Its here!

[Seavas]

After the longest year of my life, our trophies have arrived from our first SA safari. Exactly year and a week after we returned, they landed in Houston. I drove up to the airport this morning, cleared them through customs and picked them up at the warehouse. Seven animals total and I will get some pics up once I have them hung in the house. The best part is we decided we wouldn't start planning our next safari until our trophies arrived, so now the fun begins for round two!

 

[rnovi]

Love me some (un) Boxing day!!!

 

[Ridgewalker]

You hunted crates? Just kidding! Come on, I want to see what you got!

 

[Newboomer]

C'mon! You can at least tell us what you got.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Congrats.

 

[cpr0312]

Crate opening day... also known as grown man's Christmas morning! Look forward to the pics of whats inside

 

[CAustin]

Christmas in June!

 

[Seavas]

You hunted crates? Just kidding! Come on, I want to see what you got!

Ha!

Warthog x2
Blesbok x2
Springbok x2
Gemsbok x1

Hope to have them on the walls soon and will get some pics up. No trophy room for me, the War Dept says she wants them scattered around the house tastefully. She also said we need a few more!

 

[Ridgewalker]

She also said we need a few more!

Where did you find her? Can she talk to my better half? She’s a keeper!

 

[Newboomer]

Wow! That is the kind of lady every man dreams of. Is she a hunter, too?

 

[johnnyblues]

OK...… lets see em! When my hunting trophies arrive its definitely my definition of Christmas! And that's my reasoning for paying for expedited 90 days service!

 

[Seavas]

OK I got them all hung and took a few pics. And yes, she's definitely a keeper! Believe it or not, an African safari was her idea!

My Gemsbok, this one is my favorite animal of the trip and I did a little write up of it a while back in the reports section.

My Blesbok, yes his nose was scarred up like that when I took him.

Her Blesbok, Euro and flatskin. I really think the Blesbok is an undervalued trophy. They make a cool euro mount and the flatskin is beautiful and very soft.

My Springbok

Her Springbok

My Warthog, I noticed it had an extra tusk coming in on the bottom jaw?

Her Warthog, also her first animal ever hunted! She's ruined now!

His

And Hers

Blesbok backskin

Gemsbok backskin

The two springboks came out very nice. They were done by Buck N Bass and I would use them again. The shipper was EMIAC and they were very thorough in communication and coordinated two crates from different taxidermists without issue. The crates left JNB on 6/10 and arrived at LAX on 6/12. They were cleared by USDA and put on a bonded truck and arrived in Houston on 6/14. I did not use a broker on this side. Air freight for this shipment was $1044 with insurance. Ocean freight would have been $250 less, but with a much longer wait and I was ready to get them home.

 

[slam8031]

congratulations and enjoy the memories of your hunt and your trophies!

 

[Tra3]

Very nice! I agree that the Blesbok euro looks great.
She shot a Boss of a warthog!

 

[Cuthberto]

Found this thread while enjoying the anticipation of an upcoming safari. I'm blessed with the same kind of spouse - Our trip in March was her idea of a great 50th birthday present! I'll take it!

 

[Nyati]

Nice, congrats !

 

[Ridgewalker]

Cuthberto, it sounds like your wife is a keeper! Congratulations on 50 years together, and welcome to the AH forum! When you get a chance how about going to the Introductions & Greet section and telling us a bit about yourself?
Again congratulations!

 

[Uncle Sauce]

Beautiful trophies! Thanks for posting with all the great info, Seavas!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Congrats! You got some beautiful trophies. That warthog is a hog.

 

[Cam Moon]

I'm happy for you that they all arrived safely. They look great. You had mentioned who did the Springbok and that you'd use them again. You also mentioned two taxidermists. Does this mean you weren't happy with the others?
From the pictures they all look very nice! When are you headed back?