Trophy Shipping nightmare from Mayo Oldiri in Cameroon

[375Fox]

So I had promised myself to step away from this thread but this morning Herve of Mayo sent me a message and informed me of Juan, "manages all the camps for Mayo" had died in the bush. I looked into this matter and discovered that three days ago, Juan... Mayo's manager, was tragically shot and killed while doing anti-poaching. The incident was in mayo nduel and Juan and Melo, "the anti-poaching guy" ran into poachers. Melo was shot and is badly wounded and Juan was killed instantly.

You may remember my early post in which I called out DSLR with "Righteous Indignation", speaking out about all I witnessed and heard of how much Mayo was doing in the way or anti poaching when I was with them in the forest this past July for two back to back safaris. His post was way out of line... I know how he booked the trip and who he went with. I was told he did not come in the front door and go with one of Mayo's noteworthy and reputable PH's but instead came in with a PH / Booking agent that Mayo had never used and he did a poor job on this his one and only time hunting one of their areas. I was told he "kind of dumped" DSLR on us and this PH is not welcome back. With all of DSLR talk about pennies and dollars in shipping costs I can only guess that he tried to get a "deal" on his Savannah hunt and got something less than he would have if he did like I did and went to Raquel directly and booked a trip with one of the famous and experienced Mayo PH's.

The figures that DSLR throws around insinuating that he was bilked by Mayo on the shipping charges are bogus. He uses "broad brush" comparisons about his past crates from Tanzania and asserts that means he was overcharged. Mayo is "only about the money" he says! Well, I have called Wyatt Fetner of Safari Specialty Importers and asked him what my crate that is sitting in a warehouse near JFK will cost. It is a crate from Tanzania.... Just a lion skin and skull, seventeen euros, one zebra skin, and one eland cape... The price! Closing in on 10K. Wyatt said my bongo skin and horns that are coming from Cameroon at this moment will be nearly 4500, and the leopard skin and skull from Botswana a couple of years ago he said was 4500. These are just round numbers but it shows that his attempt to lead the reader to believe Mayo had way overcharged was ridiculous.

Why my renewed anger? The assertion was that Mayo does not do enough for antipoaching. What is enough????? The government would have to take a 'shoot on sight" position to quell the poaching. Even then what about the cattle and habitat loss. Now Mayo buries their manager which I am told along with others were shot while they were doing anti-poaching! Was that sacrifice enough or should they be doing more?

DLSJR wrote a public report of his hunt and how he booked it. His PH has hunted there previously and he was also paired up with their most experienced 30+ year tracker. It’s extremely sad an individual gave his life for anti-poaching, but I don’t think it absolves Mayo Oldiri from any mistakes. What I saw in the savanna areas I felt was very concerning.

 

[Hank2211]

Wow, you surely went total “California Karen” on Mayo Oldiri! That is where your from is it not? I spent thirty days and two safaris with Mayo in the forest this past July! I am busy with thirteen hunters of my own this week and thirteen next week at my outfit in Kansas but after our rifle deer season is over will respond thoroughly with my rebuttal to some of your accusations. I know for a fact you have unjustly disparaged Mayo Oldiri! I have been in contact today with Raquel the owners daughter and the one that runs Mayo Oldiri on a daily basis. She has emails, photos, invoices, and a side of the story that you have conveniently failed to tell our fellow AH members here! I also talked to Herve today who is on his first hunt of the season in the Savannah for Mayo and he remembers you! He has been outfitting for Mayo in he Savannah and the Forest for over 20 seasons and 40 years as a PH in Africa. When I told him of your negative post here in AH he exclaimed; I remember this guy! What is the problem! I’m an outfitter and a guide and have been my entire adult life. When I read your post it screams “red flag”! When a client goes into a tirade exclaiming everything was bad, the sky is falling, I got screwed, nothing was done right! You have to pass on that guy. After all my years of outfitting I recognize a hunting client like you. Your attacks on Mayo are over the top! Just like you proudly offered to have anyone here on AH contact you for more info on MAYO OLDIRI…. I BEG them to contact me where I will set them straight and counter your attacks with honest information about YOUR hunt. DOCUMENTION provided to me by Mayo.View attachment 651535View attachment 651536 View attachment 651540View attachment 651542

I just noticed a part of this I hadn’t noticed before.

You suggest people contact you for information on the OP’s hunt - “DOCUMENTATION provided to me by Mayo.” If this is correct, it strikes me as a serious breach of ethics and privacy. Mayo is certainly entitled to use whatever information they have to defend themselves, but I don’t think they can or should provide such information to unrelated third parties, regardless of the purpose.

Not good at all in my view.

 

[PARA45]

Not all Customs inspectors are bad but seems like this one had a chip on her shoulder. That inspector is a public servant, and should be reprimanded for costing you money, and for the extra time wasted when it was not really necessary. Glad you got your LDE.

 

[BnC 04]

Very sorry to hear a member of the team was killed and the other wounded. My thoughts and prayers to their family.
To bring this tragic event to light and then in your next breath continue your smashing on @DLSJR is in very poor taste and that's putting it lightly.

Again, sorry to hear of the loss and injury.