Namibian taxidermy is stuck- advice

[Scolopax]

I’ll keep the details short, but happy to answer more questions- we were a group of 10 hunters hunting in Namibia in early April 2024. All taxidermy was complete and with a shipping agent in early October 2024.

The outfitter has been ‘unable’ to obtain any permits to get the substantial amount of trophies out of the country. We are now 14 months since we left Namibia, 8 months of which they’ve been sat in a crate at the shipping agent awaiting papers, and new issues appearing every week. There is no solution in sight.

My question is, can we obtain permits without the outfitter and pay someone else to sort on our behalf?

Yes, it’s the outfitters duty to sort, but I think he (and we) are beyond the point of ‘duty’.

 

[JimP]

I may be wrong but a lot of your problems are with the outfitter not filling out the export forms or even the taxidermist.

Do you have a importer to expedite your shipment in your country that might be able to help you out?

 

[Sika98k]

Adrian Sailor might be able to help. He is a U.K. taxidermist who has hunted a lot in Namibia.

 

[DieJager]

What are the issues that come up? Did the outfitter had the appropriate permits when the hunt commenced?

 

[375Fox]

This is an outfitter issue. Unfortunately I think this will be an expensive learning curve. I’m assuming they will not be a member but I’d contact Namibia’s professional hunting organization anyway. They don’t want anything damaging Namibia’s hunting reputation.

homepage - NAPHA

napha-namibia.com

 

[Doug3006]

Your outfitter is legally required to provide the necessary permits for each animal in the shipment. The taxidermist can’t do anything without those permits, nor can the shipper. Have you lost contact with the outfitter? If not, what is he saying about the permits?

 

[Doug3006]

Also, if this outfitter has gone silent, or is in some other way, refusing to provide the necessary paperwork, it would be a good thing for this community to know who that outfitter is.

 

[Hunt anything]

Sorry for your troubles, if you can get the permitting issues ironed out the mounts will hopefully be in good shape. I’m with @375Fox get in touch with the Namibian professional hunters association.
I had a crate in Johanasburg that was set to ship in March 2020 but the global shutdown hit. I received the crate in June of 2021.

 

[3chunter]

I don’t want to cloud the thread but I went to Namibia last August with one outfitter and my taxidermist went same time with a different outfit.
My dip and pack got sent over within 4 months and they already mounted 3 of my animals.
My taxidermist though is running into issues with his shipment due to his outfitter also. Hopefully these issues get sorted but it makes it so much better overall experience when things go smoothly.
Maybe give the outfitter name…

 

[Hatchetjack]

Your outfitter hosed you terribly , this happens a lot . People think there getting a good deal but really there not . I’m very sorry to hear this .

 

[375Fox]

Your outfitter hosed you terribly , this happens a lot . People think there getting a good deal but really there not . I’m very sorry to hear this .

Assuming it’s even a legitimate outfitter.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

WOW! This is scary and a bummer… Sorry.

 

[Hunt anything]

It would be helpful to know the outfitter so others can avoid them. Someone here may have hunted with them before and add some incite.

 

[Mekaniks]

I’ll keep the details short, but happy to answer more questions- we were a group of 10 hunters hunting in Namibia in early April 2024. All taxidermy was complete and with a shipping agent in early October 2024.

The outfitter has been ‘unable’ to obtain any permits to get the substantial amount of trophies out of the country. We are now 14 months since we left Namibia, 8 months of which they’ve been sat in a crate at the shipping agent awaiting papers, and new issues appearing every week. There is no solution in sight.

My question is, can we obtain permits without the outfitter and pay someone else to sort on our behalf?

Yes, it’s the outfitters duty to sort, but I think he (and we) are beyond the point of ‘duty’.

I agree that its the outfitter...

If you post the Outfitter here perhaps it will help motivate him to get your paperwork sorted... At this point it can't hurt....

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I was thinking there would be a hunting report and pictures? Did I miss it?

 

[Philip Glass]

This is quite normal for Namibia. It is slow and the excuses are many. I was 2 years waiting on a combined Namibia and RSA complete taxidermy shipment. Keep pestering them! When you get to 18 months I'd say name and shame them all.

 

[Arctic97]

Agree with @375Fox. Get ahold of NAPHA and let them know the who and what. This outfitter is probably not very legit so they might not be able to do much, but I would still let them know and see what they say. Then you can post here so it doesn't happen to someone else.

 

[375Fox]

This is quite normal for Namibia. It is slow and the excuses are many. I was 2 years waiting on a combined Namibia and RSA complete taxidermy shipment. Keep pestering them! When you get to 18 months I'd say name and shame them all.

That has not been my experience at all. He states all taxidermy was completed in Oct 2024. All my trophies shipped quickly after being dropped off with shipping agent. I think there is more to this story.

 

[Mekaniks]

That has not been my experience at all. He states all taxidermy was completed in Oct 2024. All my trophies shipped quickly after being dropped off with shipping agent. I think there is more to this story.

I believe you may be correct.....I just realized that the OP is from Wales...

There very well could be more to to the story with import to the UK......

 

[DieJager]

My taxidermy is already some time at the taxidermist in Europe. My hunt was last November.