Taxidermists would be able to tell.

For what it is worth Bart. If the whiskers and ear tops are missing hair that immediately makes me think of the skinning job that was done.
If you don't turn the ears properly all the way to the end. The tufts on the Rooicat could be compromised.
The whiskers, skin the lips too close and you take the ends of the whiskers off and they fall out during tanning.

If its a full body mount and its done properly you should be able to sex it from the anatomy present. I would not hold out hope from what you have just described.

If it were a unique coat like a Gemsbok or Zebra, simple enough! Uniform coat like a Rooicat....

Hope a taxidermist can give you some suggestions Bart.

 

[Bart]

Thanks Brickburn for your help. I miss Europe in your impressive amount of countries were you hunted... If you ever come over, mail me.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Bart sorry to hear about your Rooicat Could you post some pics of the mount and tell us who the Taxidermist was. Thanks Bob

 

[zenbear]

tell who we need to avoid. Sounds like a xxxxxxxx!

 

[Bart]

I'll ask the wife to make some good pictures today. Due to the vast amount of legal threats made by this man, i will only post his name until i'm 100% sure about my statements. I'm really looking forward to your professional opinion about the trophee.

One trophee in the crate was 100 % sure not mine. I shot an old oryx between the eyes and wanted to take the skull to europe. I got a skull (not even attached to wood) with nu bullet hole in it. When i asked him about that, he admitted that that was not my skull, but the other skull "fell apart while cooking it" and he replaced it without telling me. I payed 80 euro for that one.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Bart,
Contact Martin Berndt in Germany. He is one of the best taxidermist I know, if not the best. He will be able to tell you about methods used new and hold and what to look for. He is on this forum under the nickname "Martin"
If you cant find him, drop me an email and I will forward his details to you.
All the best with your problem.I am sure you will find the answers that you are looking for and put this taxidemrist in his place.

Take Care,
Marius

 

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