Snake taxidermied in South Africa and imported to the US?

[RichD]

I've seen venomous snakes in the US, rattlers, water moccasins, coppheads, etc, stretched out on boards coiled, or natural habitat. But what about from SA? I'm going to the EC in September. Is there a protocol for shooting snakes and importing? I've never seen that asked on AH forum.

 

[ryno111]

Great question. I’m going in August and hope to get a mongoose. I’d love a snake to go with it.

 

[Mekaniks]

A Momba would be super cool!

 

[KuduKiller]

Funny that you mentioned that. I was thinking the same thing the other day. I just tanned these this week. Timber and copperhead.

 

[KuduKiller]

Sorry, didn’t attach the first time.

 

[KuduKiller]

I would love a mamba, Mozambique spitter or a rock python.

 

[RichD]

I posed the question for 2 reasons: The first is that I've never seen it asked and most hunting shows give snakes a wide berth. Second, a friend was hunting in the Luangua valley. He was closely following the PH when a puff adder slithered right in between them. The video is pretty wild, but git me thinking about the protocol to terminate it.

I could see if you're closing in on an animal, but if just walking about then what.

 

[Schmidty]

Makes me queasy just thinking of this. But on my first safari back in 2003. I was sitting in a tent-style blind over a water hole bowhunting. The PH was not in the blind with me, I had my lunch, a pee bottle, and a radio. Anyhow a spitting cobra (didn't know the species at the time) came to the water hole and drank. I was recording it with a video camera when it decided to swim to my side of the water hole. It then came right at the brushed-in blind and hit the side of the blind and I could see it slithering on the outside of the blind. I was freaking out and thought for sure it was going to come under the blind at any moment.

I grabbed the radio and called for the PH to come. When he arrived and looked around he could not find the snake and almost poo-pooed it like I was exaggerating. Later in the day, I showed him the video and I quote "Shit man, that's a big snake!". I asked him what it was and he told me a spitting cobra.

 

[Sarg]

Normally leave them alone unless around camp or a danger to staff .

I’ve shot/whacked a fair few but have never been asked by a client if he could take one home !

Cool idea but when you try to kill a snake then it gets dangerous !

 

[Hunt anything]

Don’t know the legality of it but if you can import a croc why not a snake?

I would look into a quality reproduction over here. Several taxidermy supply companies advertise blanks for them. Just finding someone that could accurately paint one may be difficult but not impossible.

I’ve thought about getting one done of a 48” gaboon viper from Mozambique that I almost stepped on while stalking nyala.

 

[RichD]

Makes me queasy just thinking of this. But on my first safari back in 2003. I was sitting in a tent-style blind over a water hole bowhunting. The PH was not in the blind with me, I had my lunch, a pee bottle, and a radio. Anyhow a spitting cobra (didn't know the species at the time) came to the water hole and drank. I was recording it with a video camera when it decided to swim to my side of the water hole. It then came right at the brushed-in blind and hit the side of the blind and I could see it slithering on the outside of the blind. I was freaking out and thought for sure it was going to come under the blind at any moment.

I grabbed the radio and called for the PH to come. When he arrived and looked around he could not find the snake and almost poo-pooed it like I was exaggerating. Later in the day, I showed him the video and I quote "Shit man, that's a big snake!". I asked him what it was and he told me a spitting cobra.

Way too close for my liking. "I don't like spiders or snakes..."

 

[RichD]

Don’t know the legality of it but if you can import a croc why not a snake?

I would look into a quality reproduction over here. Several taxidermy supply companies advertise blanks for them. Just finding someone that could accurately paint one may be difficult but not impossible.

I’ve thought about getting one done of a 48” gaboon viper from Mozambique that I almost stepped on while stalking nyala.

The only thing I can see is that if the snake is venomous, you have to show some kind of proof the venom has been extracted.

My gun room doesn't have tons of wall space left, except for a few more skulls. But at the very top of the wall along the top edge, I have room for a mounted snake skin.

Just one of those random thoughts.

 

[Hunt anything]

The only thing I can see is that if the snake is venomous, you have to show some kind of proof the venom has been extracted.

My gun room doesn't have tons of wall space left, except for a few more skulls. But at the very top of the wall along the top edge, I have room for a mounted snake skin.

Just one of those random thoughts.

It would probably come in like any other skin, fleshed and salted.

If finished taxidermy I would love to see the inspectors face when they opened that crate! A cobra with its hood out facing the top would be priceless.

 

[K-man]

I have had the opportunity to "extract" a 16ft python from a warthog hole in Zim, with a lot of help of course. It took 6 of us to keep it contained. Unpleasant. The P.H. didn't want it killed, because of its place in the ecosystem. I have had python on quota in Cameroon, but never came across one. I would love to have a 12 or 14ft skin tanned to put in my trophy room. I believe it is possible when legally harvested.

 

[Sarg]

Not my video but had a very similar thing happen to me !

I got a huge Python in Sumatra many years ago, can’t remember exactly but over 16ft you can hunt them in Florida I believe now ?

 

[HankBuck]

A Momba would be super cool!

@Mekaniks - a friend killed a long Black Mamba (11 feet) in SA and had it mounted in SA then shipped into US with thew rest of his trophies — no issues..this was about 10 years ago. It is in a glass display case, it was a well done piece of work and while I don’t consider shooting any snake much of a trophy (catching one bare handed would be a trophy) - it is unusual and a “conversation piece.

 

[coreydb]

This is a Black Mamba shot in 2023. I never thought about getting any part of it mounted or skin processed. Was still shakin' like a dog shi**in' razor blades from it being 6 ft from me. Sorry for the ppoor pic. Double click on the pic to see it correctly and clearly.

 

[Mekaniks]

@Mekaniks - a friend killed a long Black Mamba (11 feet) in SA and had it mounted in SA then shipped into US with thew rest of his trophies — no issues..this was about 10 years ago. It is in a glass display case, it was a well done piece of work and while I don’t consider shooting any snake much of a trophy (catching one bare handed would be a trophy) - it is unusual and a “conversation piece.

Yes sir, it would be conversation piece for sure...

 

[RichD]

This is a Black Mamba shot in 2023. I never thought about getting any part of it mounted or skin processed. Was still shakin' like a dog shi**in' razor blades from it being 6 ft from me. Sorry for the ppoor pic. Double click on the pic to see it correctly and clearly.

Holy crap! I certainly understand the shaking!

 

[MontanaPat]

My taxidermist in Helena MT, Monarch Taxidermy, recently posted on their Instagram page a story and several pics of a big Gabon Viper they mounted for a client, so you must be able to import snakes from Africa