Birds to hunt in Limpopo

[Hunt anything]

Standing definitely ship better than flying/pitching/flushing. Anything with wings spread is rough to ship. The fellow on here with the spur wing had a flying/banking mount, if I recall correctly.

I am definitely a snob when it comes to fowl mounts. Below is my gadwall. I am lucky that I can get birds to him typically in 24-36 hours. He meets me, does the paperwork, and we're off to the races. He typically gets my mounts done in under 6 months which is very fast. View attachment 628027

Beautiful! I haven’t had any birds mounted in 8 or 10 years, I’m running out of new species to mount. This past year I shot a Western Canada goose in New Mexico and was contemplating mounting it and when I contacted my dedicated waterfowl taxidermist he said it was a 18-24 month turn around time and the cost was at least double of what I had paid in the past.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Beautiful! I haven’t had any birds mounted in 8 or 10 years, I’m running out of new species to mount. This past year I shot a Western Canada goose in New Mexico and was contemplating mounting it and when I contacted my dedicated waterfowl taxidermist he said it was a 18-24 month turn around time and the cost was at least double of what I had paid in the past.

That's actually a specimen and a half right there. Nice looking bird for sure. You don't see many that look like that after smacking the ground, which is half the problem itself.

I had a dog retrieve my Gaddy. I was lucky it was in as good of shape as it was.

I don't know how feasible it is to ship them, preserved, but if you shoot me a PM I'll link you up with my guy. He works for one of the largest exotic game taxidermists in the world. At the time, he was telling me they had a Lord Derby Eland in for a shoulder pedestal mount. He specializes in birds but has a hand in everything. He's done NA turkey slams for people, rare sea ducks, regular ducks, etc.

Ever consider going the decoy route? This is what I am having done to display my 10 year old black duck band:

I already have a black duck and mounts tend to fade with time. I decided I want some work that when I die can go to my kids.

My buddy had Shawn Sutton carve a stud Pinnie he killed in NJ. I was semi-against it until I saw his.

If you need a carver, I have at least 3 guys I've spoken to who typically have high-end stuff go to auction.

I was quoted $550 on that black duck, by the way. Which I found reasonable.

 

[Hunt anything]

@HookMeUpII Those are some nice carvings! When Corey quoted me his price and my wife bought us a trip to South Africa next year I decided to eat that goose and pinch pennies for trophy fees.
I’ve shipped frozen birds next day air many times and haven’t had a problem yet.

The reason I started looking for taxidermist other than the local guys was after a Maine sea duck hunt I had common eider, old squaw and white winged scoter mounted by the local and I told him to keep all but the pair of old squaw. I was glad I kept some extras in the freezer. Seemed every feather was out of place and the anatomical features more resembled long necked chickens than ducks. Corey has done in the neighborhood of 30 mounts for me but if I ever get a new species I may get your guys information and check him out.

 

[Hunt anything]

Here’s a greater snow goose from up in your neck of the woods as an example of Coreys work.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Here’s a greater snow goose from up in your neck of the woods as an example of Coreys work.

I have spent many days and lugged 1000's of decoys chasing those "white devils." Greater snow goose hunting is masochistic work in several aspects. Love the iron/rust on the face. That adds some real character to the bird. They are an absolutely stunning mount. He definitely does nice work.

A good greater, IMO, is probably one of the finer trophies in the fowling world. I have my eyes every year on shooting a stud blue phase. We see them mixed in because they stand out like a sore thumb. They always seem to be just a little smarter, for whatever reason.

Definitely reach out if you'd like my guy. Being you shipped birds before with success, he's definitely worth looking into. He did a pair of Old Squaw in an ocean habitat for a buddy that came out spectacular. He is, unfortunately, getting a ton of work here in NJ now because his work is so popular and he has a quick turnaround.

 

[Hunt anything]

Here’s a blue phase lesser i shot in my backyard down here in Alabama.

I’ve hunted greater snow geese in Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware and the blue phase were pretty scarce that’s for sure. I’ve actually seen more blue phase Ross geese than blue greaters . Good luck on your quest!

Also a look at my goose/swan wall plus my California harlequin.

 

[G Skinner]

I got francolin and guinea fowl with a borrowed shotgun when I was there.

same but used my bow .

 

[HookMeUpII]

Here’s a blue phase lesser i shot in my backyard down here in Alabama.

I’ve hunted greater snow geese in Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware and the blue phase were pretty scarce that’s for sure. I’ve actually seen more blue phase Ross geese than blue greaters . Good luck on your quest!

Also a look at my goose/swan wall plus my California harlequin.

Now that's a fine collection. I also spy some nice jewelry in there too.

That a pacific or atlantic brant? Lots of guys travel here to bag their atlantic. Like 20% of them are sporting leg bands and a buddy of mine shot a transmitter bird.

 

[Hunt anything]

Now that's a fine collection. I also spy some nice jewelry in there too.

That a pacific or atlantic brant? Lots of guys travel here to bag their atlantic. Like 20% of them are sporting leg bands and a buddy of mine shot a transmitter bird.

The one in that picture is a pacific brant, here are my Atlantic brant taken around Absecan. The bird standing in the back was banded and was 6 or 7 years old if I remember correctly.

 

[rookhawk]

As far as "kill em and grill em" I've hunted a lot of birds in SW Zim, very close to the Limpopo river.

Delicious stuff includes: Guinea Fowl, 5 species of Francolin, several species of dove and pigeon. Whistling ducks. Egyptian geese. A few species of sandgrouse.

As to importing cool taxidermy, boy is it a complicated process because of the permits. Very hard to do, but people have had luck importing song birds and other non-game birds. An oxpecker mounted on the ear of a full body buffalo sure is cool to see. If you're thinking of importing song birds you need to thoroughly research with the African outfitter, then check with the exporter, then check with the customs importer, and lastly double check with the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Wild bird conservation act, and USFWS rules. Lastly, check with CITES. <- Its more complicated than elephants and leopards for certain.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Here are my Atlantic brant taken around Absecan.

Oh man. You hunt my stomping grounds. Good for you. There's some good pinnies in there but you need to know where to find them.

If you are ever up this way, drop me a line. I run a boat and try to get into all the skinny spots. I don't guide just do it for fun.

 

[Hunt anything]

Oh man. You hunt my stomping grounds. Good for you. There's some good pinnies in there but you need to know where to find them.

If you are ever up this way, drop me a line. I run a boat and try to get into all the skinny spots. I don't guide just do it for fun.

Sounds like a plan, how’s the fishing been this year? If I recall your old profile pic was you and a nice swordfish.

 

[DieJager]

@rookhawk is the trouble regarding permits on the American side or African side. Because if it is the American side than maybe my problems are less because I will be importing them to Europe.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Sounds like a plan, how’s the fishing been this year? If I recall your old profile pic was you and a nice swordfish.

Well, for me, not so good lol. With a 2yo at home and a pregnant wife, fishing has been nonexistent. It seems to be a "moderate" year. Nothing outstanding but fish to be caught none the less. There was a good bluefin bite last month. Fish anywhere from 40" up to 70-80" (about 180-200 lbs). We didn't get the ridiculous yellowfin bite on the scale we had been the previous years. They are getting them and they are decent sized.

I am hurting for some offshore fishing though. Maybe next year will be better (for me)?

 

[rookhawk]

@rookhawk is the trouble regarding permits on the American side or African side. Because if it is the American side than maybe my problems are less because I will be importing them to Europe.

I'm not sure. The US international treat MBTA is a big problem, but the signors are Russia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Denmark.

So if you're not in one of those domains, it rules out a number of complications.

If you're in the EU, its EU issues, Africa Issues, and CITES to sort out. 3 problems rather than many more.

 

[Hunt27]

There are some big birds in Limpopo.

 

[DieJager]

Looks like a dinosaur.

On a serieus note. I will try to get a permit if possible for a crested guineafowl if available. Like the looks better on the crested ones.

 

[Hunt anything]

I saw a lot of crested guinea fowl in Mozambique. They are truly beautiful as any guinea can be.

 

[HookMeUpII]

As to importing cool taxidermy, boy is it a complicated process because of the permits. Very hard to do, but people have had luck importing song birds and other non-game birds. An oxpecker mounted on the ear of a full body buffalo sure is cool to see. If you're thinking of importing song birds you need to thoroughly research with the African outfitter, then check with the exporter, then check with the customs importer, and lastly double check with the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Wild bird conservation act, and USFWS rules. Lastly, check with CITES. <- Its more complicated than elephants and leopards for certain.

This is why I've been gravitating more towards carved decoys. It's just not worth it. Same deal with Argentina I'm told.

For ducks at least, a nice photo of a stud bird on the wall below a fine hand carved decoy is good for me.