SOUTH AFRICA: Kuche Safaris - Free State - August 2024

[KuduKiller]

Ok, I used Tom Kelly with trophy shippers last time as the importer but eagle eye was the exporter.

 

[jt13]

View attachment 662718

Could you walk me through the costs you incurred throughout the export, shipping, import, storage, etc. process? I'd like to prep my group on what to expect.

 

[DonPablo]

Five shoulder mounts and four sculls from my hunt with Kuche in August of 2022

This is what I'm talking about. The young lady I mentioned hunted summer of 2023 and her crate arrived before yours. Makes no sense!

 

[Deepfork]

Could you walk me through the costs you incurred throughout the export, shipping, import, storage, etc. process? I'd like to prep my group on what to expect.

Here are the specifics on my crate:

Dimensions: 160 x 113 x 105 CM
Actual Weight: 144.0 KGS
Volumetric Weight: 316.0 KGS

Shipping quotes were $3,500 for air and $1,800 by sea. I chose sea.

Total fees from the importer including freight shipping from Houston to NE Oklahoma was $1,624.

 

[jt13]

Here are the specifics on my crate:

Dimensions: 160 x 113 x 105 CM
Actual Weight: 144.0 KGS
Volumetric Weight: 316.0 KGS

Shipping quotes were $3,500 for air and $1,800 by sea. I chose sea.

Total fees from the importer including freight shipping from Houston to NE Oklahoma was $1,624.

Thanks!

 

[Deepfork]

Thanks!

Meant to mention, when I got my invoice from the importer it stated they would start charging storage after 5 days. I paid the invoice the day they sent it. It took them 2 1/2 weeks to to get my crate out of the port after I paid. They never attempted to charge me a storage fee.

 

[Arty0802]

So I'm currently 20 months post-hunt (July 2023) and still have not received my taxidermy from Kuche. My latest request for a status update received the following response:
"Due to new regulations last year for exportation we had to rebuild about 60% of the Taxidermy. This created a back log out of our control. The taxidermy will let me know when your mounts are done.

We apologize again and thank you for your continued patience."

Anyone know what this means? Originally their (Kuche) reasoning for the delay was moving into a new facility.

Am I ever going to see my mounts? Should I get a third party importer involved?

 

[cwickgo9]

I'm in the same boat, August '23, heard the same answer.

 

[Arty0802]

I'm in the same boat, August '23, heard the same answer.

I can't wait to find out what my "60% rebuilt taxidermy" is going to look like...

With so many similar experiences I have to wonder if Ducks Unlimited (and similar organizations) are going to continue partnering with them. Anyways, I'm just complaining at this point.

 

[Hunt anything]

Has anyone else that was not at Kuche heard this about new regulations?

 

[Hunt anything]

I can't wait to find out what my "60% rebuilt taxidermy" is going to look like...

With so many similar experiences I have to wonder if Ducks Unlimited (and similar organizations) are going to continue partnering with them. Anyways, I'm just complaining at this point.

I had a taxidermist remount a roan for me that had the wrong pose. It turned out just fine but it wasn’t completely dry when he did it.

 

[cwickgo9]

I can't wait to find out what my "60% rebuilt taxidermy" is going to look like...

With so many similar experiences I have to wonder if Ducks Unlimited (and similar organizations) are going to continue partnering with them. Anyways, I'm just complaining at this point.

To add insult to injury, they are not even DOING my taxidermy - just supposed to ship my skins and skulls - taxidermy to be done here. Why I'm having to wait nearly two years and then I'll have to wait another year when they get here, makes no sense to me. I realize I'm not "in the business" so I'm sure there are issues about the process I dont know, but I do know others have gotten theirs back much faster.
I figure I can't do anything about it at this point, so I'll wait until I hit a full two years before I reach out again.

 

[Hunt anything]

No excuse for just dip&pack not to be in the states within 9months or less.

 

[cwickgo9]

No excuse for just dip&pack not to be in the states within 9months or less.

That's what I thought.
I keep wondering (almost hoping due to the time) if I'm going to get back complete european mounts and tanned skins, like there was some kind of mix up due to the time elapse.

 

[kevin masters]

Koos was at DSC would have been a great time to talk to him.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I really don't understand stories like this.

My first trip....

Game4Africa (a site sponsor)
Dip and pack - Lauriston Taxidermy
I do not remember the shipping sequence
Dahlberg Taxidermy, Wasilla, Alaska

I had 2 shoulder mounts on the wall 11 months after shooting them. I had my hides and skulls 9 months after shooting them.

My second trip could have been a very similar time line, but I had some shipping delays that were my fault.

2 years and nothing? I don't get it. And I live in a remote community in rural Alaska. It should take me longer, shouldn't it?

 

[Tundra Tiger]

So I'm currently 20 months post-hunt (July 2023) and still have not received my taxidermy from Kuche. My latest request for a status update received the following response:
"Due to new regulations last year for exportation we had to rebuild about 60% of the Taxidermy. This created a back log out of our control. The taxidermy will let me know when your mounts are done.

We apologize again and thank you for your continued patience."

Anyone know what this means? Originally their (Kuche) reasoning for the delay was moving into a new facility.

Am I ever going to see my mounts? Should I get a third party importer involved?

I hunted in June 2023. The taxidermist who did the dip and pack had it ready to ship in November.

 

[Arty0802]

I really don't understand stories like this.

My first trip....

Game4Africa (a site sponsor)
Dip and pack - Lauriston Taxidermy
I do not remember the shipping sequence
Dahlberg Taxidermy, Wasilla, Alaska

I had 2 shoulder mounts on the wall 11 months after shooting them. I had my hides and skulls 9 months after shooting them.

My second trip could have been a very similar time line, but I had some shipping delays that were my fault.

2 years and nothing? I don't get it. And I live in a remote community in rural Alaska. It should take me longer, shouldn't it?

All the things you are saying are correct. The common denominator with all of our stories (I think) is Kuche Safaris and his in-house taxidermy/shipping processes.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

All the things you are saying are correct. The common denominator with all of our stories (I think) is Kuche Safaris and his in-house taxidermy/shipping processes.

I am truly sorry for your issues. And it makes me do thankful for the site sponsors here.

 

[Arty0802]

I am truly sorry for your issues. And it makes me do thankful for the site sponsors here.

Lesson learned. I'll certainly be better informed when planning my next trip to Africa.