Where, oh where, should I have my taxidermy done?

[Mr. 16 gauge]

.....oh, where, oh where should it be?

This is something that I anguished over for quite some time, even up to the point where I had to decide to have them either done in S.A. or have dip/pack done.
I just received my mounts back today from my trip last summer.....about a 10 month turn around time. Not bad, considering I've heard that some folks have waited two years or more to get their mounts back.
I am going to hold off saying anything more until I see a few of the responses. We have all heard the arguments for and against, but if you want to reiterate them here and give personal experiences, that's fine with me and might be to the benefit of the new comers and first timers heading abroad.

The poll is pretty simple.....either have 'em done at home, or in the country of origin.

Thanks............and I look forward to your responses.

 

[Royal27]

I think the answer is "it depends."

I really don't think there is a right or wrong answer here as long as you've done your homework and are sure that you are happy with the quality of the work you will have done.

As you say, there are pros and cons to both!

 

[BRICKBURN]

I have done both.
So, I am truly split on the subject.

A Leopard will be done at home with the best there is.

The other lower value critters, it depends.
There are some taxidermists I trust in RSA, others, not so much.

 

[Adrian]

I guess it's whatever works for the person spending the money.
Some folk are happy to get the work done in Africa, some prefer to get it done with a favoured taxidermist at wherever home may be.
For me, I will be getting any trophies dipped and shipped to the UK.
I can let the taxidermist have them and they can be mounted one at a time with the cost and time spread over what suits us both.
I prefer that rather than a huge bill in one lump.

 

[billc]

Not sure your question would help me make my choice. I pick the best place for the money and service you get for it. I would on must plains game pick to have done over there. Once in lifetime trophy then maybe have it done here in the states but I feel the place I use in SA is giving me as good of work.

 

[Red Leg]

I have a father and son in the states who I trust completely. http://www.crittercreationstaxidermy.com/ You should really browse their on-line gallery. Went to them because they are the best "cat" people that I have found. They are also really good at doing pedestal mounts with a formal cabinetry style base. This year they will be doing a full body oribi, a sable and Nyala for me. For the common shoulder mount of a PG species, lots of folks do quality work. I have not used a SA taxidermist, but have seen and heard a couple of horror stories - some on this site. If you do use a SA company, then make sure you do plenty of due diligence with recent customers.

 

[Jody]

No brainier for me. I do woodwork for a taxidermist whose work I feel is second to none. I can work off some of the bill and see the progress every step of the way.

 

[ROCKET]

I would preffer always do it in home.....I like to go to my taxidermist place and have coffe and see how my trophys mount progress goes and make some last minutes changes......!!!!!

 

[johnnyblues]

I agree with BillC. We've had this discussion several times. I'm going on a leopard hunt in September and if I'm successful I would NOT leave it in Africa. Only because it's a once in a lifetime trophy at least for me. Now that being said I will be going back ( god willing) in 2017 for a buffalo and plains game hunt and plan on leaving it in Africa with Relive African Taxidermy. Several members here are presently have trophies done there. But if I decide to do a lion hunt in 17 home it comes!

 

[ActionBob]

I have a father and son in the states who I trust completely. http://www.crittercreationstaxidermy.com/ You should really browse their on-line gallery. Went to them because they are the best "cat" people that I have found. They are also really good at doing pedestal mounts with a formal cabinetry style base. This year they will be doing a full body oribi, a sable and Nyala for me. For the common shoulder mount of a PG species, lots of folks do quality work. I have not used a SA taxidermist, but have seen and heard a couple of horror stories - some on this site. If you do use a SA company, then make sure you do plenty of due diligence with recent customers.

Now that is a cool pedestal!

 

[ack]

I had Atcheson in Butte do my grizzly 37yrs ago and it looks new today..Wife had her zebra done by Jonas Bros. in Colorado and it is perfection...Just make sure u get quality if u want it to last

 

[ack]

Now that is a cool pedestal!

Very nice !

 

[gizmo]

All of my expensive over seas trophies will be done by Denis, there is no way I would trust them to anyone else. I have a great local guy for common NA game but when it comes to lions buff and such Denis is the man.

 

[Bernard de Lange]

Hi Guys.
We send our Clients to Trans Africa Taxidermy.
Rodney does a brilliant job with the Mounts & Maria sorts out all the Import & Export Docs like a magician.

Even if you do your mount in your home country it needs to go to a Taxidermist in the Country taken for dipping & shipping, always make sure its a reputable company that your Outfitter Recommends. The worst thing in the world would be your taxidermist telling the cape had 'Hair Slip' once it arrives in your home country.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

O.K., so let me ask this question with re: to dip/pack: Does any taxidermist out there guarantee their dip/pack? I'll have more on this later.........I would just like to get a feel from those who have had dip/pack done successfully (and not so successfully).

 

[Diamondhitch]

Definitely depends, you need to be careful who you choose no matter where you have it done. There are top notch taxis on both sides of the ocean.

 

[Diamondhitch]

I have a father and son in the states who I trust completely. http://www.crittercreationstaxidermy.com/ You should really browse their on-line gallery. Went to them because they are the best "cat" people that I have found. They are also really good at doing pedestal mounts with a formal cabinetry style base. This year they will be doing a full body oribi, a sable and Nyala for me. For the common shoulder mount of a PG species, lots of folks do quality work. I have not used a SA taxidermist, but have seen and heard a couple of horror stories - some on this site. If you do use a SA company, then make sure you do plenty of due diligence with recent customers.

I always cringe when I click on a taxi link of someones special taxi. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed this time. Once I looked at who owned the business, my surprise vanished. You picked an upper tier taxi for sure.

 

[billc]

I always cringe when I click on a taxi link of someones special taxi. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed this time. Once I looked at who owned the business, my surprise vanished. You picked an upper tier taxi for sure.

I hear you with the cringe part. I am not sure sometimes if my eyes are bad or if I just don't have a clue what good work is sometimes. For the state of Pa. we are very lucky really to have wes at wildlife studious and critter creations. Those two it comes down to a coin flip really.




I do feel I am getting as good of work out of paul at relive though. He is one step ahead of other SA taxi places I believe. With the amount of animals I had being done and the cost of having a full mount lioness, shoulder giraffe ,two eland and so much other plains game I either did them is SA or it would have been years to have them all done here in the states. Even with shipping figured in I will save over 5000.00 total on this order. Could even be more saving as all the custom work I added would have added cost to stuff done in the states and I just did that figure of regular cost of mounts.

The cost and saving comes down to how many animals being done most of the time. 3 or4 animals cost ends up almost the same if mounted here or in SA. Get in that 6 or 7 animals and you start seeing saving. Get in that 10 animal area and the saving can be big in the end. Now that all depends also if you find a place in SA that you think is doing as good of work or giving you a good value for the dollar. I have 2 or 3 places is SA I think does good work for the money with paul being the best. The others are not any of the names you hear thrown around most of the time. I found paul did nice work on all animals with the others doing some very well but other animals looked bad to me. Plus I am not a big fan of outfitters telling me who to use most of the time. They have reason for doing so and not always what is best for the client. I picked paul after someone talked about him on the site and I checked him out on facebook and when in SA. After seeing his work I pushed hard for loodt to start working with him and he has. Pieter does also if clients want just takes an extra shipment to get stuff to him from pieters.

 

[Royal27]

Plus I am not a big fan of outfitters telling me who to use most of the time. They have reason for doing so and not always what is best for the client.

I will take this even a step further. I don't want the taxidermist telling me who will ship either for the same reason. Kickbacks are likely to be involved both times. I appreciate suggestions, but it is up to me to make sure that suggestion is a good one!

 

[Diamondhitch]

I hear you with the cringe part. I am not sure sometimes if my eyes are bad or if I just don't have a clue what good work is sometimes. For the state of Pa. we are very lucky really to have wes at wildlife studious and critter creations. Those two it comes down to a coin flip really.




I do feel I am getting as good of work out of paul at relive though. He is one step ahead of other SA taxi places I believe. With the amount of animals I had being done and the cost of having a full mount lioness, shoulder giraffe ,two eland and so much other plains game I either did them is SA or it would have been years to have them all done here in the states. Even with shipping figured in I will save over 5000.00 total on this order. Could even be more saving as all the custom work I added would have added cost to stuff done in the states and I just did that figure of regular cost of mounts.

The cost and saving comes down to how many animals being done most of the time. 3 or4 animals cost ends up almost the same if mounted here or in SA. Get in that 6 or 7 animals and you start seeing saving. Get in that 10 animal area and the saving can be big in the end. Now that all depends also if you find a place in SA that you think is doing as good of work or giving you a good value for the dollar. I have 2 or 3 places is SA I think does good work for the money with paul being the best. The others are not any of the names you hear thrown around most of the time. I found paul did nice work on all animals with the others doing some very well but other animals looked bad to me. Plus I am not a big fan of outfitters telling me who to use most of the time. They have reason for doing so and not always what is best for the client. I picked paul after someone talked about him on the site and I checked him out on facebook and when in SA. After seeing his work I pushed hard for loodt to start working with him and he has. Pieter does also if clients want just takes an extra shipment to get stuff to him from pieters.

You certainly do not have to justify your choice. I am proud to say that was likely my post that drew you to his fb page.

Their work is certainly on par with the commercial work of the best here in NA and far above the average to above average work available here and you cant ask for more than that.